Evaluating Perceptions of Head and Neck Surgeons on the Role of Single-Entry Models in Managing Surgical Waitlists in Ontario: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Long surgical wait times have long plagued health systems in Canada and abroad. This backlog and associated strain on health human resources has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting surgeries of varying degrees of urgency across all surgical specialties, including head and neck surgery. Single-entry models (SEMs) are being increasingly studied as one possible strategy to help manage surgical wait times, and a growing number of health systems have implemented SEMs within departments such as otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.

Interventions to Reduce Psychosocial Burden in Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Narrative Review.

Background: The diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC) is associated with several life-altering morbidities including change in appearance, speech, and swallowing, all of which can significantly affect quality of life and cause psychosocial stress.

Commentary: The aim of this narrative review is to provide an overview of the evidence on psychosocial interventions for patients with HNC. Evidence regarding screening tools, psychological interventions, smoking and alcohol cessation, and antidepressant therapy in the HNC population is reviewed.

Oncologic Safety of Close Margins in Patients With Low- to Intermediate-Grade Major Salivary Gland Carcinoma.

Importance: Postoperative radiation therapy for close surgical margins in low- to intermediate-grade salivary carcinomas lacks multi-institutional supportive evidence.

Objective: To evaluate the oncologic outcomes for low- and intermediate-grade salivary carcinomas with close and positive margins.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The American Head and Neck Society Salivary Gland Section conducted a retrospective cohort study from 2010 to 2019 at 41 centers.

Oral cancer screening knowledge and practices among dental professionals at the University of Toronto.

Introduction: Opportunistic oral cancer screening during visits to the dentist is a non-invasive and accessible option for detection of pre-malignant lesions and early-stage malignancies. The objective of this study was to investigate the knowledge, practices, and attitudes towards oral cancer screening among dentists.

Methods: A 42-item survey was sent to 650 dental professionals affiliated with the University of Toronto.

Individuals Experiencing Homelessness: A Systematic Review of Otolaryngology-Related Health Needs and Community-Based Interventions.

Objective: Access to and use of physician services is limited for those experiencing homelessness. Homelessness may predispose patients to several Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) health conditions and barriers to care may leave these unaddressed. The aim of this review was to synthesize the literature on OHNS health needs and community-based interventions for patients experiencing homelessness.

Cancer surgery cancellation: incidence, outcomes and recovery in a universal health care system.

Background: Cancer surgery cancellation can have negative consequences for the patient, the surgeon and the health care system. There is a paucity of literature on cancer surgery cancellation and its association with wait times, perioperative outcomes, survival and costs of care. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the incidence of same-day cancer surgery cancellation in a universal health care context and its association with short and long-term outcomes.

Evaluating the Rising Incidence of Thyroid Cancer and Thyroid Nodule Detection Modes: A Multinational, Multi-institutional Analysis.

Importance: There is epidemiologic evidence that the increasing incidence of thyroid cancer is associated with subclinical disease detection. Evidence for a true increase in thyroid cancer incidence has also been identified. However, a true increase in disease would likely be heralded by an increased incidence of thyroid-referable symptoms in patients presenting with disease.

The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System: A narrative review of a standardized symptom assessment tool in head and neck oncology.

Objective: Symptom burden is common in head and neck cancer patients though it frequently remains undetected and untreated. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System - revised version (ESAS-r) is a generic symptom scale deployed in many outpatient settings worldwide. The ESAS-r is meant to improve symptom detection and management.

Surgical Case Volume has an Impact on Outcomes for Patients with Lateral Neck Disease in Thyroid Cancer.

Background: This study aimed to assess whether surgical case volume for lateral neck dissection has an impact on the survival of patients who have well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) with lateral cervical node metastases. The authors used a population-based cohort study design.

Methods: The study cohort consisted of WDTC patients in Ontario Canada who underwent thyroidectomy and lateral neck dissection.

Association of Vessel-Sealant Devices vs Conventional Hemostasis With Postoperative Neck Hematoma After Thyroid Operations.

Importance: Vessel-sealant devices (VSDs) have been popularized for use in thyroid operations; however, the association of their use with postoperative neck hematoma, a rare but potentially fatal complication, has not been well studied.

Objective: To examine the association of VSDs vs conventional hemostasis (CH) in thyroid operations with the development of neck hematoma.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study evaluated 10 903 patients in the Thyroid Procedure-Targeted Database of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017.

Risk Factors Associated With Postoperative Delirium in Patients Undergoing Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction.

Importance: Postoperative delirium (POD) is associated with an increased rate of adverse events, higher health care costs, and longer hospital stays. At present, limited data are available regarding the risk factors for developing POD in patients undergoing head and neck free flap reconstruction. Identification of patients at high risk of developing POD will allow implementation of risk-mitigation strategies.

Wait times for endoscopic sinus surgery influence patient-reported outcome measures in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who fulfill appropriateness criteria.

Background: Previous studies on the impact of wait times for endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in medically recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis (rCRS) have not examined its influence on the 5 distinct symptoms domains of the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), and have not applied evidence-based surgical indications. Our primary study objective was to investigate the impact of ESS wait times on postoperative SNOT-22 global and symptom domain scores in patients with rCRS deemed "appropriate" surgical candidates.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of adult patients with rCRS undergoing ESS, categorized as "appropriate" surgical candidates.

Brugada syndrome unmasked by malaria-induced fever.

Brugada syndrome is typically an autosomal dominant genetic disorder with variable expression, characterized by three specific electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns. While Type I Brugada ECG pattern is used as a classic marker for the disease, it is generally masked from ECG except in special cases such as malaria-induced fever. This vignette highlights a unique clinical scenario that can lead to the unmasking of Brugada type 1 pattern.

Consultation diagnoses and procedures billed among recent graduates practicing general otolaryngology - head & neck surgery in Ontario, Canada.

Background: An analysis of the scope of practice of recent Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) graduates working as general otolaryngologists has not been previously performed. As Canadian OHNS residency programs implement competency-based training strategies, this data may be used to align residency curricula with the clinical and surgical practice of recent graduates.

Methods: Ontario billing data were used to identify the most common diagnostic and procedure codes used by general otolaryngologists issued a billing number between 2006 and 2012.

Predictors of Complications in Patients Receiving Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstructive Procedures.

Objective To (1) determine the overall complication rate, wound healing, and wound infection complications and (2) identify preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative predictors of these complications. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary academic cancer hospital.

Quality Indicators: Measurement and Predictors in Head and Neck Cancer Free Flap Patients.

Objective To determine the predictors of length of stay (LOS), readmission within 30 days, and unplanned return to the operating room (OR) within 30 days in head and neck free flap patients. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary academic cancer hospital.