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Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy Around Bell Palsy in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery

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To the Editor In the United States, COVID-19 has largely become a pandemic of the unvaccinated, and persistent vaccine hesitancy reflects lingering uncertainties. Concerns about vaccine-related Bell palsy are particularly relevant to otolaryngologists, who diagnose and treat facial paralysis, provide clarity for patients, explain etiologies, curate conflicting data, and offer guidance. Three recent articles expand our understanding of this question and invite challenging new questions.
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Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy Around Bell Palsy in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery—Reply

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In Reply We thank the authors of the Letter to the Editor for stimulating further discussion. Tamaki et al explored the relationship between COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine on Bell palsy (BP). Patients were counted as having Bell palsy if they received a diagnosis of International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code G51.0. Granular patient-level data may be lacking in an analysis of this magnitude, and it was not possible to differentiate persistent or recurrent BP. Likewise, it is difficult to accurately quality check the accuracy of coding without the benefit of reviewing clinical data. We plan to expand on our work with further analysis. We agree that research using large databases may be at risk for misclassification. However, such databases can be an effective resource i n studying rare pathologies, especially in specific populations such as those who have had COVID-19 or received the COVID-19 vaccination. Our propensity score matched analysis suggests that rates of BP are higher in patients who are positive for COVID-19 and this incidence exceeds the reported incidence of BP with the COVID-19 vaccine.
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Extranodal Extension and Other Adverse Features After Transoral Robotic Surgery for HPV-Positive Cancer

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This cohort study evaluates the risk of adverse histopathologic features that meet indications for possible adjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in patients with human papillomavirus–positive oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma undergoing transoral robotic surgery with neck dissection.
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Incidence of Second Primary Lung Cancer After Lung Cancer Screening in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

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This randomized clinical trial uses data from the National Lung Screening Trial to investigate the role of lung cancer screening—specifically, low-dose computed tomography vs chest radiography—in head and neck cancer survivors.
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Surgical results and factors affecting outcome in patients with fat-graft myringoplasty

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Ear Nose Throat J. 2021 Dec 9:1455613211063243. doi: 10.1177/01455613211063243. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: We evaluated the closure rate after fat-graft myringoplasty (FGM) of perforations differing in size and location. We explored whether patient's factors and the FGM surgical technique influenced surgical outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively studied patients with tympanic membrane perforations who underwent FGM from March 2015 to March 2019 . All procedures were performed by a single senior surgeon at our tertiary hospital. The patients who followed-up for at least 6 months after surgery were enrolled. We recorded hypertension and diabetes status, age, any prior ear surgery, any calcific plaques adjacent to the perforation, and perforation size and location. Results: A total of 150 patients were enrolled. Our success rate of FGM was 90%. Hypertension, diabetes, prior ear surgery history, and eardrum calcific plaques did not affect the surgical outcomes. There was no statistical difference in the surgical success rate according to the size (< 50%) or location of perforation. The closure rate was 97.2% in patients aged 1660 and 87.5% in patients aged > 60, respectively. However, FGM was successful in only two of six children (33.3%) aged ≤ 15 years, thus significantly less than in the other groups. Conclusion: FGM is a fast, safe, and efficient method for repairing tympanic membrane perforation. The surgical outcome is not significantly affected by underlying disease, perforation size or location, or by the condition of the tympanic membrane or older age. However, it may be poor in children with dysfunctional Eustachian tube.

PMID:34881650 | DOI:10.1177/01455613211063243

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Opiate Use After Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery

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Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2021 Dec 9:19458924211061990. doi: 10.1177/19458924211061990. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The literature on opiate use after endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (EETS) is limited.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors for higher opiate use following EETS and the quantity of opiates used after discharge.

METHODS: A retrospective review of 144 patients undergoing EETS from July 2018 to July 2020 was conducted. Patient, tumor, and surgical factors were documented. Pain scores and medications used on postoperative days (POD) 0 and 1, and discharge prescriptions, were recorded. Opiate use was quantified using morphine milligram equivalents (MME) dose. Multiple linear regression determined risk factors independently associated with POD0 to 1 opiate use.

RESULTS: On POD 0 to 1, mean pain score was 4.9/10 (standard deviation [SD] ± 2.0). Mean acetaminophen use was 3.4 tablets (SD ± 1.6; 650 mg per tablet). Mean opiate use was 35.6 MME (SD ± 36.3), equivalent to 4.7 tablets (SD ± 4.8) of oxycodone 5 mg. Multiple linear regression showed that current smokers required an additional 37.1 MME (P = .011), and patients with grade 3 intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leaks required an additional 36.7 MME (P = .046) on POD0 to 1. On discharge, mean opiate prescription was 117.7 MME (SD ± 102.1), equivalent to 15.7 tablets (SD ± 13.6) of oxycodone 5 mg. Thirty-nine patients (27.1%) did not require prescriptions. Only 10 patients (6.9%) required opiate refill(s) within 30 days after surgery.

CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing EETS have higher opiate needs compared to those undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery, although the overall requirements are still considered low. Independent risk factors associated with higher opiate use in the immediate postoperative period included current smokers and grade 3 intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leaks.

PMI D:34881667 | DOI:10.1177/19458924211061990

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Normative Values of Client-Reported Outcome Measures and Self-Ratings of Six Voice Parameters via the VoiceEvalU8 App

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Ecological momentary assessments (EMA) and interventions (EMI) have the potential to assess and offer interventions repeatedly within the client's daily life through mobile app technology. Considering the development of the EMA VoiceEvalU8, the current work provided normative data by comparing traditional (i.e., paper and pencil) and electronic (i.e., VoiceEvalU8 app) administration modalities of client-reported outcome measures and client self-ratings of six voice parameters twice a day in their functional environment.
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Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy by Vestibular Approach for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Intraoperatively Invading Strap Muscle

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Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech. 2021 Dec 9. doi: 10.1097/SLE.0000000000001020. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) has become increasingly popular in the surgical treatment of thyroid cancer. However, its application in T3b disease has not been well-defined.

METHODS: We conducted a quasi-experimental study on patients with an intraoperative diagnosis of T3bN0M0 differentiated thyroid carcinoma from Ja nuary 2019 to January 2021 in our institution. Surgical and early oncological outcomes were assessed.

RESULTS: Among 326 patients who underwent TOETVA for thyroid cancer, 12 cases had T3bN0M0 disease intraoperatively. The mean operation time was 136.67±7.32 minutes, with 7.17±0.83 mL of blood loss. No patients reported symptoms of postoperatively transient hypoparathyroidism, mental nerve, or recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. After radioactive iodine therapy, all patients had undetectable thyroglobulin, negative antithyroglobulin, and normal neck ultrasound.

CONCLUSIONS: TOETVA seems to be a surgically and oncological safe method for differentiated thyroid cancer patients with small tumors invading strap muscle intraoperatively. The patients can be well-managed with endoscopic total thyroidectomy and postoperative radioactive iodine therapy. Further studies with a larger sample size and longer follow-up are needed to provide more solid evidence.

PMID:34882614 | DOI:10.1097/SLE.0000000000001020

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