Radiofrequency ablation compared to surgery for thyroid nodules: A case for office based treatment.

Objective: We aim to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for benign thyroid nodules by ENT surgeons and to compare it to conventional hemithyroidectomy in the public healthcare, operating theater contained setting.

Methods: 50 patients who underwent a single session of RFA for symptomatic benign thyroid nodules in Prince of Wales Hospital and Tseung Kwan O Hospital in Hong Kong from 2020 to 2022 were evaluated. Objective outcomes including nodule volume, volume reduction rate (VRR) and complications were recorded.

A standardized treatment protocol for pilonidal disease can influence the health mindset of adolescents.

Purpose: Pilonidal disease (PD) significantly impacts patients' quality of life and requires regular maintenance behaviors to achieve cure. Health mindset is a psychological construct which can influence health behaviors and outcomes, with a growth mindset being associated with better outcomes than a fixed. We propose that participation in a standardized treatment protocol can affect the health mindset for adolescents with pilonidal disease.

Comorbidities are not associated with pain symptom or recurrence in patients with pilonidal disease.

Background: Comorbidities can potentially impact the presentation or outcome of patients with pilonidal disease (PD) due to poor wound healing or increased inflammatory response. We hypothesized that certain comorbidities could lead to worse pain or higher recurrence rate.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed on all PD patients treated with standardized minimally invasive protocol at our clinic 2019-2022.

The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease and laryngopharyngeal reflux in patients with dysphagia after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in post-irradiated patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is unknown.

Materials And Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 31 NPC and 12 control patients completed questionnaires for GERD/LPR before esophageal manometry and 24-h pH monitoring. The DeMeester score and reflux finding score (RFS) were used to define GERD and LPR, respectively.

Quality of life and swallowing outcomes after early proactive swallowing rehabilitation by either transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation or exercise-based swallowing training in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy.

Background: Exercise-based swallowing training (EBST) and transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (TNMES) are common modalities used to treat late dysphagia after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We aimed to investigate and compare the efficacies of EBST and TNMES as proactive treatments administered early after radiotherapy.

Methods: Patients with early post-radiotherapy NPC ( = 120) underwent either TNMES or EBST.

Regular epilation alone is an acceptable treatment for symptom-free pilonidal patients.

Introduction: Patients with mild pilonidal disease often experience symptom resolution without excision. We hypothesized that treating symptom-free/asymptomatic pilonidal patients with regular epilation alone had similar recurrence rate as patients who were also treated surgically.

Method: Patient data were prospectively collected 2/2019-11/2022 at our Pilonidal Clinic.

A Hybrid Auricular Framework of Autologous Rib Cartilage and a Porous Polyethylene Implant for Reconstruction of Congenital Microtia: A Modification of Nagata's Technique.

An implant (porous polyethylene) is an alternative to rib cartilage for microtia reconstruction but carries a risk of extrusion. To evaluate the outcome of a hybrid framework of implant with rib cartilage for microtia reconstruction. Patients who underwent Nagata's technique for microtia reconstruction were reviewed for complications and aesthetic score.

Combining Transoral Nasopharyngeal Brush and Plasma Epstein-Barr Virus DNA in Detecting Locally Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivities and specificities of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in the detection of locally recurrent or persistent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) through nasopharyngeal (NP) brush biopsy and plasma, respectively, and whether a combination of both would be superior to the individual tests.

Study Design: A case-control study was conducted from September 2016 to June 2022.

Setting: A multicentre study at 3 tertiary referral centers in Hong Kong was conducted by the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Increasing Amount of Hair Reduction using Laser Correlates with Lower Probability of Recurrence in Patients with Pilonidal Disease.

Background: Hair at the gluteal cleft plays a key role in the development and recurrence of pilonidal disease (PD). We hypothesized that more hair reduction achieved using laser could correlate with lower chance of PD recurrence.

Methods: PD patients who underwent laser epilation (LE) were categorized by Fitzpatrick skin type, hair color, and hair thickness.

Outcome assessment of office Plastibell circumcision in infants utilizing interactive electronic health record.

Objective: To assess the outcomes of office-based circumcision performed using Plastibell devices in infants, utilizing the MyChart interactive electronic health record (iEHR) system to monitor the progress and identify potential complications.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study conducted between March 2021 to April 2022 on all infants undergoing office based Plastibell circumcision. Parents were encouraged to submit concerns via MyChart and to submit photos if the ring has not fallen by post-procedure day 7.

Adoption of a standardized treatment protocol for pilonidal disease leads to low recurrence.

Background: Pilonidal disease may present as acute abscesses or chronic draining sinuses. There is no standardized treatment and recurrence rates can be as high as 30%. Within our five-hospital network we have established a standardized treatment protocol including minimally invasive surgical trephination and aggressive epilation.

Burden of pilonidal disease and improvement in quality of life after treatment in adolescents.

Purpose: Pilonidal Disease (PD) affects adolescents in different aspects. We hypothesized that patients with different gender, ethnicity, and age have different quality of life (QOL) measurements which could improve with minimally invasive treatment (MIT).

Methods: 131 PD patients underwent MIT (laser epilation ± trephination) from 2019 to 2021.

Oro-pharyngo-esophageal radionuclide scintigraphy predicts aspiration pneumonia risk and associated survival in post-irradiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.

Objective: To demonstrate that oro-pharyngo-esophageal radionuclide scintigraphy (OPERS) not only detects tracheobronchial aspiration after swallowing, but also quantifies the amount of aspiration and subsequent clearance.

Methods: Data collected between 2014 and 2019 were reviewed for aspiration pneumonia at 12 and 24-months after OPERS. The predictive value for aspiration pneumonia on flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), and OPERS, and the overall survival of patients with or without aspiration were determined.

Assessment of pharyngeal motor function using a novel velopharyngeal squeeze maneuver and a novel endoscopic pharyngeal contraction grade scale in patients with dysphagia after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: To investigate a novel velopharyngeal squeeze maneuver (VPSM) and novel endoscopic pharyngeal contraction grade (EPCG) scale for the evaluation of pharyngeal motor function.

Methods: During endoscopic examination of 77 post-irradiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and control subjects, VPSM was rated and lateral pharyngeal wall movement graded with EPCG scale during swallowing. Pharyngeal constriction ratio (PCR) measured by videofluoroscopy was used for correlation.

Perceptual Voice and Speech Analysis after Supraglottic Laryngeal Closure for Chronic Aspiration in Head and Neck Cancer.

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate the voice and speech outcomes after tubed supraglottic laryngeal closure (TSLC) surgery to treat chronic aspiration after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Study Design: A retrospective case-control study.

Methods: The data of patients who underwent radiotherapy for head and neck cancer and who later required total laryngectomy or TSLC for chronic aspiration between 2004 and 2017 were retrieved from a dysphagia clinic.

Tubed Supraglottic Laryngeal Closure to Treat Chronic Aspiration After Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer.

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate the long-term swallowing outcomes after surgical treatment for chronic aspiration in patients treated with radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Study Design: This was a retrospective study.

Methods: The data of patients who underwent radiotherapy for head and neck cancer and who subsequently required a laryngectomy or a tubed supraglottic laryngeal closure (TSLC) for recurrent aspiration pneumonia between 2004 and 2017 were retrieved from a tertiary referral hospital dysphagia clinic.

COVID-19 Viral Load in the Severity of and Recovery From Olfactory and Gustatory Dysfunction.

Objectives/hypothesis: This study investigated olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in the 2020 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients, and their correlations with viral load evaluation.

Study Design: Prospective cross-sectional cohort study.

Methods: One hundred forty-three symptomatic patients being screened for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were invited to participate.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Serological Immune Markers Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mannan Antibodies and Outer Membrane Porin C are Potential Biomarkers for Hirschsprung-associated Enterocolitis.

Objective: Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) is the most frequent complication in Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) patients. Currently HAEC is diagnosed clinically, leaving uncertainty in the diagnosis thereby potentially leading to over- or undertreatment of patients. The aim of this study was to identify immune biomarkers to aid in the diagnosis of HAEC.

Critical evaluation of the Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) score: A multicenter study of 116 children with Hirschsprung disease.

Objective: To identify the optimal clinical criteria to diagnose Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) in children with Hirschsprung disease (HSCR).

Background: HAEC is the most common life-threatening complication in HSCR patients, yet the diagnostic criteria for HAEC remain unclear. The consensus-based HAEC scoring system was not validated using patient data, thereby making its diagnostic accuracy uncertain.

Altered fecal short chain fatty acid composition in children with a history of Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis.

Purpose: Children with Hirschsprung disease (HD) who have a history of enterocolitis (HAEC) have a shift in colonic microbiota, many of which are necessary for short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. As SCFAs play a critical role in colonic mucosal preservation, we hypothesized that fecal SCFA composition is altered in children with HAEC.

Methods: A multicenter study enrolled 18 HD children, abstracting for history of feeding, antibiotic/probiotic use, and enterocolitis symptoms.

Characterization of Bacterial and Fungal Microbiome in Children with Hirschsprung Disease with and without a History of Enterocolitis: A Multicenter Study.

Development of potentially life-threatening enterocolitis is the most frequent complication in children with Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), even after definitive corrective surgery. Intestinal microbiota likely contribute to the etiology of enterocolitis, so the aim of this study was to compare the fecal bacterial and fungal communities of children who developed Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) with HSCR patients who had never had enterocolitis. Eighteen Hirschsprung patients who had completed definitive surgery were enrolled: 9 had a history of HAEC and 9 did not.

New technique of extracorporeal hepatic inflow control for pure laparoscopic liver resection.

We have developed a new technique of the Pringle maneuver by clamping outside the abdominal wall for pure laparoscopic liver resection (pure Lap). Our technique successfully controls bleeding and enables pure Lap to be completed without any events, even for a large tumor. Between 2008 and 2010, we compared consecutive patients who received pure Lap with (n=11) and without (n=7) this Pringle maneuver.