John D. Cramer

The impact of delayed surgical drainage of deep neck abscesses in adult and pediatric populations.

The conventional treatment for deep neck abscesses in adults is antibiotic therapy with surgical drainage, whereas in children there is debate about the role of surgical drainage versus conservative therapy. It is presently unclear if delayed surgical drainage negatively affects outcomes.

Postoperative Complications in Elderly Patients Undergoing Head and Neck Surgery Opportunities for Quality Improvement

Objective To assess the frequency and nature of postoperative complications that occur in elderly patients, as compared with younger patients, following head and neck surgery. Study Design Cohort study of national database. Setting American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program from 2005 to 2013. Subjects and Methods We identified 29,891 patients who had head and neck surgery during the study period and classified them as having upper aerodigestive tract surgery (n = 8383) or endocrine/salivary gland (n = 21,508) surgery. We analyzed patients stratified by age categories: young (<65 years), intermediate age (65-75 years), and elderly (≥75 years). Risk-adjusted 30-day morbidity and mortality outcomes were compared across age categories with multivariable logistic regression models to adjust for patient characteristics, comorbidities, and surgical procedure. Results Elderly patients had increased odds for morbidity (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.22-1.78; OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.46-2.44) for upper aerodigestive tract and endocrine/salivary gland groups, respectively, versus young patients and for mortality (OR = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.26-5.06; OR = 3.73, 95% CI: 1.32-10.52). Elderly patients were more likely to develop pulmonary, urologic, and blood clotting–related complications. Elderly patients undergoing endocrine/salivary gland surgery were significantly more likely to have cardiac complications; however, this was not the case for aerodigestive tract operations. Conclusions Head and neck surgery in the elderly carries an increased risk of certain types of postoperative complications as compared with younger patients treated similarly. Quality improvement efforts should focus on minimizing the risk of cardiac, pulmonary, and urologic complications in elderly patients.

Liver disease in patients undergoing head and neck surgery: Incidence and risk for postoperative complications.

Head and neck cancer patients have multiple risk factors for liver disease. However, little is known about the incidence of liver disease or the safety of surgery in these patients.

Discharge Destination after Head and Neck Surgery Predictors of Discharge to Postacute Care

Objective In recent decades, there has been a reduction in the length of postoperative hospital stay, with a corresponding increase in discharge to postacute care. Discharge to postacute care facilities represents a meaningful patient-centered outcome; however, little has been published about this outcome after head and neck surgery. Study Design Retrospective review of national database. Setting American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program from 2011 to 2013. Subjects and Methods We compared the rate of discharge to home versus postacute care facilities in patients admitted after head and neck surgery and used multivariable logistic regression to identify predictors of discharge to postacute care. Results The overall rate of discharge to postacute care facilities after head and neck surgery (n = 15,890) was 15.7% after major surgery (including laryngectomy, composite resection, and free tissue transfer), 4.4% after moderate surgery (including regional tissue transfer, oropharyngeal or oral cavity resection, and neck dissection), and 1.1% after minor head and neck surgery (including endocrine or salivary gland surgery). On multivariable analysis, significant preoperative predictors of discharge to postacute care were advanced age, functional status, major or moderate surgical procedures, tracheostomy, advanced American Society of Anesthesiologists class, low body mass index, and dyspnea. Conclusion Our study indicates that patients undergoing major or moderate head and neck surgery, patients with reduced functional status, and patients with advanced comorbidities are at substantial risk of discharge to postacute care. The possibility of discharge to postacute care should be discussed with high-risk patients.

Opioid Stewardship in Otolaryngology: State of the Art Review:

Objective The United States is facing an epidemic of opioid addiction. Deaths from opioid overdose have quadrupled in the past 15 years and now surpass annual deaths during the height of the human immunodeficiency virus epidemic. There is a link between opioid prescriptions after surgery, opioid misuse, opioid diversion, and use of other drugs of abuse. As surgeons, otolaryngologists contribute to this crisis. Our objective is to outline the risk of abuse from opioids in the management of acute postoperative pain in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (OHNS) and strategies to avoid misuse. Data Sources PubMed/MEDLINE. Review Methods We conducted a review of the literature on the rate of opioid abuse after surgery, methods of safe opioid use, and strategies to minimize the dangers of opioids. Conclusions Otolaryngologists have a responsibility to treat pain. This begins preoperatively by discussing perioperative pain control and developing a personalized pain control plan. Patients should be aware that opioids carry significant risks of adverse events and abuse. Perioperative use of multimodal nonopioid agents enables pain control and avoidance of opioids in many otolaryngologic cases. When this approach is inadequate, opioids should be used in short duration under close surveillance. Institutional standards for opioid prescribing after common procedures can minimize misuse. Implications for Practice Otolaryngologists need to acknowledge the potential harm that opioids cause. It is essential that we evaluate our practices to ensure that opioids are used responsibly. Furthermore, opioid stewardship should become a priority in otolaryngology.

Validation of the eighth edition American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system for human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer

The eighth edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging manual includes major changes in staging of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). We evaluated the new staging system in order to validate this shift in classification.

Sleep Surgery in the Elderly: Lessons from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

Objective Assess the frequency and nature of postoperative complications following sleep surgery. Examine these issues specifically in elderly patients to provide guidance for their perioperative care. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Methods We identified patients with obstructive sleep apnea undergoing sleep surgery procedures from 2006 to 2013 in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, a multi-institutional outcomes program designed to improve surgical quality. We analyzed patients by comparing age groups: <65 and ≥65 years. Summary data were analyzed, and multivariate regression was used to adjust for patient characteristics, comorbidities, and surgical procedure. Results We identified 2230 patients who had sleep surgery, which included 2123 patients <65 years old and 107 patients ≥65 years old. Elderly patients were significantly more likely to have hypertension requiring medication (P < .001) and higher American Society of Anesthesiologists scores (P < .001). There were no significant differences in the rates of nasal (P = .87), palate (P = .59), tongue base (P = .73), and multilevel (P = .95) surgery being performed on both groups of patients. Elderly patients had higher rates of wound complications and urinary tract infections as compared with younger patients. On multivariate analysis, age ≥65 was significantly associated with complications from sleep surgery (odds ratio, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.04-5.35). Conclusion Elderly patients undergoing sleep surgery have increased postoperative complication risk as compared with younger patients treated similarly. This information can help direct quality improvement efforts in the care of older patients.

Association of Airway Complications With Free Tissue Transfer to the Upper Aerodigestive Tract With or Without Tracheotomy

Importance Airway management during microvascular reconstruction of the upper aerodigestive tract is of utmost importance; however, there is considerable debate about optimal management of the airway. Objective To examine if free tissue transfer to the upper aerodigestive tract without tracheotomy was associated with an increased rate of airway complications or death. Design, Setting, and Participants Cohort study of 861 patients undergoing microvascular reconstruction to sites in the oral cavity, oropharynx (excluding the base of tongue), and nasal and/or sinus cavity using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program from 2005 to 2013. We compared the rate of airway-specific complications of patients who underwent simultaneous tracheotomy vs those who did not undergo tracheotomy. Exposure Tracheotomy. Main Outcomes and Measures The 30-day rate of airway-specific complications, including unplanned intubation, prolonged mechanical ventilation, or death. Results Among the 861 patients included in this study (mean age 61 years and 63.3% male), 551 underwent tracheotomy and 310 did not undergo tracheotomy. The rate of tracheotomy based on anatomic site was 66.1% for oral cavity (n = 728), 40.5% for nasal/sinus cavity (n = 85), and 70.3% for oropharynx (n = 48). The difference in the overall rate of airway complications between patients in the no-tracheotomy (10.3%) and tracheotomy (8.3%) groups was 2.0% (95% CI, 1.9%-6.4%). There were no significant differences in the rate of airway complications in the no-tracheotomy and tracheotomy groups for death (0.3% vs 0.7%, respectively; difference, 0.3%; 95% CI, -2.0% to 3.2%), unplanned intubation (3.2% vs 2.9%, respectively; difference, 0.3%; 95% CI, -2.0% to 3.2%) or for prolonged mechanical ventilation (8.1% vs 7.3%; difference, 0.8%; 95% CI, -2.7% to 4.8%). On multivariate analysis tracheotomy was not associated with the primary outcome (odds ratio [OR], 0.8; 95% CI, 0.5-1.3); however, preoperative bleeding disorder (OR, 9.0; 95% CI, 3.3-24.4), preoperative dyspnea (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.5-5.5), and resection of the floor of mouth (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1-3.9) were associated with airway complications or death. Conclusions and Relevance Free tissue transfer to the upper aerodigestive tract is frequently performed without tracheotomy, and this is not associated with a significantly increased rate of airway complications. Routine tracheotomy may be safely avoided in a subset of patients undergoing microvascular reconstruction of the upper aerodigestive tract.

Meningoencephalocele of the temporal bone: pictorial essay on transmastoid extradural-intracranial repair.

PURPOSE A spontaneous meningoencephalocele of the temporal bone may present with effusion in the middle ear, a cerebrospinal fluid leak, hearing loss, or rarely otitic meningitis. Repair of spontaneous encephaloceles in the temporal bone has been performed using transmastoid and transcranial middle fossa approaches or a combination of the two with varied results. The authors present a technical paper on the transmastoid extradural intracranial approach for the management of temporal lobe encephaloceles. MATERIALS/METHODS Case reports and cadaver dissections are used to provide a pictorial essay on the technique. Advantages and disadvantages compared with alternative surgical approaches are discussed. RESULTS Traditional transmastoid approaches are less morbid compared with a transcranial repair as they avoid brain retraction. However, in the past, there has been a higher risk of graft failure and hearing loss due to downward graft migration and a potential need for ossicular disarticulation. For the appropriate lesion, the transmastoid extradural intracranial approach lesion offers a stable meningoencephalocele repair without the comorbidity of brain retraction. CONCLUSION The authors describe a transmastoid extradural intracranial technique via case reports and cadaver dissections for the repair of spontaneous meningoencephalocele defects larger than 2 cm. This approach provides more support to the graft compared to the conventional transmastoid repair.

Antithrombotic Therapy for Venous Thromboembolism and Prevention of Thrombosis in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery: State of the Art Review:

Objective The aim of this report is to present a cohesive evidence-based approach to reducing venous thromboembolism (VTE) in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery. VTE prevention includes deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Despite national efforts in VTE prevention, guidelines do not exist for otolaryngology–head and neck surgery in the United States. Data Sources PubMed/MEDLINE. Review Methods A comprehensive review of literature pertaining to VTE in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery was performed, identifying data on incidence of thrombotic complications and the outcomes of regimens for thromboprophylaxis. Data were then synthesized and compared with other surgical specialties. Conclusions We identified 29 articles: 1 prospective cohort study and 28 retrospective studies. The overall prevalence of VTE in otolaryngology appears lower than that of most other surgical specialties. The Caprini system allows effective individualized risk stratification for VTE prevention in otolaryngology. Mechanical and chemoprophylaxis (“dual thromboprophylaxis”) is recommended for patients with a Caprini score ≥7 or patients with a Caprini score of 5 or 6 who undergo major head and neck surgery, when prolonged hospital stay is anticipated or mobility is limited. For patients with a Caprini score of 5 or 6, we recommend dual thromboprophylaxis or mechanical prophylaxis alone. Patients with a Caprini score ≤4 should receive mechanical prophylaxis alone. Implications for Practice Otolaryngologists should consider an individualized and risk-stratified plan for perioperative thromboprophylaxis in every patient. The risk of bleeding must be weighed against the risk of VTE when deciding on chemoprophylaxis.