Safety of a Novel Upper Esophageal Sphincter Balloon Dilator.

Objective: The shape of esophageal dilators has not changed in over 350 years. Clinical and animal research suggests that the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) is not round but approximates a kidney shape and that cylindrical dilators may be suboptimal. The Infinity UES Dilation System has been developed specifically for the anatomic configuration of the UES.

Sociodemographic Disparities in Tracheostomy Timing and Outcomes.

Objective: Tracheostomies are commonly performed in critically ill patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. Although early tracheostomy has been associated with improved outcomes, the reasons for delayed tracheostomy are complex. We examined the impact of sociodemographic factors on tracheostomy timing and outcomes.

Quantifying and Improving the Performance of Speech Recognition Systems on Dysphonic Speech.

Objective: This study seeks to quantify how current speech recognition systems perform on dysphonic input and if they can be improved.

Study Design: Experimental machine learning methods based on a retrospective database.

Setting: Single academic voice center.

Defining the Performance of Clinician's Ability to Screen for Laryngeal Mass From Voice.

Objective: Defining a clinician's ability to perceptually identify mass from voice will inform the feasibility, design priorities, and performance standards for tools developed to screen for laryngeal mass from voice. This study defined clinician ability of and examined the impact of expertise on screening for laryngeal mass from voice.

Study Design: Task comparison study between experts and nonexperts rating voices for the probability of a laryngeal mass.

Understanding Hispanic Patient Satisfaction with Telehealth During COVID-19.

Background: Recent studies have described the use of telehealth for pediatric surgical care during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate equity in telehealth use by comparing rates of utilization and satisfaction with pediatric surgical telemedicine among Hispanic patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients seen by a surgical subspecialty provider in the outpatient setting at a quaternary pediatric hospital between April 1 and June 30, 2020.

Evaluating Patient and Family Experience Among Spanish-Speaking and LatinX Patients: a Scoping Review of Existing Instruments.

Introduction: LatinX populations are rapidly growing in the USA, but still report lower levels of patient centered care and satisfaction when compared to their non-LatinX white counterparts. This review encompasses literature which describes patient experience instruments that (1) evaluate LatinX experience, (2) have validated Spanish versions, or (3) measure language-concordant care experiences.

Methods: A scoping review of literature in Ovid Medline, CINAHL, and PsycINFO was conducted.

Update on Tracheostomy and Upper Airway Considerations in the Head and Neck Cancer Patient.

Patients with head and neck cancer account for a large proportion of perioperative airway events. Further, these patients frequently require tracheostomy placement, which is one of the most common surgical procedures. This article reviews updated techniques in managing a difficult airway in patients with head and neck cancer, such as strategies for intubation/extubation, methods of tubeless laryngeal surgery, and techniques and relevant topics in tracheostomy management.

Safety and Predictors of 30-Day Adverse Events of Laryngeal Framework Surgery: An Analysis of ACS-NSQIP data.

Objectives/hypothesis: To characterize and identify predictors of 30-day adverse events in patients undergoing laryngeal framework surgery (LFS).

Study Design: This study is a retrospective analysis of the National Surgical Quality Improvement dataset.

Methods: LFS cases were identified from the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database from 2008 to 2018.

Otolaryngology resident clinic participation and attending electronic health record efficiency-A user activity logs study.

Objectives: In an era of increasing electronic health record (EHR) use monitoring and optimization, this study aims to quantify resident contributions and measure the effect of otolaryngology resident coverage in clinic on attending otolaryngologist EHR usage.

Methods: In one academic otolaryngology department, monthly attending provider efficiency profile metrics, data collected by the EHR vendor (Epic Systems Corporation) between January and June 2019 were accessed. Using weekly resident schedules, resident coverage of attending outpatient clinics was categorized by junior (post-graduate year [PGY] 1-3) and senior levels (PGY-4 through fellows) and correlated with attending EHR metrics using linear mixed effect models.

Assessing the Clinical Utility of the Early Postoperative Pharyngogram in Hypopharyngeal Surgery for Dysphagia.

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate the clinical utility of postoperative contrast x-ray pharyngograms (XRP) for detecting pharyngoesophageal leaks following hypopharyngeal dysphagia surgery.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: Medical records were reviewed of patients undergoing endoscopic (E-) or open (O-) Zenker's diverticulectomy (-ZD) with cricopharyngeal myotomy (-CPM) and CPM alone from 2008 to 2020 at one academic institution.

Are Spanish-Speaking Families Less Satisfied with Care in Pediatric Otolaryngology?

Objectives/hypothesis: Language barriers may impact family experience, which is a key measure of healthcare quality. We compared family satisfaction between Spanish-speaking families (SSF) and English-speaking families (ESF) in pediatric otolaryngology.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

A multi-institutional review of outcomes in biopsy-proven chronic invasive fungal sinusitis.

Background: Chronic invasive fungal sinusitis (CIFS) is a rare, life-threatening infection of the nose and sinuses. This study aims to identify factors that impact survival in 1 of the largest cohorts to date.

Methods: Pathology records were reviewed for biopsy-proven CIFS from 3 tertiary academic institutions from 1995 to 2016.

Perceptions Prediagnosis and Social Experiences Postdiagnosis Among a Sample of High-Risk Peruvian Men Who Have Sex With Men.

This pilot study examines associations of perceived stigma pre-diagnosis with experienced stigma and social support post-diagnosis with qualitative data; and quantifies the interplay between pre- and post-diagnosis social factors on depressive symptoms among a sample of newly diagnosed Peruvian men who have sex with men (n = 67 total). Qualitative findings highlight the differences between perceptions of stigma pre-disclosure and actual social experiences post-disclosure for most participants. Perceived stigma pre-diagnosis was significantly related to post-diagnosis social support, -0.

Persistent transmission of Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale species in an area of declining Plasmodium falciparum transmission in eastern Tanzania.

A reduction in the global burden of malaria over the past two decades has encouraged efforts for regional malaria elimination. Despite the need to target all Plasmodium species, current focus is mainly directed towards Plasmodium falciparum, and to a lesser extent P. vivax.

Sublobar Resection in the Treatment of Peripheral Typical Carcinoid Tumors of the Lung.

Background: The role of sublobar resection in the treatment of pulmonary typical carcinoids is controversial. This study aims to compare long-term outcomes between sublobar and lobar resections in patients with peripheral typical carcinoid.

Methods: We retrospectively compared consecutive patients who underwent curative sublobar resection with patients who underwent lobectomy for cT1-3 N0 M0 peripheral pulmonary typical carcinoid in eight centers between 2000 and 2015.

Large Cell Neuroendocrine Tumor Size >3 cm Negatively Impacts Long-Term Outcomes After R0 Resection.

Background: Minimal knowledge exists regarding the outcome, prognosis and optimal treatment strategy for patients with pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNEC) due to their rarity. We aimed to identify factors affecting survival and recurrence after resection to inform current treatment strategies.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 72 patients who had undergone a curative resection for LCNEC in 8 centers between 2000 and 2015.

Impact of pre-diagnosis awareness of HIV-related stigma and dispositional coping on linkage to HIV care among newly diagnosed HIV+ Peruvian patients.

A substantial body of literature has characterized how psychosocial factors, including HIV-related stigma and coping, are associated with HIV testing and HIV care utilization post-diagnosis. Less is known about if certain psychosocial characteristics pre-diagnosis may also predict linkage to care among individuals who receive an HIV-positive diagnosis. We examined if pre-diagnosis awareness/perception about HIV-related stigma and dispositional coping styles predicted linkage to HIV care within three months post-diagnosis with a secondary analysis of 604 patients from a randomized controlled trial (Sabes Study).

A multi-institutional review of outcomes in biopsy-proven acute invasive fungal sinusitis.

Background: Acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS) is a rare, aggressive infection occurring in immunocompromised patients. In this study we examined factors that affect survival in AIFS, and whether immune-stimulating therapies (IST) improve survival.

Methods: Pathology records of biopsy-proven AIFS were reviewed from 3 academic institutions from 1995 to 2016.

Improvement in TNM staging of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors requires histology and regrouping of tumor size.

Objective: Neuroendocrine tumors of the lung are currently staged with the 7th edition TNM non-small cell lung cancer staging system. This decision, based on data analysis without data on histology or disease-specific survival, makes its applicability limited. This study proposes a specific staging system for these tumors.

External Validation of a Prognostic Model of Survival for Resected Typical Bronchial Carcinoids.

Background: This study aimed to assess the reliability and the validity of a prognostic model of survival recently developed by the European Society of Thoracic Surgery Neuroendocrine Tumor Working Group to predict 5-year overall survival after surgical resection of pulmonary typical carcinoid.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data on 240 consecutive patients (164 men, 76 women; median age, 58 years [interquartile range, 47 to 68]) who underwent curative lung resection for pulmonary typical carcinoid in seven centers between 2000 and 2015. For each patient, we calculated the corresponding risk class (A, B, C, D) using the following variables: male, age, previous malignancy, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, peripheral tumor, TNM stage.

Is there a role for traditional nuclear medicine imaging in the management of pulmonary carcinoid tumours?

Objectives: The clinical utility of fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) in pulmonary carcinoids staging is unclear. This study aims to determine the role of FDG-PET and SRS in detecting hilar-mediastinal lymph node metastasis from these tumours.

Methods: We retrospectively collected the data of 380 patients who underwent lung resection for primary pulmonary carcinoid in seven centres between 2000 and 2015.

Knowledge and preferences concerning acute HIV testing programs among both Peruvian men who have sex with men and transgender women.

Immediate antiretroviral therapy (ART) for acute HIV infection (AHI) may decrease HIV transmission in high-risk populations. This study evaluated knowledge of AHI and AHI testing program preferences in Lima, Peru through four semi-structured focus groups with high-risk men who have sex with men (MSM) ( n = 20) and transgender women (TW) ( n = 16). Using content analysis, emergent themes included knowledge of AHI symptoms, AHI transmission potential, and the HIV testing window period, and preferences concerning point of care results.

Epidemiology of malaria in a village in the Rufiji River Delta, Tanzania: declining transmission over 25 years revealed by different parasitological metrics.

Background: Assessments of the epidemiology of malaria over time are needed to understand changes in transmission and guide control and elimination strategies.

Methods: A longitudinal population study was established in 1985 in Nyamisati village in the Rufiji River Delta, Tanzania. A physician and research team lived in the village 1984-2000.