Patient Referral and Acceptance of Maxillomandibular Advancement for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Objective: Maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) is an effective surgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); however, it is unclear how many patients who are referred for MMA actually undergo surgery. This study aims to determine follow-up rates for patients referred for MMA and the reasons behind their choices.

Methods: Via retrospective review, we assessed consecutive patients with OSA intolerant to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) who underwent drug induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) between 2018 and 2020 at our institution.

Acoustic Voice Analysis as a Useful Tool to Discriminate Different ALS Phenotypes.

Approximately 80-96% of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) become unable to speak during the disease progression. Assessing upper and lower motor neuron impairment in bulbar regions of ALS patients remains challenging, particularly in distinguishing spastic and flaccid dysarthria. This study aimed to evaluate acoustic voice parameters as useful biomarkers to discriminate ALS clinical phenotypes.

Complications and Functional Outcomes After Esophageal Reconstruction with an Intact Larynx.

Background: Esophageal defects can result from primary pathologies such as malignancy or stricture, or secondary ones such as perforation due to trauma or iatrogenic injury. Techniques, management, and outcomes of reconstruction in this setting are poorly understood. Herein, we aim to highlight surgical outcomes in patients undergoing local and free flap reconstruction of esophageal defects in the setting of an intact larynx.

Predictors of opioid requirement among patients receiving free flap reconstruction to the head and neck.

Background: Opioids are a part of standard of care treatment of acute, severe postoperative pain. However, increased opioid requirements have been shown to be associated with increased postoperative complications, morbidity, and mortality. The aim of this study was to identify potential predictive factors associated with increased or decreased opioid requirements after free tissue transfer (FTT) to the head and neck.

A novel simulation module for segmental mandibulectomy and mandible reconstruction using 3D models.

Introduction: Mandibular resection and reconstruction are common but complex procedures in head and neck surgery. Resection with adequate margins is critical to the success of the procedure but technical training is restricted to real case experience. Here we describe our experience in the development and evaluation of a mandibular resection and reconstruction simulation module.

Variance in 3D anatomic localization of surgical margins based on conventional margin labeling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: In head and neck cancer (HNC), positive margins are strongly predictive of treatment failure. We sought to measure the accuracy of localization of margin sampling sites based on conventional anatomic labels using a digital 3D-model.

Methods: Preoperative CT scans for 9 patients with HNC treated operatively at our institution were imported into a multiplanar radiology software, which was used to render a digital 3D model of each tumor intended to represent the resection specimen.

Comparison of CPAP and Expansion Sphincter Pharyngoplasty using the Mean Disease Alleviation Concept.

Objective: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the typical first treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA); however, patient adherence is often suboptimal. Expansion Sphincter Pharyngoplasty (ESP) is an alternative treatment option for patients with OSA who demonstrate signs of palatal and lateral pharyngeal collapse. The aim of this study is to compare therapeutic outcomes, using the mean disease alleviation concept, for patients who underwent ESP to patients undergoing CPAP therapy.

Artificial intelligence for objectively measuring years regained after facial rejuvenation surgery.

Background: Few objective measures are available for assessing the success of facial rejuvenation after face lift surgery. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) may be used for this type of measurement. The purpose of this investigation is to use artificial intelligence (AI) via CNNs to objectively classify patient photos by age before and after aesthetic surgery.

[The role of oropharyngoesophageal scintigraphy in the assessment of dysphagia in neurological patients.].

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the role of oropharingoesophageal scintigraphy (OPES) in the management of neurological patients, investigating the clinical value of semiquantitative analysis.

Materials And Methods: We enrolled 39 neurological patients clinically evaluated and scored according to the Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scale (DOSS) scale who underwent fibrolaryngoscopic swallowing examination (FEES) and OPES using a 99mTc-nanocolloid-radioblabelled semiliquid bolus. We calculated the following semiquantitative parameters: Oral Transit Time (OTT), Pharyngeal Transit Time (PTT), Esophageal Transit Time (ETT), Retention Index (RI), and Esophageal Emptying Rate (EER10s).

Impact of Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment on Patient-Partner Intimacy.

Objective: To determine the effects of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma diagnosis and treatment on patient- and partner-perceived intimacy and to understand if a diagnosis of HPV-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma influences patient-partner intimacy.

Study Design: Prospective observational.

Setting: Single tertiary care center.

CD8+ and FoxP3+ T-Cell Cellular Density and Spatial Distribution After Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Check Point Inhibition.

Objectives: To analyze CD8+ and FoxP3+ T-cell cellular density (CD) and intercellular distances (ID) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) samples from a neoadjuvant trial of durvalumab +/- metformin.

Methods: Paired pre- and post-treatment primary HNSCC tumor samples were stained for CD8+ and FoxP3+. Digital image analysis was used to determine estimated mean CD8+ and FoxP3+ CDs and CD8+-FoxP3+ IDs in the leading tumor edge (LTE) and tumor adjacent stroma (TAS) stratified by treatment arm, human papillomavirus (HPV) status, and pathologic treatment response.

Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction: The Jefferson Experience.

Objectives: To describe our center's experience with the identification and treatment of retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (R-CPD), a syndrome involving the inability to belch previously described by only one institution. Additionally, because all patients initially learned of their condition and sought treatment as a result of social media posts, we queried their source and comfort with this form of medical referral.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients who underwent botulism toxin injection into the cricopharyngeus muscle for treatment of R-CPD from 2019 to 2022.

Diagnostic and surgical innovations in otolaryngology for adult and paediatric patients during the COVID-19 era.

Unlabelled: During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, otolaryngology has been shown to be a high-risk specialty due to the exposure to aerosol-generating physical examinations, procedures and surgical interventions on the head and neck area, both in adult and paediatric patients. This has prompted the issue of updating the guidelines by International Health Authorities in the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) field and, at the same time, has stimulated engineers and healthcare professionals to develop new devices and technologies with the aim of reducing the risk of contamination for physicians, nurses and patients.

Methods: A review of the literature published on PubMed, Ovid/Medline and Scopus databases was performed from January 01, 2020 to December 31, 2021.

The association between dysphagia and OSA.

Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of dysphagia in patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) and to correlate swallowing impairment with hypnologic and anatomic parameters.

Methods: The study population includes 36 patients suffering from OSA. Patients were divided into two groups using the presence of dysphagia as a distinctive parameter.

Voice Differences When Wearing and Not Wearing a Surgical Mask.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to investigate the impact of surgical mask on some vocal parameters such as F0, vocal intensity, jitter, shimmer and harmonics-to-noise ratio in order to understand how surgical mask can affect voice and verbal communication in adults.

Methods: The study was carried out on a selected group of 60 healthy subjects. All subjects were trained to voice a vocal sample of a sustained /a/, at a conversational voice intensity for the Maximum Phonation Time (MPT), wearing the surgical mask and then without wearing the surgical mask.

New laboratory predictive tools in deep neck space infections.

Introduction: Deep neck space infections (DNSIs) are a group of infective suppurative diseases involving deep neck spaces and cervical fascia. Necrotising and septic evolutions are rare, but severe complications can dramatically affect the prognosis and should be promptly managed. Clinical examination often has low sensitivity, although instrumental diagnosis may delay te treatment.

Acoustic voice analysis in the COVID-19 era.

Objective: Among the different procedures used by the ENT, acoustic analysis of voice has become widely used for correct diagnosis of dysphonia. The instrumental measurements of acoustic parameters were limited during the COVID-19 pandemic by the common belief that a face mask affects the results of the analysis. The purpose of our study was to investigate the impact of surgical masks on F0, jitter, shimmer and harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR) in adults.

Cochlear implantation under local anesthesia and conscious sedation: an Italian experience.

Purpose: To report our experience in performing cochlear implantation under local anesthesia in a group of patients who were deemed unfit for general anesthesia.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed to analyze undesirable events and any other discomfort complained by patients during cochlear implantation. Analysis of patient's satisfaction was performed by means of a survey instrument.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Discharged Directly Home From a Medical Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To evaluate the safety of directly discharging patients home from the medical intensive care unit (MICU).

Materials And Methods: Single-center retrospective observational study of consecutive MICU direct discharges to home from an urban university hospital between June, 1, 2017, and June 30, 2019.

Results: Of 1061 MICU discharges, 331 (31.

Long-term efficacy of adding intravenous immunoglobulins as treatment of refractory dysphagia related to myositis: a retrospective analysis.

Objective: Dysphagia is a life-threating manifestation of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). However, we lack a univocal protocol for its treatment. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of a step-up strategy by adding a 1-day pulse of IVIGs to immunosuppressants in IIM patients with refractory dysphagia diagnosed by Eating Assessment Tool (EAT)-10 and fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).

Cross-cultural adaption and validation of the Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire 12 (COMQ-12) in the Italian language.

Purpose: The evaluation of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in patients with chronic otitis media COM has gained attention over the past years and several questionnaires have been developed to evaluate it in affected patients. The Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire 12 (COMQ-12) is a widely used disease-specific tool that evaluates the severity of symptoms, the specific impact on work and lifestyle, the effects on the health service, and general impact of the disease in patients with COM. The COMQ-12 questionnaire has been translated and validated into different languages; however, an Italian version is not yet available.