scholarly journals Institution-Specific Strategies for Head and Neck Oncology Triage During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
pp. 014556132097550
Author(s):  
Michael H. Freeman ◽  
Justin R. Shinn ◽  
Alexander Langerman

Background: This work seeks to better understand the triage strategies employed by head and neck oncologic surgical divisions during the initial phases of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Methods: Thirty-six American head and neck surgical oncology practices responded to questions regarding the triage strategies employed from March to May 2020. Results: Of the programs surveyed, 11 (31%) had official department or hospital-specific guidelines for mitigating care delays and determining which surgical cases could proceed. Seventeen (47%) programs left the decision to proceed with surgery to individual surgeon discretion. Five (14%) programs employed committee review, and 7 (19%) used chairman review systems to grant permission for surgery. Every program surveyed, including multiple in COVID-19 outbreak epicenters, continued to perform complex head and neck cancer resections with free flap reconstruction. Conclusions: During the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic experience in the United States, head and neck surgical oncology divisions largely eschewed formal triage policies and favored practices that allowed individual surgeons discretion in the decision whether or not to operate. Better understanding the shortcomings of such an approach could help mitigate care delays and improve oncologic outcomes during future outbreaks of COVID-19 and other resource-limiting events. Level of Evidence: 4.

2020 ◽  
Vol 139 ◽  
pp. 110403
Author(s):  
Christina Darwish ◽  
Timothy Shim ◽  
Andrew D. Sparks ◽  
Yeshwant Chillakuru ◽  
David Strum ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 000348942110081
Author(s):  
Alexander J. Straughan ◽  
Luke J. Pasick ◽  
Vrinda Gupta ◽  
Daniel A. Benito ◽  
Joseph F. Goodman ◽  
...  

Objectives: Fireworks are used commonly for celebrations in the United States, but can lead to severe injury to the head and neck. We aim to assess the incidence, types, and mechanisms of head and neck injuries associated with fireworks use from 2010 to 2019. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study, using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, of individuals presenting to United States Emergency Departments with head and neck injuries caused by fireworks and flares from 2010 to 2019. Incidence, types, and mechanisms of injury related to fireworks use in the US population were assessed. Results: A total of 541 patients (349 [64.5%] male, and 294 [54%] under 18 years of age) presented to emergency departments with fireworks-related head and neck injuries; the estimated national total was 20 584 patients (13 279 male, 9170 white, and 11 186 under 18 years of age). The most common injury diagnoses were burns (44.7% of injuries), laceration/avulsion/penetrating trauma (21.1%), and otologic injury (15.2%), which included hearing loss, otalgia, tinnitus, unspecified acoustic trauma, and tympanic membrane perforation. The remaining 19% of injuries were a mix, including contusion, abrasion, hematoma, fracture, and closed head injury. Associations between fireworks type and injury diagnosis (chi-square P < .001), as well as fireworks type by age group (chi-square P < .001) were found. Similarly, associations were found between age groups and injury diagnoses (chi-square P < .001); these included children 5 years and younger and adults older than 30 years. Conclusions: Fireworks-related head and neck injuries are more likely to occur in young, white, and male individuals. Burns are the most common injury, while otologic injury is a significant contributor. Annual rates of fireworks-related head and neck injuries have not changed or improved significantly in the United States in the past decade, suggesting efforts to identify and prevent these injuries are insufficient.


2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-42
Author(s):  
José Luis Llorente ◽  
Fernando López ◽  
Vanessa Suárez ◽  
Ángel Fueyo ◽  
Susana Carnero ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. JCM.S18125
Author(s):  
Kiyoaki Tsukahara ◽  
Ray Motohashi ◽  
Hiroki Sato ◽  
Minoru Endo ◽  
Yuri Ueda ◽  
...  

Objectives The purpose of this prospective, randomized study was to evaluate the effects of a diet containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), and antioxidants in head and neck cancer surgery patients with free-flap reconstruction. METHODS In this randomized, prospective study, 62 patients with head and neck cancers were assigned to receive a general control diet (Ensure® H; Abbott Japan, Tokyo, Japan) or the study diet (Oxepa®; Abbott Japan) containing EPA, DHA, GLA, and antioxidants (eg vitamins A, E, and C). The primary assessment item was the degree of postoperative inflammation, as assessed by measuring maximum body temperature and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin from the day of surgery to postoperative day 8. Secondary assessment items were lengths of stays in the intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital. Results The control diet group ( n = 32) and study diet group ( n = 30) showed no significant difference in energy administered through diet. No significant differences in the parameters of the primary assessment item were noted. Length of stay in the ICU was significantly shorter for the control diet group than for the study diet group ( P = 0.011). No significant difference in duration of hospitalization was seen between groups. CONCLUSION No usefulness of a diet containing EPA, DHA, GLA, and antioxidants was demonstrated.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 350-354
Author(s):  
Matthew C. Hess ◽  
Zachary Devilbiss ◽  
Garry Wai Keung Ho ◽  
Raymond Thal

Context:Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in North America and Europe, and Lyme arthritis is a frequent late-stage manifestation in the United States. However, Lyme arthritis has rarely been reported as a postoperative complication.Evidence Acquisition:The PubMed database was queried through June 2018, and restricted to the English language, in search of relevant articles.Study Design:Clinical review.Level of Evidence:Level 3.Results:A total of 5 cases of Lyme arthritis as a postoperative complication have been reported in the literature.Conclusion:These cases highlight the importance for providers practicing in Lyme-endemic regions to keep such an infection in mind when evaluating postoperative joint pain and swelling. We propose herein an algorithm for the workup of potential postoperative Lyme arthritis.Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT):C


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