Evaluation of Hearing Loss: Understanding Audiologic Testing to Refine Image Interpretation.

The standard of reference for diagnosing and characterizing hearing loss is audiologic testing. The results of audiologic testing inform the imaging algorithm and the differential diagnosis for the underlying cause. Pure-tone audiometry tests the ability to hear tones across different frequencies, and the results are displayed as an audiogram.

Full Recovery of Sensorineural Hearing Loss in a Patient with Congenital Hypothyroidism.

Background:  Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is one of the most preventable causes of intellectual disability in the world. Screening programs have led to earlier detection of CH, and children with adequate thyroid supplementation can have minor long-term differences in overall neuropsychological testing compared to baseline.

Purpose:  Despite early identification, up to one-fourth of children born with CH suffer from hearing loss even with early and adequate thyroid hormone supplementation.

Readability analysis of Spanish language patient-reported outcome measures in pediatric otolaryngology.

Background: Pediatric otolaryngology encompasses interactions with a young patient, parent and/or guardian, and the provider. As healthcare transitions toward patient-centered care, clinicians are using direct tools of measurement such as patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) as a modality of communication between the patient and healthcare provider. Therefore, literacy levels of both the patient and their parent or guardian must be considered.

Readability of Commonly Used Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Laryngology.

Objectives: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are used to evaluate patients' symptoms and clinical improvement after an intervention. Advocacy efforts and increased provider awareness regarding health literacy have helped to improve the readability of PROMs. Recent studies in otolaryngology in rhinology, pediatric otolaryngology, and head and neck reported PROM readability scores above the sixth-grade level.

The Demographics of Patients Presenting for Laryngological Care at an Academic Medical Center.

Objectives/hypothesis: Few studies address the demographics/epidemiology/socioeconomic status of patients presenting to a laryngologist at a tertiary care center for treatment. To identify any possible disparities in voice, airway, and swallowing care, we sought to analyze the aforementioned data for new patients presenting to the voice center at an academic medical center.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data from an institutional database of 4,623 new adult patients presenting for laryngological care at a tertiary care, academic medical center from 2015 to 2020.

Predictors of the need for tracheostomy in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Objectives: Many infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) require prolonged periods of respiratory support. Microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy (MLB) is performed to evaluate for airway pathology and facilitate decision-making regarding further airway interventions or tracheostomy. The objectives of this study are to describe the operative findings of MLB performed on infants in the NICU and determine which pre-operative characteristics or operative findings are predictive of the need for tracheostomy.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Secondary to Pharyngeal Narrowing From Horizontal Donor Site Closure During Posterior Pharyngeal Flap Surgery.

The posterior pharyngeal flap is frequently the surgical intervention of choice for the correction of velopharyngeal insufficiency. Our patient initially presented for a superiorly based, posterior pharyngeal flap to correct for velopharyngeal insufficiency. However, the postoperative recovery was complicated by severe obstructive sleep apnea, which warranted division and subsequent takedown of the flap.

The Microbiology of Complicated Acute Sinusitis among Pediatric Patients: A Case Series.

Objective: The microbiology of pediatric complicated acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) has evolved, and our current understanding of pathogenic organisms is limited. The objectives of this study are to describe the incidence of pathogens causing complicated ARS requiring surgical intervention at our institution over a 10-year period as well as their associated treatment outcomes.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

A generalized multistage approach to oral and nasal intubation in infants with Pierre Robin sequence: A retrospective review.

Background: Airway management in children with Pierre Robin sequence in the infantile period can be challenging and frequently requires specialized approaches.

Aims: The aim of this study was to review our experience with a multistage approach to oral and nasal intubation in young infants with Pierre Robin sequence.

Methods: After IRB approval, we reviewed 13 infants with Pierre Robin sequence who underwent a multistage approach to intubation in the operating room for mandibular distractor or gastrostomy tube placement.

Anesthetic Management for Pediatric Awake Tracheostomy.

Awake tracheostomy is indicated for acute upper airway obstruction, when other methods of securing the airway, such as intubation and cricothyrotomy, have failed or are inappropriate. This option is rarely considered in pediatrics because of the concerns of patient cooperation and safety and has not been described in the literature. We describe the anesthetic management of an awake tracheostomy performed on a 7-year-old girl, with a large supraglottic mass obstructing the laryngeal introitus.