Art Ambrosio

Surgery for Otitis Media in a Universal Health Care Model Socioeconomic Status and Race/Ethnicity Effects

Objectives (1) To determine the association between socioeconomic status (SES), race/ethnicity, and other demographic risk factors in surgically managed otitis media within a model of universal health care. 2) To determine quality of life (QOL) outcomes of surgically managed otitis media in this model. Setting Tertiary academic medical center. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Methods A prospective study was conducted between June 2011 and December 2012 with dependent children of military families. TRICARE provides equal access to care among all beneficiaries regardless of a wide range of annual incomes. Caretakers of children scheduled for bilateral myringotomy and tympanostomy tube (BMT) placement were administered a demographic survey, as well as OM-6 QOL instrument preoperatively and 6 weeks postoperatively. A control group who did not undergo BMT was also administered both the survey and OM-6 for comparison. Results Two hundred forty patients were enrolled (120 surgical patients and 120 controls). Logistic regression demonstrated age younger than 6 years old (P < .001), day care attendance (P < .001), and non-Hispanic Caucasian race (P = .022) to be associated with surgery. Surgical QOL outcomes demonstrated a significant improvement in otitis media-6 (OM-6) scores after surgical management from 3.00 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.79-3.20) to 1.35 (95% CI, 1.22-1.47). Conclusion In a universal health care model serving more than 2 million children, previously reported proxies of low SES as well as minority race/ethnicity were not associated with surgically managed otitis media contrary to reported literature. Caucasian race, young age, and day care attendance were associated with surgery. Surgery improved QOL outcomes 6 weeks postoperatively.

Difficult Airway Management for Novice Physicians A Randomized Trial Comparing Direct and Video-Assisted Laryngoscopy

Objectives To detect a difference in (1) intubation success and (2) successful intubation times between novice physicians using a Macintosh-style or video-assisted laryngoscope on a difficult airway manikin. Study Design Prospective randomized trial. Setting Academic, tertiary medical center. Methods Forty first-year residents across a variety of disciplines with fewer than 5 total live intubations were recruited for the study. Testing took place during orientation prior to commencement of clinical duties. The entire group was provided training by faculty otolaryngologists and anesthesiologists using both laryngoscope types on a manikin airway simulator in a standard intubating scenario. Subjects were then randomized into 2 testing groups, using either a Macintosh laryngoscope or video-assisted laryngoscope in a difficult intubation scenario. The difficult airway simulation entailed oral cavity/oropharyngeal obstruction using inflation of the tongue, as well as cervical spine immobilization with a rigid collar preventing extension and elevation of the head and limiting oral cavity opening. Success was defined as a confirmed endotracheal intubation by the testing instructor in 120 seconds or less. Results The Macintosh laryngoscope group (n = 19) had an intubation success rate of 47.4% with a mean intubation time of 69.0 seconds (95% confidence interval [CI]: 52.7, 85.2). The video-assisted group (n = 21) demonstrated a significantly higher success rate of 100% (P < .0001) and a decreased mean intubation time of 23.1 seconds (95% CI: 18.4, 27.8; P < .0001). The mean difference in success rate between groups was 52.6% (95% CI: 30.0%, 75.3%). Conclusions Novice physicians with little to no prior intubation experience showed significantly higher intubation success with lower intubation times using a video-assisted laryngoscope in a difficult airway manikin simulator.

Respiratory distress of the newborn: Congenital laryngeal atresia

Congenital laryngeal atresia is a rare cause of respiratory distress of the newborn. The defect may be isolated or occur in association with other congenital abnormalities, notably the presence of a tracheoesophageal fistula, esophageal atresia, encephalocele, or Congenital High Airway Obstructive Syndrome (CHAOS). We present the case of a newborn with no identified intrapartum abnormalities with respiratory distress at birth secondary to near-complete laryngeal atresia. Management included tracheostomy, repeated endoscopic incisions, and serial balloon dilatations employing the topical use of Mitomycin C. Seven year follow-up was significant for mobilization of the true vocal cords bilaterally, as well as successful decannulation.

Pediatric Neck Mass

A previously healthy boy presented to the pediatric otolaryngology clinic with a recurrent cervical neck mass. The patient initially presented at age 13 months with a 2-month history of asymptomatic, right-sided neck swelling. Contrast-enhanced neck computed tomography (CT) with contrast at presentation demonstrated a lowattenuation, multilobulated mass measuring 5.3 cm (craniocaudad) × 4.2 cm (coronal) × 2.8 cm (anteroposterior) extending from C2 to C5 with anterolateral displacement of the right common carotid artery and internal jugular vein (Figure, A). He subsequently underwent an uncomplicated primary excisional biopsy. At follow-up 1 year later, a mobile, nonpulsatile lesion with no overlying skin changes was palpated medial to the right carotid artery in the area deep to the previous excision. The patient had normal findings on otolaryngologic and neurologic examinations. He remained asymptomatic and was followed clinically. At age 5 years, repeated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium demonstrated interval growth of this lesion to 1.9 cm (craniocaudad) × 2.8 cm (coronal) × 2.0 cm (anteroposterior), respectively; there was now noted to be slight extension of the mass into the right C4-C5 foramen transversarium with posteromedial displacement of the right vertebral artery and mass effect displacing the spinal cord eccentrically to the left (Figure, B and C). T1-fat suppression sequence, post–gadolinium-contrast administration, demonstrated uniform suppression of the lesion (Figure, D). After discussion with the family, the patient underwent a successful repeated excision performed jointly by the pediatric otolaryngology and neurosurgical services, and a specimen was sent for histologic examination. What is your diagnosis? A B

Cost and Healthcare Utilization Among Non-Elderly Head and Neck Cancer Patients in the Military Health System, a Single-Payer Universal Health Care Model

INTRODUCTION Examining costs and utilization in a single-payer universal health care system provides information on fiscal and resource burdens associated with head and neck cancer (HNC). Here, we examine trends in the Department of Defense (DoD) HNC population with respect to: (1) reimbursed annual costs and (2) patterns and predictors of health care utilization in military only, civilian only, and both systems of care (mixed model). MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted using TRICARE claims data from fiscal years 2007 through 2014 for reimbursement of ambulatory, inpatient, and pharmacy charges. The study was approved by the Defense Health Agency Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties as exempt from institutional review board full review. The population was all beneficiaries, age 18-64, with a primary ICD-9 diagnosis of HNC, on average, 2,944 HNC cases per year. The outcomes of regression models were total reimbursed health care cost, and counts of ambulatory visits, hospitalizations, and bed days. The predictors were fiscal year, demographic variables, hospice use, type and geographic region of TRICARE enrollment, use of military or civilian care or mixed use, cancer treatment modalities, the number of physical and mental health comorbid conditions, and tobacco use. A priori, null hypotheses were assumed. RESULTS Per annual average, 61% of the HNC population was age 55-64, and 69% were males. About 6% accessed military facilities only for all health care, 60% accessed civilian only, and 34% accessed both military and civilian facilities. Patients who only accessed military care had earlier stage disease as indicated by rates of single modality treatment and hospice use; military care only and mixed use had similar rates of combination treatment and hospice use. The average cost per patient per year was

Pediatric Trainees Managing a Difficult Airway: Comparison of Laryngeal Mask Airway, Direct, and Video-Assisted Laryngoscopy

14,050 for civilian care only,

Mandibular Degloving: A Case Report and Literature Review

13,036 for military care only, and

Difficult Pediatric Airway Management: A Randomized Trial Comparing Laryngeal Mask Airway, Video-Assisted, and Direct Laryngoscopy

29,338 for mixed use of both systems. The strongest predictors of higher cost were chemotherapy, radiation therapy, head and neck surgery, hospice care, and mixed-use care. The strongest predictors of health care utilization were chemotherapy, use of hospice, the number of physical and mental health comorbidities, radiation therapy, head and neck surgery, and system of care. CONCLUSIONS To a single payer, the use of a single system of care exclusively among HNC patients is more cost-effective than use of a mixed-use system. The results suggest an over-utilization of ambulatory care services when both military and civilian care are accessed. Further investigation is needed to assess coordination between systems of care and improved efficiencies with respect to the cost and apparent over-utilization of health care services.

Socioeconomic Status and Otitis Media in a Universal Healthcare Model

Objective Difficult airway management is a key skill required by all pediatric physicians, yet training on multiple modalities is lacking. The objective of this study was to compare the rate of, and time to, successful advanced infant airway placement with direct laryngoscopy, video-assisted laryngoscopy, and laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in a difficult airway simulator. This study is the first to compare the success with 3 methods for difficult airway management among pediatric trainees. Study Design Randomized crossover pilot study. Setting Tertiary academic medical center. Methods Twenty-two pediatric residents, interns, and medical students were tested. Participants were provided 1 training session by faculty using a normal infant manikin. Subjects then performed all 3 of the aforementioned advanced airway modalities in a randomized order on a difficult airway model of a Robin sequence. Success was defined as confirmed endotracheal intubation or correct LMA placement by the testing instructor in ≤120 seconds. Results Direct laryngoscopy demonstrated a significantly higher placement success rate (77.3%) than video-assisted laryngoscopy (36.4%, P = .0117) and LMA (31.8%, P = .0039). Video-assisted laryngoscopy required a significantly longer amount of time during successful intubations (84.8 seconds; 95% CI, 59.4-110.1) versus direct laryngoscopy (44.9 seconds; 95% CI, 33.8-55.9) and LMA placement (36.6 seconds; 95% CI, 24.7-48.4). Conclusions Pediatric trainees demonstrated significantly higher success using direct laryngoscopy in a difficult airway simulator model. However, given the potential lifesaving implications of advanced airway adjuncts, including video-assisted laryngoscopy and LMA placement, more extensive training on adjunctive airway management techniques may be useful for trainees.

Does Combat Hearing Preservation Equipment Affect Balance

BACKGROUND Degloving injuries of the extremities are well documented; however, there are few reports of degloving injuries to the mandible. A literature review demonstrates several cases of mandibular degloving in pediatric patients. However, no isolated mandibular degloving injuries have been reported in adults. CASE REPORT We report a case of a 21-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with facial trauma after a motorcycle accident. Initial examination of the head and neck showed ecchymosis and edema overlying the left periorbital area, eye closure secondary to periorbital edema, upper eyelid and lower eyelid superficial lacerations, as well as a left oral commissural and lower intraoral lacerations. Following completion of maxillofacial computed tomography after primary and secondary survey, the intraoral lesion was found to be a degloving injury of the mandible. This injury was irrigated with bacitracin and betadine before closure. It was ultimately closed in a layered fashion with deep layers reconstructing the sheared attachments of the overlying tissue to the periosteum, followed by gingivobuccal mucosal apposition superficially. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Facial trauma is a common presentation in the emergency department. It is important that the emergency physician complete a thorough head and neck evaluation, including the oral mucosa and gingivobuccal sulcus, as mandibular degloving injuries may be occult. Without a high level of suspicion, such lesions may be missed, increasing the risk of subsequent infection and obligate healing by secondary intention leading to increased morbidity.