Julie L. Wei

Safety and efficacy of once-daily nasal irrigation for the treatment of pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis.

To compare efficacy and outcome of daily saline irrigation versus saline/gentamicin for treating chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia/avastin

This is the first scientific report of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) epistaxis treatment by intranasal spraying of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor bevacizumab (Avastin). Epistaxis in patients with HHT is a morbid, mortal condition that is difficult and unpleasant to manage. Nasal telangiectasia growth is modulated by VEGF, which is elevated in HHT patients. Bevacizumab is a VEGF inhibitor that diminishes epistaxis when administered intravenously or injected locally, or as reported here when sprayed topically onto the nasal mucosa. Laryngoscope, 2010

Treatment outcomes for nontuberculous mycobacterial cervicofacial lymphadenitis in children based on the type of surgical intervention.

Objective To report treatment outcomes of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) cervicofacial lymphadenitis. Study Design A retrospective study from 1995 to 2006. Subjects and Methods Fifty-one patients (mean age, 30.3 months). Results All but one patient presented with lymphadenopathy. The mean time from symptoms to diagnosis was 42.3 days. Tuberculin skin testing (TST) was performed on 21 of 51 patients and was positive on 14 of 21 patients. Imaging was ordered in 23; 19 had CT scans. Pathology confirmed caseating granuloma in 45 (88%); cultures grew Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex in 46 of 51. Interventions included fine-needle aspiration (5, 10%), incision and drainage ± curettage (24, 46%), and complete excisional biopsy (20, 38%). Of those who underwent complete excisional biopsy initially, 95 percent were cured compared with 32 of 51 (63%) with nonexcisional surgery. Macrolides and rifampin were more likely to be recommended in referred cases and when nonexcisional surgical treatment was not feasible or had failed. The average total duration of antibiotic therapy was 89.1 days. Conclusion NTM infections require high levels of suspicion for timely diagnosis, and complete excisional biopsy results in least likelihood of persistent/recurrent disease.

Management and prevention of endotracheal intubation injury in neonates.

Purpose of reviewTo summarize the diagnosis, pathology, and management of glottic, subglottic, and tracheal injuries secondary to endotracheal intubation in neonates. Recent findingsPublished reports of intubation-related injuries include laryngeal stenosis, subglottic stenosis (SGS), tracheal rupture, subglottic cysts, and pharyngoesophageal perforation. Such injuries are multifactorial, with risk factors including patient size and weight, use of cuffed versus uncuffed endotracheal tubes, and fragility of the mucosa. In addition, the skill and awareness of the person performing the intubation may also influence risk of intubation-related injuries. Studies on fetal cricoid anatomy demonstrate differences in the configuration of cricoids lumen between premature infants and the adult larynx. Most recently reported airway injuries due to intubation have history of prematurity as a common risk factor, with increasing incidence associated with decreasing gestational age and weight. Prematurity and prolonged intubations remain the top risk factors for development of subglottic cysts. Management of above-mentioned complications includes endoscopy versus open laryngotracheoplasty for SGS, using balloon or traditional dilatation or augmentation with cartilage grafts, respectively; bridging injured area with endotracheal tube versus open resection and primary closure for tracheal rupture; and use of laser or cold techniques for removal of cysts. SummaryAlthough intubation-related injuries may occur in anyone, neonates are at increased risk due to their small airway lumen and cricoids cartilage morphology. Endoscopic and open reconstructive techniques increase treatment options to treat glottic and SGS.

Incidence of and risk factors for airway complications following endotracheal intubation for bronchiolitis

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors predisposing to postextubation complications and the incidence of subglottic stenosis following endotracheal intubation for bronchiolitis. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A review of 144 consecutive infants and children intubated for bronchiolitis between 2000 and 2005 at a regional childrens hospital. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 6.4 months. Follow-up data were available in 93 patients (64.6%), and average length of follow-up was 9.3 months. One hundred and three patients (71.5%) had positive RSV detection. Average duration of intubation was 5.5 days. Twenty-six patients (18.1%) required reintubation during the same admission. Children intubated for less than 3 days and those greater than 12 months of age were more likely to experience postextubation difficulties. Approximately 40% of patients experienced postextubation difficulties. Subglottic pathology was found on endoscopy in 6 patients (4%). There were no cases of long-term subglottic stenosis. CONCLUSION: Immediate postextubation complications are common after bronchiolitis, especially in patients intubated for less than 3 days and greater than 12 months of age. We found no evidence of long-term subglottic stenosis in this population.

Reducing Disposable Equipment Waste for Tonsillectomy and Adenotonsillectomy Cases

Large amounts of waste in hospitals are generated in the operating rooms from disposable surgical supplies. Tonsillectomy/adenotonsillectomy (T&A) cases use many disposable supplies that are not recyclable. It is critical to reduce disposable waste, as such waste directly affects the environment and increases health care costs. The authors noticed a difference between the number of disposable items prepared, available, but almost never used, for each tonsillectomy case between a children’s hospital setting and a university ambulatory surgery center setting. The aims were the following: (1) identify what disposable medical supplies were unnecessarily opened for each case, (2) eliminate all disposable medical waste that was not critical to the case in both settings, and (3) determine the cost reduction at both hospital and surgery center facilities by revising the current disposable instruments/supplies pulled for tonsillectomy cases. The authors report projected cost savings and reduction in waste for one children’s hospital and nationally based on their waste reduction.

Practice patterns after tracheotomy in infants younger than 2 years.

OBJECTIVES To report survey results of members of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO) on the practice patterns of surveillance endoscopy and management of suprastomal granuloma (SSG) in children younger than 2 years with indwelling tracheostomy tubes and to review our internal practice patterns. PATIENTS All patients younger than 2 years who underwent tracheotomy between 1996 and 2006 at a tertiary childrens hospital. INTERVENTIONS (1) Retrospective medical chart summary and (2) ASPO-approved and -administered online surveys to the membership of a 14-question survey on indications for infant tracheotomy, indications for bronchoscopy after tracheotomy, and treatment preferences for SSG in this population. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Summary and findings of survey results and of data collected from medical chart review, including demographics, medical comorbidities, age at time of tracheotomy, indications for tracheotomy, frequency of bronchoscopy after tracheotomy, frequency of observed SSG, and interventions for SSG. RESULTS Seventy-five ASPO members completed the online surveys. Practice patterns varied for frequency of bronchoscopy: only as needed, every 12 months, every 6 months, and every 3 months were reported by 38% (n = 26), 25% (n = 17), 24% (n = 17), and 9% (n = 6) of ASPO members, respectively. Most important indications for bronchoscopy were preparation for laryngotracheal reconstruction and decannulation (100% [n = 65] and 92% [n = 60], respectively), bleeding (76% [n = 59]), and difficult tracheostomy tube changes (70% [n = 57]). Lumen obstruction of 25% to 50% and 50% to 75% by SSG would likely receive intervention (30% [n = 22] and 14% [n = 11], respectively) with skin hook eversion and removal being the most popular technique. We reviewed the medical records of a total of 201 infants who underwent tracheotomy at our institution (110 boys [54.7%]). Indications included ventilator dependence (32.2%), craniofacial anomaly (15.0%), cardiopulmonary insufficiency(15.0%), neuromuscular indication (15.0%), and subglottic stenosis (6.7%). Thirty patients (14.9%) were premature (mean gestational age, 27 weeks). Median age at time of tracheotomy was 4 months for premature infants and 3 months for term infants. Practice patterns regarding endoscopy and SSG management varied widely within our own institution. A total of 205 bronchoscopies were performed on 109 patients during the study period. At the time of first bronchoscopy 43 of 109 patients were noted to have an SSG (39.4%). Elective removal of SSG occurred in 20 of 43 cases (46.5%), and 9 of 20 patients were noted to have recurrent SSG at subsequent endoscopy (45%). In addition, of the 23 children who did not have intervention for their SSG, 15 of 23 had spontaneous resolution and no appreciable SSG at the time of follow-up endoscopy (65.0%). CONCLUSIONS There are currently various practice patterns for surveillance endoscopy and management of SSG in children younger than 2 years with indwelling tracheostomy tubes. Development of clinical practice guidelines on this topic may improve patient care and reduce unnecessary procedures.

Microbiology and antimicrobial treatment of pediatric cervical lymphadenitis requiring surgical intervention.

BACKGROUND Acute cervical lymphadenitis is a common condition often times requiring antibiotic therapy and possible surgical drainage. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics, diagnostic and therapeutic management of children requiring surgical drainage for acute cervical lymphadenitis. METHODS A retrospective, descriptive study was performed at a Midwestern US tertiary-care childrens hospital on all immunocompetent children who underwent an incision and drainage procedure of cervical lymphadenitis from January 1999 to July 2009. RESULTS A total of 277 patients were identified. Males represented 51% and the median age was 28 months (IQR: 13-59). Lymphadenitis was unilateral in 243 (87.7%) cases and bilateral in 19 (6.9%). Median length of hospital stay was 4 days (IQR: 3-5). Aerobic, anaerobic, acid fast bacillus (AFB), and fungal cultures were obtained intraoperatively in 99%, 98%, 82%, and 78% of cases, respectively. However no fungal cultures were positive and only 1% of anaerobic and 2% of AFB cultures were positive. The most common bacterial etiology was Staphylococcus aureus (35.7%) and Streptococcus pyogenes (18.8%). Of all cultures, 32% were negative. Overall, 22% were positive for methicillin susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and 13.7% for methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), with 96% MSSA and 100% MRSA susceptible to clindamycin. Median duration of discharge antibiotics prescribed was 10 days (IQR: 7-11). Only 12 (4.5%) patients required a repeat incision and drainage within 3 months. CONCLUSIONS A single antibiotic that treats S. pyogenes and S. aureus should be the empiric antibiotic for cervical lymphadenitis requiring incision and drain. We recommend sending only aerobic cultures intraoperatively as a routine practice as other pathogens are rare.

Wire grill brush bristle as an unusual foreign body: Report of two pediatric cases

Wire grill brushes are commonly used for cleaning grill grates. Accidental ingestion of a wire bristle from a grill‐cleaning brush is a rarely reported foreign body, with only three prior case reports. Although scarce in the literature, we encountered two pediatric cases at the regional childrens hospital within 1 year. By presenting these two cases, our goal was to raise awareness of this potentially hazardous foreign body. Additionally, we raise a consumer safety issue associated with the use of wire grill‐cleaning brushes as there are currently no ingestion hazard warnings on these products. Laryngoscope,, 2011

Demographics and microbiology of otorrhea through patent tubes failing ototopical and/or oral antibiotic therapy.

Objectives. Posttympanostomy tube otorrhea (PTTO) results in significant health care cost and decreased satisfaction with care. The authors reviewed PTTO failing initial ototopical and/or oral antibiotic therapy and microbiology/susceptibility data from cultures. Study Design. Case series with chart review. Setting. A community university satellite ambulatory clinic and the outpatient clinic of a children’s hospital. Methods. Review of 202 patients with 228 discrete episodes of culture-positive otorrhea from January 2004 to January 2009. Results. PTTO occurred an average of 13 months after tube placement. Median otorrhea duration was 21 days (mean, 42 days). A mean of 1.6 visits (range, 1-6) to the pediatric otolaryngology office was required for PTTO resolution. Ototopical therapy was reported used in 198 of 228 (87%) episodes of otorrhea prior to pediatric otolaryngology visit. Nearly 50% of patients were prescribed at least 1 or more courses of systemic antibiotics. Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 52% of the organisms cultured, with 57% methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA). S aureus resistance to clindamycin was high (49%) and resistance to levofloxacin was low (1.8%). MRSA was 68% clindamycin resistant, much higher than both ours and the children’s hospital’s clindamycin resistance rate of MRSA cultured from all other body sites. Conclusions. PTTO that presents as having failed ototopical and/or oral antibiotics most commonly consists of S aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. MRSA is highly prevalent in this population. It is not necessary to culture PTTO that presents to an otolaryngology office, as resistance to levofloxacin was only 1.8%. It is unclear why the same fluoroquinolone ototopical therapy that failed initially is often successful in treating PTTO after otolaryngologist visit.