LearnENT: The Development of a Free Open Access Medical Education App in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Objective: To describe the successes and challenges associated with developing an otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) medical education app and website.

Design: From 2010 to 2018, OHNS faculty across Canada contributed to the development of a smartphone app, LearnENT. LearnENT 1.

A case report of severe nasal ischemia from cold agglutinin disease and a novel treatment protocol including HBOT.

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare condition leading to blood agglutination and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Cutaneous ischemia resulting from CAD in the head and neck is uncommon. Treatment regimens and outcomes vary widely in the literature and no clear protocol exists.

Uremic leontiasis ossea due to secondary hyperparathyroidism complicated by vitamin C deficiency in a non-adherent chronic hemodialysis patient: A case report.

Non-adherence to medical therapy in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) can lead to severe metabolic derangements rarely seen in the current medical era. Such complications may take the form of secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) leading to rare manifestations of bone mineral disease, and profound vitamin C deficiency from poor nutrition combined with removal of water-soluble vitamins during dialysis. Secondary HPT causes renal osteodystrophy which can lead to diffuse enlargement of the facial skeleton and morphological changes suggestive of leontiasis ossea.

Ectopic Parathyroid Adenoma in Piriform Sinus: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

During routine blood work, a 53-year-old female patient was noted to have asymptomatic hypercalcemia and subsequently found to have hyperparathyroidism. Localization studies for a suspected parathyroid adenoma included Tc Sestamibi scintigraphy, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) study, and ultrasound of the neck, which were initially read as negative for parathyroid adenoma. A contrast-enhanced CT scan of the neck was performed to locate the suspected parathyroid adenoma and demonstrated a soft tissue lesion within the right piriform sinus.

Medical specialty preferences in early medical school training in Canada.

Objectives: To understand what medical students consider when choosing their specialty, prior to significant clinical exposure to develop strategies to provide adequate career counseling.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed by distributing optional questionnaires to 165 first-year medical students at the University of Ottawa in their first month of training with a sample yield of 54.5% (n=90).

Does medical school research productivity predict a resident's research productivity during residency?

Background: Research productivity is an important component of the CanMEDS Scholar role and is an accreditation requirement of Canadian Otolaryngology training programs. Our objective was to determine if an association exists between publication rates before and during Otolaryngology residency.

Methods: We obtained the names for all certified Canadian Otolaryngologists who graduated between 1998 and 2013 inclusive, and conducted a Medline search for all of their publications.

A landscape analysis of leadership training in postgraduate medical education training programs at the University of Ottawa.

Background: There is growing recognition of the importance of physician leadership in healthcare. At the same time, becoming an effective leader requires significant training. While educational opportunities for practicing physicians exist to develop their leadership skills, there is a paucity of leadership opportunities for post graduate trainees.

Quality of Life Assessment After Maxillomandibular Advancement Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Purpose: Although maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery is highly efficacious for the management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), little information exists regarding the subjective effect of this treatment modality. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of MMA on patient-perceived quality of life (QOL) in OSA.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients treated with MMA for OSA from May 2010 to April 2015 was performed.

Distributed learning or medical tourism? A Canadian residency program's experience in global health.

Background: Global health experiences (GHEs) are becoming increasingly prevalent in surgical residency education. Although it may seem intuitive that participation in GHEs develops CanMEDS competencies, this has not been studied in depth in surgery. The purpose of this study is (1) to explore if and how otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) resident participation in GHEs facilitates the development of CanMEDS competencies and (2) to develop an OHNS GHE tool to facilitate the integration of CanMEDS into GHE participation and evaluation.

Linear and volumetric airway changes after maxillomandibular advancement for obstructive sleep apnea.

Purpose: Maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery is a well-established treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Although many studies have assessed the efficacy of MMA in treating OSA, very few studies have quantified the magnitude of its changes to airway morphology. Therefore, the present study investigated the linear and volumetric morphologic changes that occur in the pharyngeal airway after treatment of OSA using MMA.

Surgical exploration and discovery program: inaugural involvement of otolaryngology - head and neck surgery.

Background: There is significant variability in undergraduate Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (OTOHNS) curricula across Canadian medical schools. As part of an extracurricular program delivered jointly with other surgical specialties, the Surgical Exploration and Discovery (SEAD) program presents an opportunity for medical students to experience OTOHNS. The purpose of this study is to review the participation and outcome of OTOHNS in the SEAD program.

Pharyngeal airway morphology in healthy individuals and in obstructive sleep apnea patients treated with maxillomandibular advancement: a comparative study.

Objective: This study investigated the differences in airway morphology between control patients and those with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treated with maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) to gain better insight into the beneficial effects of MMA on airway morphology and OSA severity.

Study Design: This retrospective case-control study included preoperative radiographic data gathered for all patients; postoperative radiographic data were gathered for the OSA group. Statistical analysis, including the Student t test, and simple linear regression was performed to identify differences in cephalometric and airway variables among the three groups and to associate airway morphology to disease severity.

Canadian Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery clerkship curricula: evolving toward tomorrow's learners.

Background: Increasing focus is being placed on Clerkship curriculum design and implementation in light of new undergraduate medical education research and accreditation standards. Canadian Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (OTOHNS) Clerkship programs are continually but independently evolving towards a common goal of improving Clerkship curriculum.

Methods: An electronic survey was sent to undergraduate OTOHNS directors at all Canadian medical schools (n = 17) examining their Clerkship curricula.

Global health initiatives and electives: a survey of interest among Canadian otolaryngology residents.

Objective: To determine the level of interest among Canadian otolaryngology residents in global health initiatives (GHIs) and international health electives (IHEs) and the barriers to participation in such initiatives.

Methods: A Web-based survey was developed and sent to all Canadian otolaryngology residents. Questions were posed on demographics, the level of interest in GHIs and IHEs, past experiences in this field, real and perceived barriers in pursuing GHIs and IHEs, previous global health experience, and, finally, the current infrastructure that exists in Canadian postsecondary institutions and otolaryngology programs to encourage participation.

Systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the effectiveness of local anesthetic, vasoconstrictive, and lubricating agents in flexible fibre-optic nasolaryngoscopy.

Background: Flexible fibre-optic nasolaryngoscopy (FFN) is a common otolaryngology procedure that patients may find uncomfortable. Preparative agents, including topical anesthetic, vasoconstrictive, and lubricating agents, have been studied in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted on RCTs published between January 1966 and October 2005 and indexed to MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases.

Cilia ultrastructure in children with Down syndrome.

Chronic sinusitis, otitis media with effusion, and upper respiratory tract infections are commonly found in patients with Down syndrome. These diseases are generally felt to be secondary to depressed immune function and altered craniofacial dimensions. Recently, a cilia ultrastructure abnormality was found in a child with Down syndrome.