Safety of open airway reconstruction in high-risk post-COVID patients: A case-matched control study.

Objectives: COVID-19 pneumonia patients may have high rates of intubation and reduced pulmonary function once recovered. Poor pulmonary function is a relative contraindication to open airway reconstruction, post-COVID patients may extrapolate as high-risk for open airway reconstruction. This presents challenges in airway stenosis management of post-COVID pneumonia patients.

Novel In-Office KTP Laser Treatment of Anterior Glottic Webs.

Objective: Acquired anterior glottic webs are the result of trauma, iatrogenic, radiation, or inflammation to the anterior commissure, resulting in narrowing of the airway and elevated pitch. They are very challenging to treat, and contemporary management strategies typically involve repeat procedures under general anesthesia with high rates of web recurrence. We aim to describe a novel treatment for anterior glottic webs with potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser treatment that are performed in-office under topical anesthesia.

Revisiting the etiology and clinical characteristics of hemorrhagic polyps of the vocal fold.

Objective: Benign phonotraumatic lesions of the vocal folds (BVFLs) are typically seen in younger female patients with high vocal loads. Hemorrhagic polyps (HPs) do not fit the classic paradigm of most BVFLs, as they tend to occur in an older population, have a male predominance, and report to result from a vocal accident. We present one of the largest cohorts of HPs, to reexamine their etiology and clinical features.

Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis in Non-Caucasian Women.

Objective: To characterize presentation, disease course, and treatment of idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) in non-Caucasian women and compare this cohort to the predominantly female, Caucasian patient cohorts identified in the literature.

Study Design: Retrospective review. Results are compared to systematic review of demographics.

Prospective Outcomes After Serial Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection in Vocal Fold Scar and Sulcus.

Objective: Vocal fold scar and sulcus pose significant treatment challenges with no current optimal treatment. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an autologous concentration of growth factors, holds promise for regenerating the superficial lamina propria. This study aims to evaluate the potential benefits of serial PRP injections on mucosal wave restoration and vocal function.

TrachGPT: Appraisal of tracheostomy care recommendations from an artificial intelligent Chatbot.

Objective: Safe home tracheostomy care requires engagement and troubleshooting by patients, who may turn to online, AI-generated information sources. This study assessed the quality of ChatGPT responses to such queries.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ChatGPT was prompted with 10 hypothetical tracheostomy care questions in three domains (complication management, self-care advice, and lifestyle adjustment).

Development of a Novel Airway-Exchange Broncholaryngoscope.

Objective: The purpose of this project was to develop a novel airway-exchange broncholaryngoscope (AEBLScope) to improve the efficiency and accuracy of airway-exchange procedures.

Methods: The AEBLScope was designed to combine a bronchoscope and airway-exchange catheter (AEC) into a single device and to reduce the blind placement of AECs. The prototype was constructed by modifying an existing distal-chip bronchoscope.

Dysphagia as a Manifestation of Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders.

Dysphagia is a common manifestation of endocrine and metabolic diseases. Swallowing is a complex neuromuscular process, with an interplay of sensory and motor function, that has voluntary and involuntary control. Disruptions in any of these processes can cause significant dysphagia.

Safety of Nebulized Ciprodex for Postoperative Management of Tracheal Resection.

Objective: Anastomotic complications after tracheal resection/cricotracheal resection (TR/CTR), such as granulation tissue formation, can lead to severe morbidity. The off-label use of nebulized ciprofloxacin-dexamethasone (Ciprodex) for granulation tissue prophylaxis has anecdotally been used after TR/CTR, especially in pediatric patients. However, its use in the adult population, and its safety and side effect profile post-TR/CTR has not been reported.

Timing of Complications in Open Airway Reconstruction.

Objective: Tracheal resection (TR) and cricotracheal resection (CTR) are performed for patients with airway stenosis, tracheal tumor, and tracheoesophageal fistula. Post-operative complications include airway edema requiring reintubation, hematoma, anastomotic dehiscence, restenosis, and death. Although these complications and associated risk factors have been well described, the time where clinical suspicion should be highest post operatively has not been characterized.

Validation of an AI-assisted Treatment Outcome Measure for Gender-Affirming Voice Care: Comparing AI Accuracy to Listener's Perception of Voice Femininity.

Objectives: There is currently a lack of objective treatment outcome measures for transgender individuals undergoing gender-affirming voice care. Recently, Bensoussan et al developed an AI model that is able to generate a voice femininity rating based on a short voice sample provided through a smartphone application. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of using this model as a treatment outcome measure by comparing its performance to human listeners.

Experiences of Patients Living with Retrograde Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction.

Objectives: Retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction (RCPD) is a newly described condition resulting from failure of cricopharyngeal sphincter relaxation during periods of esophageal distension that results in the inability to burp. Patients' perspectives on symptom experiences, barriers to care, and treatment benefits were investigated.

Study Design: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients diagnosed with RCPD who had been treated with botulinum toxin injection into the cricopharyngeus muscle.

Prospective >12 Months Outcomes After Vocal Fold Injection Medialization With Silk Microparticle-Hyaluronic Acid Material.

Objective: Vocal fold injection medialization (VFIM) is widely used as an initial treatment for unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). Current practices employ materials that share the limitation of temporary clinical effect from variable resorption rates. A novel silk protein microparticle-hyaluronic acid-based material (silk-HA) has demonstrated cellular infiltration and tissue deposition that may portend a durable medialization effect.

Decision-Making in the Treatment of Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis: A Survey of Laryngologists.

Objective: Idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) is a rare condition involving the subglottic larynx and upper trachea, commonly affecting Caucasian females between 30 and 50 years of age. Despite its homogeneous presentation, clinical management for iSGS is yet to be standardized, leading to variability in outcomes between predominant interventions. In recognition of the heterogenicity in iSGS treatment and the need to improve patient outcomes, this study aimed to survey laryngologists to understand the factors influencing clinical decision-making and the incorporation of new treatment modalities for iSGS.

Factors Associated With Dysphagia in Patients Undergoing Tracheal Resection.

Importance: Patients undergoing tracheal resection commonly experience dysphagia postoperatively, and the patient factors that predict severity and duration of symptoms are currently unclear.

Objective: To determine the association of patient and surgical factors on postoperative dysphagia in adult patients undergoing tracheal resection.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing tracheal resection at 2 tertiary academic centers from February 2014 to May 2021.

Variations in Practices and Preferences of Vocal Fold Injection Materials: A National Survey.

Background: Vocal fold injection augmentation (VFI) is a common procedure for the treatment of glottic insufficiency. Material options for VFI and decisions regarding material selection are not standardized and often based on clinician preference.

Objective: This study aims to understand the variations in provider preference and utilization of injectable materials for VFI.

Creation of an Open Bedside Tracheostomy Program at a Community Hospital With a Single Surgeon.

Objective: To assess the adverse event rate and operating cost of open bedside tracheostomy (OBT) at a community hospital. To present a model for creating an OBT program at a community hospital with a single surgeon.

Study Design: Retrospective case series pilot study.

Comparative Treatment Outcomes for Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis: 5-Year Update.

The North American Airway Collaborative (NoAAC) previously published a 3-year multi-institutional prospective cohort study showing variation in treatment effectiveness between 3 primary surgical techniques for idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS). In this report, we update these findings to include 5 years of data evaluating treatment effectiveness. Patients in the NoAAC cohort were re-enrolled for 2 additional years and followed using the prespecified published protocol.

Repair of Anterior Tracheal Defect by Trans-Tracheostomy Placement of Acellular Dermal Matrix.

Severe infections of the neck can lead to life-threatening consequences when not treated promptly and correctly. This case report is the first to illustrate the successful use of an acellular dermal matrix to repair a tracheal defect in the setting of a severe neck infection. Laryngoscope, 133:1961-1963, 2023.

Serial In-Office Steroid Injections for Airway Stenosis: Long-Term Benefit and Cost Analysis.

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term benefit of serial in-office steroid injections (SISI) in the treatment of subglottic and proximal tracheal stenosis (SG/PTS). Evaluate cost of SISI compared to endoscopic dilation (ED).

Study Design: Retrospective study and cost analysis.

Disparities in the prevalence of self-reported dysphagia and treatment among U.S. adults.

Objective: To assess sociodemographic differences in the prevalence of self-reported dysphagia and treatment and to identify barriers in access to care.

Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Setting: National healthcare survey database.

The Effect of Subglottic Steroid injection on Blood Glucose in a Cohort of Patients With Subglottic Stenosis.

Objective: The objective of this work was to assess the effect of a single intralesional subglottic steroid injection on fasting blood glucose over 7 days in a cohort of patients with subglottic stenosis.

Methods: A prospective cohort study of patients undergoing intralesional steroid injections at a tertiary academic center. Patients had baseline bloodwork performed, including fasting blood glucose (FBG), and hemoglobin A1C levels.