Reducing Length of Stay in Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery Patients: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Objective: To investigate whether a new preoperative education and discharge planning protocol reduced unexpected discharge delays for patients undergoing reconstructive surgery for head and neck cancer.

Methods: A quality improvement (QI) intervention was implemented in January 2021 with several components to address historically prolonged observed lengths of stay (LOS) with head and neck cancer patients. The intervention added a preoperative educational visit with a head and neck cancer advanced practice provider, a standardized preoperative speech and swallow assessment, a personalized patient care plan document, discussion of inpatient hospital stay expectations, and early discharge planning.

Complications of Nasal Tip Stabilizing Grafts with Autologous Versus Irradiated Homologous Costal Cartilage in Septorhinoplasty: A Systematic Review.

Complications associated with the use of autologous and homologous costal cartilage for nasal tip stabilizing grafts in septorhinoplasty are not well understood. The authors review current literature to evaluate complications associated with autologous and irradiated homologous costal cartilage (IHCC) used for septal extension and columellar strut grafts in rhinoplasty. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and ClinicalTrials.

Patient Characteristics Impacting Adherence to Serial Observation for Vestibular Schwannomas.

Objective: To examine patient characteristics that impact serial observation adherence among vestibular schwannoma (VS) patients.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Single tertiary care center.

-Mutated Cytologically Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules: Prevalence of Malignancy and Behavior Under Active Surveillance.

Genomic profiling is now available for risk stratification of cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules (ITNs). Mutations in genes (, , ) are found in both benign and malignant thyroid nodules, although isolated mutations are rarely associated with aggressive tumors. Because the long-term behavior of -mutant ITNs is not well understood, most undergo immediate surgery.

Adjuvant Radiotherapy in Moderately Advanced (T3) Oral Cavity Cancers.

Objective: To investigate the impact of adjuvant radiotherapy in isolated locally advanced oral cavity cancers (pT3N0M0) without adverse features.

Methods: We selected all patients from the National Cancer Database (2004-2019) who underwent surgical treatment where the final pathology was T3N0M0 with negative margins. Demographics, details of treatment, and outcomes were abstracted.