Aru Panwar

Human papilloma virus positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A growing epidemic

The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is increasing despite a decrease in tobacco use. Almost 20-30% of patients with OPSCC do not have the traditional risk factors of smoking and alcohol use and in a vast majority of these patients, the human papilloma virus (HPV) appears to drive the malignant transformation. HPV induced malignant transformation is attributed to two viral oncogenes and their non-structural protein products (E6 and E7). These two proteins appear to affect carcinogenesis by their inhibitory effects on p53 and retinoblastoma proteins (Rb). Patients with HPV mediated OPSCC seem to have a better prognosis compared to their non-HPV counterparts. However, in the absence of strong evidence, standard of care at this time for OPSCC does not differ based on HPV status. Current research is focused on the role of de-escalation of treatment and elucidation of prognostic markers in this unique population. This review focuses on the pathogenesis of HPV mediated OPSCC and details the current evidence in the management of these patients.

Vascularized tissue transfer in head and neck surgery: Is intensive care unit–based management necessary?

To study the impact of a non–intensive care unit (ICU)–based postoperative management strategy on patient outcomes following vascularized free tissue transfer for head and neck surgical defects.

Obesity and perioperative complications in head and neck free tissue reconstruction.

Free tissue transfer is a mainstay in reconstruction of complex head and neck defects. The purpose of this study was to determine if perioperative complications were more common in patients with body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2 undergoing free flap reconstruction.

Cancers of Major Salivary Glands

Major salivary gland malignancies are a rare but histologically diverse group of entities. Establishing the diagnosis of a malignant salivary neoplasm may be challenging because of the often minimally symptomatic nature of the disease, and limitations of imaging modalities and cytology. Treatment is centered on surgical therapy and adjuvant radiation in selected scenarios. Systemic therapy with chemotherapeutic agents and monoclonal antibodies lacks evidence in support of its routine use.

Management of premalignant lesions of the larynx

Premalignant lesions of the laryngeal epithelium most commonly involve the glottis. Abnormal appearing mucosal lesions may warrant biopsy for histologic review before an assessment can be made regarding their risk for malignant transformation. Although higher degrees of dysplasia portend a greater chance for malignant transformation, findings of dysplasia or carcinoma in situ should prompt ablative therapy followed by surveillance for recurrence or progression. Risk factor modification remains important not only as a primary prevention strategy, but also to reduce the risk of progression to invasive carcinoma. We review the current evidence pertaining to the work-up and management of premalignant epithelial lesions of the larynx. Surgical excision continues to be the treatment of choice. Alternative therapies like photodynamic therapy and radiation may be employed in selected patients when surgical therapy is not the best option.

Association of Modified Frailty Index Score With Perioperative Risk for Patients Undergoing Total Laryngectomy

Importance Objective preoperative risk assessment tools, such as the Modified Frailty Index (mFI), may inform patient and physician decision making when considering total laryngectomy. Estimation of outcomes may help to set realistic expectations about recovery and outcomes and facilitate optimal resource management. Objective To evaluate the association between the mFI score as a measure of frailty and outcomes following total laryngectomy. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective evaluation using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP), a risk- and case-mix–adjusted national quality assessment program. The ACS NSQIP database identified 595 patients who underwent total laryngectomy between 2006 and 2012. Patients were assessed for demographics and comorbidity and were stratified on the basis of calculated mFI score. Outcomes, including postoperative complications, length of hospitalization, and discharge destination, were evaluated as a function of increasing frailty using multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression models. Main Outcomes and Measures Risk of postoperative complications, length of hospitalization, and discharge disposition. Results After exclusion of patients who experienced significant deviation from standard care protocols and those with missing or incomplete data, 343 individuals were included in the analysis. Of these, 278 (81.0%) were men, and the mean age was 63 years (95% CI, 61.9-64.4 years). Increasing frailty resulted in a nonlinear but progressive rise in incidence of postoperative adverse events. Overall, 96 (28.0%) patients experienced a postoperative complication, and patients with an mFI score of 3 or higher were more likely to develop postoperative complications than were patients with an mFI score of 0 (50.0% vs 16.7%; OR, 3.83; 95% CI, 1.72- 8.51). Patients in the highest frailty group experienced a longer mean duration of hospitalization (14.2 vs 9.5 days; difference, 4.7; 95% CI, 1.3-8.1 days) and were more likely to require skilled care after discharge (33.3% vs 3.2%; difference, 30.1%; 95% CI, 7.4%-52.9%). Conclusions and Relevance An mFI score of 3 or higher is associated with increased risk for postoperative complications, longer hospitalization, and need for postdischarge skilled care following total laryngectomy. The mFI provides a personalized risk assessment to better inform patients, physicians, and payers when planning a total laryngectomy.

Management for premalignant lesions of the oral cavity

Premalignant lesions of the oral cavity present as visibly abnormal areas of mucosa and may be a source of significant anxiety for the patient and the clinician. Suspicious lesions should be biopsied to evaluate for dysplasia. The risk of malignant transformation may relate to patient characteristics, environmental risk factors and genetic alterations. Management of such lesions hinges on risk modification, surveillance, symptom management and directed biopsies. Excision or ablation of dysplastic lesions is indicated. We review the current evidence relating to management of premalignant lesions of the oral mucosa and make recommendations for practice patterns.

Supportive Care and Survivorship Strategies in Management of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Supportive care and survivorship strategies in the management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) revolve around continued collaborative efforts aimed at early identification and intervention for locoregional disease recurrence, second primary malignancy, management of treatment-related side effects, and provision for psychosocial support. Development of evidence-based guidelines and optimization of these strategies is increasingly important in the setting of improved survival of patients with HNSCC because of a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic advances and evolving demographics of HNSCC patient population, specifically, p16-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Impact of resident training on operative time and safety in hemithyroidectomy

The purpose of this study was to present our assessment of the impact of resident participation on operative duration and outcomes after hemithyroidectomy, which may identify opportunities for optimization of educational programs, reduction in cost of healthcare delivery, and maximizing patient safety, while continuing to train a competent physician workforce for the future.

Multimodal Analgesia in Outpatient Head and Neck Surgery: A Feasibility and Safety Study

Importance Perioperative analgesia strategies that rely solely on narcotics may contribute to adverse effects and concerns about opioid abuse or dependence. Multimodal analgesia protocols incorporating nonnarcotic agents may reduce the need for postoperative narcotic use. Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a multimodal analgesia protocol for outpatient head and neck surgical procedures and to identify the association of the multimodal analgesia protocol with postoperative pain perception scores and patient satisfaction. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected data on adults who underwent outpatient thyroid, parathyroid, and parotid surgery between July 2016 and February 2017 at the head and neck surgery service of a tertiary care hospital using a multimodal analgesia strategy with use of immediate preoperative acetaminophen and gabapentin, and intention to treat with a nonnarcotic postoperative outpatient analgesia strategy. Main Outcomes and Measures Overall patient satisfaction scores, Overall Benefit of Analgesia Score (OBAS), and median resting and peak pain scores were recorded. Incidence of reliance on a narcotic-based postoperative outpatient analgesia strategy and adverse events related to altered analgesia strategy were identified. Results Sixty-four patients (48 [75%] female; mean [SD] age, 54.6 [14.3] years) underwent outpatient thyroid, parathyroid, or parotid surgery with use of a multimodal analgesia protocol. On a 10-point rating scale, patients reported low resting pain perception scores (median, 2 [range, 0-8]) and peak pain scores (median, 4 [range, 0-9]). The OBAS assessment for composite effectiveness of analgesia indicated a favorable median score of 1 (range, 0-10; permissible range, 0-28, with lower scores better). Thirty-nine (61%) patients were able to avoid postoperative narcotic use on discharge. Fifty-six (88%) patients reported “high” or “very high” satisfaction with the multimodal analgesia strategy. No complications related to bleeding, hematoma, significant adverse events, or readmissions were observed. Conclusion and Relevance A multimodal analgesia strategy was feasible and safe in patients undergoing outpatient head and neck surgery and may reduce the need for narcotic use. It was associated with low pain perception scores, favorable OBAS, and overall satisfaction scores. The role of multimodal analgesia needs additional evaluation through comparative effectiveness assessment vs conventional pain management strategies.