The Sensitivity and Specificity of Touch Preparation for Rapid Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Sinusitis: A Pilot Study.

Invasive fungal sinusitis is a morbid pathology that typically affects immunocompromised patients and may quickly progress to fulminant disease. The purpose of this study was to measure the sensitivity and specificity of touch preparation of nasal debridement specimens as a rapid diagnostic tool for invasive fungal sinusitis. A retrospective chart review was performed of 22 patients undergoing nasal debridement due to suspicion for invasive fungal sinusitis over a 10-year period.

Symptoms and Clinical Findings in Primary Headache Syndrome Versus Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Background: Primary headache syndrome (PHS) patients frequently present to otolaryngologists with sinonasal complaints and diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) due to symptomatic overlap. In this study, we compare demographic, subjective, and objective clinical findings of patients with PHS versus CRS.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a database of patients presenting to a single tertiary care Rhinology clinic from December 2011-July 2017.

The sensitivity and specificity of touch preparation for rapid diagnosis of invasive fungal sinusitis: A pilot study.

Invasive fungal sinusitis is a morbid pathology that typically affects immunocompromised patients and may quickly progress to fulminant disease. The purpose of this study was to measure the sensitivity and specificity of touch preparation of nasal debridement specimens as a rapid diagnostic tool for invasive fungal sinusitis. A retrospective chart review was performed of 22 patients undergoing nasal debridement due to suspicion for invasive fungal sinusitis over a 10-year period.

Effectiveness of leukotriene receptor antagonism in the postoperative management of chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background: Montelukast is used in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma. It has been used as adjuvant therapy in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), but its effectiveness has not been evaluated. This study evaluates the efficacy of adjuvant leukotriene receptor antagonism in CRS and subtypes.

Chronic rhinosinusitis in patients requiring surgical repair of a midface fracture.

Midface fractures commonly occur following trauma to the face and may cause changes in the normal sinus outflow system. To the best of our knowledge, no study has examined the incidence of rhinosinusitis following midface fractures. We report the incidence of chronic rhinosinusitis in patients who underwent surgical repair of a midface fracture.

Effectiveness of a standardized education process for tracheostomy care.

Objectives/hypothesis: Evaluate the effectiveness of an educational curriculum on general tracheostomy care principles and determine the effect of this educational curriculum on the level of provider comfort with tracheostomy care.

Study Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire in an academic medical center.

Materials And Methods: A 25-question multiple choice and true/false quiz was given to nonotolaryngology health care providers (nurses and physicians) who routinely provide tracheostomy care.

The clinical and audiologic features of hearing loss due to mitochondrial mutations.

Objectives: To characterize mitochondrial sequence variants present in a nationwide hereditary deafness DNA repository of samples from deaf subjects and to define the clinical presentation and audiometric characteristics of individuals with a mitochondrial sequence variant.

Study Design: Retrospective review of results for select mitochondrial mutations performed on DNA samples from subjects compiled from 1997 to 2009.

Setting: National hereditary deafness DNA repository.

Risk factors associated with unilateral hearing loss.

Objective: To analyze the presence of Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) risk factors and co-occurring birth defects (CBDs) in children with unilateral hearing loss (UHL).

Design: Retrospective review.

Setting: Statewide registry of universal newborn hearing screen data for all children born in Virginia from 2002 through 2008.

A novel advancement flap for reconstruction of massive forehead and temple soft-tissue defects.

Objectives/hypothesis: To describe the authors' experience with an extended deep-plane cervicofacial (EDPCF) advancement flap, a modification of the deep-plane cervicofacial flap, for reconstruction of large forehead and temple soft-tissue defects.

Study Design: Case series at a tertiary referral medical center.

Methods: The charts of 11 consecutive patients who underwent EDPCF flap surgery for reconstruction of forehead and temple skin cancer defects were reviewed for demographics, smoking status, defect size, length of surgery and hospitalization, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification (ASA) grade, and postoperative complications.

Prevalence of previously unknown elevation of glycosylated hemoglobin in spine surgery patients and impact on length of stay and total cost.

Background: Elevated levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) among spine surgery patients may have an impact on length of stay (LOS) and healthcare cost.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 556 spine surgery patients who underwent 1 of 3 types of surgery: lumbar microdiscectomy (LMD), anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF), and lumbar decompression and fusion (LDF). Information was collected about their diabetes mellitus (DM) history and HbA1c levels.

Functional outcomes following secondary free flap reconstruction of the head and neck.

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate head and neck patients undergoing secondary (delayed) free flap reconstructions.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Methods: Of the 523 free flaps between October 2004 and May 2008, 70 patients underwent 71 secondary free flaps.