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Importance: Minimally invasive methods for skin rejuvenation are in high demand. A diverse array of minimally invasive devices has been developed for aesthetical purposes and should be considered to help patients achieve their goals. Observations: Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling is a safe and effective intervention for treatment of various aesthetical and dermatological conditions in all skin types. This review highlights Morpheus8 (InMode, Inc., Irvine, CA) and what differentiates it from other similar devices. Conclusions and Relevance: RF microneedling addresses aesthetical and dermatological concerns for a diverse variety of patients in whom surgical intervention may not be desired. Morpheus8 has unique technological properties and advances that make it the preferred device for many practices.

Importance: Percutaneous radiofrequency-based skin tightening procedures can offer patients an option to undergo a potential treatment for skin laxity and excess adipose of the face and neck with less downtime, lower cost, and decreased risk of complications compared with more aggressive open procedures such as neck lift, face and neck lift, and platysmaplasty. Observations: FaceTite and AccuTite can safely yet effectively deliver energy into the subdermal space, targeting the dermal collagen network and deeper fascial layer. Ideal candidates have early jowl formation, mild to moderate skin laxity, and submental adiposity. Relevance & Conclusions: From the perspective of facial plastic surgeons, these procedures can enhance the volume of an aesthetic practice by welcoming patients who may not otherwise present for face and neck rejuvenation out of fear from surgery. Furthermore, many of these minimally invasive patients will ultimately return for surgical rejuvenation later in life.

Background: The indications for and technology surrounding thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) have undergone significant evolution with increasing adoption. The purpose of this report is to evaluate pathology-specific incidence, timing, and types of secondary aortic intervention (SAI) after TEVAR and their impact on survival., Methods: A single-center retrospective review was made of all TEVAR and SAI performed from 2004 to 2018. Kaplan-Meier and multivariable logistic regression were used to estimate freedom from SAI and survival, and to identify SAI predictors., Results: Of 1037 patients (mean age 65.4 ± 15.1 years), 155 (14.9%) underwent 212 SAIs (median 5 months; interquartile range, 1.5 to 18) with 37 (3.6%) requiring more than one SAI. The primary aortic pathology at index TEVAR significantly (P = .0001) affected the incidence of SAI: chronic dissection, 26.5%; postsurgical anastomotic pseudoaneurysm, 19.4%; degenerative aneurysm, 15.3%; and acute dissection, 11.2%. The most common indications for SAI were endoleaks (44.8%), disease progression or remote aortic procedure (23.1%), and persistent false lumen flow (9.9%). After exclusion of 30-day mortality events, patients who did not undergo a SAI had better survival compared with patients having SAI: no SAI 1 year 88.8% ± 1.1%, 5 years 75.2% ± 1.7%, and 10 years, 66.5% ± 2.3%; SAI 1 year 91.7% ± 2.4%, 5 years 61.9% ± 4.9%, and 10 years 33.5% ± 8.4% (log rank P = .004)., Conclusions: Secondary aortic intervention after TEVAR is not uncommon, particularly among patients with chronic dissection pathology. Patients surviving their index hospitalization who undergo SAI have worse long-term survival. The varying incidence of SAI by indication identifies the need for pathology-specified patient selection, surveillance strategies after TEVAR, and better device design that addresses the limitations of TEVAR, particularly in dealing with dissection-related indications., (Copyright © 2020 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Importance: While numerous techniques for costal cartilage harvesting have been described, one consistency in the published literature is that the procedure is performed under general anesthesia. This is the first report to offer IV sedation as a safe alternative to general inhalational anesthesia in cases involving costal cartilage harvesting., Objective: To determine the feasibility and safety of costal cartilage harvest with IV sedation., Design: A retrospective chart review was performed of 116 rhinoplasty patients who underwent harvest of costal cartilage grafts under IV sedation from 2005 to 2019., Setting: Private practice of senior author (AF) at Lasky Clinical Surgical Center., Participants: Consecutive patients who underwent cosmetic and/or functional rhinoplasty., Main Outcome & Measures: The number of cases involving a pneumothorax, size of the pleural injury, radiographic findings, repair technique and treatment for pneumothorax were all recorded., Results: There were 7 cases involving a pleural tear (size range 3-8 mm) during costal cartilage harvest and each of these was repaired intra-operatively. All 7 patients remained clinically stable in recovery room on 2 L of oxygen. Although clinically stable, one patient had radiologic evidence of a pneumothorax of 50%, and thus she was transferred to a hospital for placement of a Heimlich tube with overnight observation., Conclusions and Relevance: Although plenural tears can be attributed to surgical technique rather than the type of anesthesia, these cases do provide valuable insight to the fact that successful management of such complications can be accomplished without the need for general anesthesia., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Previous cost analyses have found small to negative margins between hospitalization cost and reimbursement for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Hospitals obtain reimbursement on the basis of Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Group (MS-DRG) coding to distinguish patient encounters with or without major comorbidity or complication (MCC). This study's objective was to evaluate coding accuracy and its effect on hospital cost for patients undergoing EVAR., Methods: A retrospective, single university hospital review of all elective, infrarenal EVARs performed from 2010 to 2015 was completed. Index procedure hospitalizations were reviewed for MS-DRG classification, comorbidities, complications, length of stay (LOS), and hospitalization cost. Patients' comorbidities and postoperative complications were tabulated to verify accuracy of MS-DRG classification. Misclassified patients were audited and reclassified as "standard" or "complex" on the basis of a corrected MS-DRG: standard for 238 (major cardiovascular procedure without MCC) and complex for 237 (major cardiovascular procedure with MCC)., Results: There were 104 EVARs identified, including 91 standard (original MS-DRG 238, n = 85; MS-DRG 254, n = 6) and 13 complex hospitalizations (original MS-DRG 237, n = 9; MS-DRG 238, n = 3; MS-DRG 253, n = 1). On review, 3% (n = 3) of the originally assigned MS-DRG 238 patients were undercoded while actually meeting MCC criteria for a 237 designation. Hospitalizations coded with MS-DRG 253 and 254 were considered billing errors because MS-DRG 237 and 238 are more appropriate and specific classifications as major cardiovascular procedures. Overall, there was a 9.6% miscoding rate (n = 10), representing a total lost billing opportunity of $587,799. Mean LOS for standard and complex hospitalizations was 3.0 ± 1.5 days vs 7.8 ± 6.0 days (P < .001), with respective intensive care unit LOS of 0.4 ± 0.7 day vs 2.6 ± 3.1 days (P < .001). Postoperative complications occurred in 23% of patients; however, not all met the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services criteria as MCC. Miscoded complexity was found to be due to postoperative events in all patients rather than to missed comorbidities. Mean hospitalization cost for standard and complex patients was $28,833 ± $5597 vs $41,543 ± $12,943 (P < .001). Based on institutional reimbursement data, this translates to a mean loss of $5407 per correctly coded patient. Miscoded patients represent an additional overall reimbursement loss of $140,102., Conclusions: Our study reveals a large lost billing opportunity with miscoding of elective EVARs from 2010 to 2015, with errors in categorization of the procedure as well as miscoding of complexity. The revenue impact is potentially significant in this population, and additional reviews of coding practices should be considered., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is a challenging clinical problem associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Few contemporary reports focus specifically on patients undergoing open mesenteric bypass (OMB) or delineate outcome differences based on bypass configuration. This is notable, because there is a subset of patients who are poor candidates for endovascular intervention including those with flush mesenteric vessel occlusion, long segment occlusive disease, and a thrombosed mesenteric stent and/or bypass. This analysis reviewed our experience with OMB in the treatment of AMI and compared outcomes between patients undergoing either antegrade or retrograde bypass., Methods: A single-center, retrospective review was performed to identify all patients who underwent OMB for AMI from 2002 to 2016. A preoperative history of mesenteric revascularization, demographics, comorbidities, operative details, and outcomes were abstracted. The primary end point was in-hospital mortality. Secondary end points included complications, reintervention, and overall survival. Kaplan-Meier estimation and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to analyze all end points., Results: Eighty-two patients (female 54%; age 63 ± 12 years) underwent aortomesenteric bypass (aortoceliac/superior mesenteric, n = 44; aortomesenteric, n = 38) for AMI. A history of prior stent/bypass was present in 20% (n = 16). A majority (76%; n = 62) underwent antegrade bypass and the remainder received retrograde infrarenal aortoiliac inflow. Patients receiving antegrade OMB were more likely to be male (53% vs 25%; P = .02), have coronary artery disease (48% vs 25%; P = .06), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (52% vs 25%; P = .03), and peripheral arterial disease (60% vs 35%; P = .05). Concurrent bowel resection was evenly distributed (antegrade, 45%; retrograde, 45%; P = .9) and 37% (n = 30) underwent subsequent resection during second look operations. The median duration of stay was 16 days (interquartile range, 9-35 days) and 78% (n = 64) experienced at least one major complication with no difference in rates between antegrade/retrograde configurations. In-hospital mortality was 37% (n = 30; multiple organ dysfunction, 22; bowel infarction, 4; hemorrhage/anemia, 2; arrhythmia, 1; stroke, 1; 30-day mortality, 26%). The median follow-up was 8 months (interquartile range, 1-26 months). The 1- and 3-year primary patency rates were both 82% ± 6% (95% confidence interval, 71%-95%), with 10 patients requiring reintervention. Estimated survival at 1 and 5 years was 57% ± 6% and 50% ± 6%, respectively. Bypass configuration was not associated with complication rates (P > .10), in-hospital mortality (log-rank, P = .3), or overall survival (log-rank, P = .9). However, a higher risk of reintervention was observed in patients undergoing retrograde bypass (hazard ratio, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.9-11.0; P = .08)., Conclusions: OMB for AMI results in significant morbidity and mortality, irrespective of bypass configuration. Antegrade OMB is associated with comparable outcomes as retrograde OMB. The bypass configuration choice should be predicated on patient presentation, anatomy, physiology, and surgeon preference; however, an antegrade configuration may provide a lower risk of reintervention., (Copyright © 2018 Society for Vascular Surgery. All rights reserved.)

The periorbital and forehead regions are among the most expressive parts of the face. A thorough understanding of the complex facial anatomy and aesthetic norms are essential when evaluating and treating a patient for facial brow rejuvenation. Not only will knowledge of the anatomy enhance facial injection and surgical outcomes, but will also diminish potential complications. Combining nonsurgical and surgical techniques, including laser and skin rejuvenation, can yield the most natural and effective aesthetic brow improvements., Competing Interests: Allergan, Galderma, Candela., (Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.)

Importance: A surgeon faces challenges with cranioplasty techniques to achieve a successful result with relatively few complications., Objective: To describe a unique technique for incorporating both biologic autologous bone and nonbiologic allograft materials for defect coverage in cranioplasty with favorable outcomes and low occurrence of complications., Design, Setting, and Participants: A retrospective medical records review of all 26 patients who underwent primary cranioplasty procedure with a modified technique between January 2011 and December 2015 at a high-volume head and neck oncologic reconstructive practice was conducted; data analysis was also performed during that period. After several years of experience with traditional cranioplasty maneuvers, the modified technique has evolved to incorporate both autologous bone grafts and alloplastic materials in the formation of a shapeable on-lay material. Data were collected on demographics, need for cranioplasty, materials used, outcomes, and risk factors., Main Outcomes and Measures: Rates of infection, hematoma, flap loss or resorption, cerebrospinal fluid leak, hardware exposure or malfunction, and repeated reconstruction., Results: Of the 26 patients, 21 (81%) were men; mean (SD) age was 65.8 (14.3) years. Eight (31%) patients had a history of diabetes, 4 (15%) patients were receiving immunosuppressive drugs, and 5 (19%) patients were active smokers at the time of surgery. Neoplasia was the most common cause of the calvarial defect seen, responsible for 20 of 28 (71%) operative defects and necessitated procedures. All but 1 patient achieved successful mineralization following primary cranioplasty with the modified technique; this success was verified based on physical examination and follow-up imaging. Complications were rare and involved only 3 patients who developed postoperative infection; 1 (4%) of these patients lost the integrity of the cranioplasty. Thus, the rate of infection was 11% and loss rate was 4%. Preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy appeared to have no bearing on graft survival., Conclusions and Relevance: The results using a unique technique for incorporating both biologic autologous bone and nonbiologic allograft materials for defect coverage in cranioplasty are favorable, with satisfactory aesthetic outcomes and limited postoperative complications., Level of Evidence: 4.

Objective: To demonstrate successful surgical management of vestibular schwannomas via an exclusively endoscopic transcanal transpromontorial approach (EETTA)., Patients: Four patients with vestibular schwannomas., Interventions: Surgical excision via EETTA., Main Outcomes: Technique refinements, tumor access, complete tumor removal, and patient morbidity., Results: Three tumors were Koos grade I and one tumor was Koos grade II. All ears had non-serviceable hearing prior to surgery. The EETTA enabled access to the internal auditory canal and porus acousticus as well as limited access to the cerebellopontine angle. Gross total tumor resection was achieved in all cases. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications and the mean hospital duration was 2.8 days. After a mean follow-up of 5.0 months, all cases had a good facial nerve outcome., Conclusions: The EETTA can be successfully used for the management of small vestibular schwannomas in ears without serviceable hearing. Additional studies are needed to fully elucidate the risk-benefit profile of this minimally invasive approach.

The goals of reconstruction following any oncologic extirpation are preservation of function, restoration of cosmesis, and avoidance of morbidity. Anatomically, the lateral skull base is complex and conceptually intricate due to its three-dimensional morphology. The temporal bone articulates with five other cranial bones and forms many sutures and foramina through which pass critical neural and vascular structures. Remnant defects following resection of lateral skull base tumors are often not amenable to primary closure. As such, numerous techniques have been described for reconstruction including local rotational muscle flaps, pedicled flaps with skin paddle, or free tissue transfer. In this review, the advantages and disadvantages of each reconstructive method will be discussed as well as their potential complications.

Rehabilitation following ablative skull base surgery remains a challenging task, given the complexity of the anatomical region, despite the recent advances in reconstructive surgery. Remnant defects following resection of skull base tumors are often not amenable to primary closure. As such, numerous techniques have been described for reconstruction, including local rotational muscle flaps, pedicled flaps with skin paddle, or even free tissue transfer. However, not all patients are appropriate surgical candidates and therefore may instead benefit from nonsurgical options for functional and aesthetic restoration. Osseointegrated implants and biocompatible prostheses provide a viable alternative for such a patient population. The purpose of this review serves to highlight current options for prosthetic rehabilitation of skull base defects and describe their indications, advantages, and disadvantages.

Objective To describe a novel technique for lateral graft tympanoplasty. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary care university hospital. Subjects and Methods Pediatric and adult patients with tympanic membrane perforations deemed unfavorable for a medial graft technique due to the perforation characteristics or myringitis. Results Between 2014 and 2016, 34 ears from 31 patients underwent a transcanal endoscopic lateral cartilage graft tympanoplasty. The mean age was 24.4 years (range, 6-71 years), and 22 patients (65%) were younger than 18 years. All patients had tympanic membrane perforations. Eighteen patients (53%) had total or near-total perforations, leaving a minimal anterior remnant, and 16 patients (47%) had extensive myringitis. A bisected tragal cartilage-perichondrium shield graft was used in 33 patients (97%). The mean (SD) follow-up length was 9.8 (5.7) months. Initial perforation closure rate was 88.2% (30/34). Three of the persistent perforations underwent a revision endoscopic medial graft tympanoplasty with successful closure, leaving a final closure rate of 97.1% (33/34). Five patients (15%) required topical therapy for postoperative myringitis. Mean (SD) pure-tone average and air-bone gap significantly improved by 11.5 (10.7) dB ( P < .001) and 11.4 (10.6) dB ( P < .001), respectively. Twenty-seven patients (79%) closed their air-bone gap within 20 dB. Conclusion Transcanal endoscopic lateral cartilage graft tympanoplasty is feasible, and initial data support favorable outcomes. Further data are necessary for evaluation of long-term results and efficacy comparisons.

Importance: Initially discovered in 1947, Zika virus infection received little notoriety as a tropical disease until 2015 when an outbreak of microcephaly cases was reported in Brazil. Zika is a single-stranded RNA arbovirus of the Flaviviridae family. The primary source of infection in humans stems from Aedes aegypti mosquito bites but can also occur through sexual, blood, and perinatal transmission. With expectations that 3 to 4 million people across the Americas will be infected over the next year, the World Health Organization has declared this event a Public Health Emergency of International Concern., Observations: Although acute Zika virus infection is typically mild and self-limited, researchers have demonstrated serious neurologic complications associated with it such as microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Otolaryngologists should be aware of head and neck manifestations which include conjunctivitis, retro-orbital pain, cephalgia, and odynophagia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have developed specific molecular and serologic testing protocols and algorithms for follow-up care of suspected cases. Currently, the mainstay of management is conservative care while researchers attempt to develop a vaccine. Strategies to contain the Zika virus include vector control, travel restriction for women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, and avoidance of mosquito bites in endemic regions of the world., Conclusions and Revelance: The future outlook regarding the current Zika virus outbreak in the Americas remains uncertain. What is certain is our need to promptly and efficiently address research gaps in our understanding of clinical outcomes from infection and environmental factors that influence emergence meanwhile improving diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive measures against the disease.

This article aims to review the use of giant bilobed flaps in the reconstruction of various large defects within the head and neck. A single case series study with chart review was performed. Various facial, neck, and mentum defects were documented, and closure was accomplished through a variety of medially and laterally based giant bilobed flaps. Preoperative and postoperative photography, as well as intraoperative planning, was performed. A total of 23 patients were able to achieve closure of facial, head, and neck defects with single-stage closure through the use of a giant bilobed flap. No tissue expanders, free tissue transfers, or skin grafts were required to achieve final closure, with acceptable cosmetic and functional results. Bilobed-shaped flaps allow for local tissue transfer in regions of otherwise limited tissue laxity and mobility, classically designed and utilized in the region of the nose. We describe its applicability to closure of large head and neck defects that may otherwise require free tissue transfer or the use of tissue expanders., (Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.)

The management of facial paralysis continues to evolve. Understanding the facial nerve anatomy and the different methods of evaluating the degree of facial nerve injury are crucial for successful management. When the facial nerve is transected, direct coaptation leads to the best outcome, followed by interpositional nerve grafting. In cases where motor end plates are still intact but a primary repair or graft is not feasible, a nerve transfer should be employed. When complete muscle atrophy has occurred, regional muscle transfer or free flap reconstruction is an option. When dynamic reanimation cannot be undertaken, static procedures offer some benefit. Adjunctive tools such as botulinum toxin injection and biofeedback can be helpful. Several new treatment modalities lie on the horizon which hold potential to alter the current treatment algorithm.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of and risk factors for pharyngocutaneous fistula in patients undergoing total laryngectomy at a single institution., Materials and Methods: The records of 59 patients undergoing primary or salvage total laryngectomy at our institution from 2001 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included patient, tumor and treatment characteristics, and surgical technique. Risk factors were analyzed for association with pharyngocutaneous fistula formation., Results: Twenty patients (34%) developed fistulas. Preoperative tracheostomy (OR 4.1; 95% CI 1.3-13 [p=0.02]) and low postoperative hemoglobin (OR 9.1; 95% CI 1.1-78 [p=0.04]) were associated with fistula development. Regarding surgical technique, primary sutured closure of the total laryngectomy defect had the lowest fistula rate (11%). In comparison, primary stapled closure and pectoralis onlay flap over primary closure had nonsignificantly increased fistula rates (43%, OR 6.0; 95% CI 1.0-37.3 [p=0.06] and 25%, OR 2.7; 95% CI 0.4-23.9 [p=0.38], respectively). Pectoralis flap incorporated into the suture line had a significantly increased fistula rate (50%, OR 7.1; 95% CI 1.4-46 [p=0.02]). After stratification for salvage status, patient comorbidities were associated with fistula in non-salvage cases whereas disease-related characteristics were associated with fistula in salvage cases. Fistula development was associated with increased length of hospital stay (p<0.001) and increased time before oral diet initiation (p<0.001)., Conclusions: Pharyngocutaneous fistula is a common complication of total laryngectomy. Preoperative tracheostomy, postoperative hemoglobin, and surgical technique are important in determining the risk of fistula., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

NOTCH1 mutations have been reported to occur in 10% to 15% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). To determine the significance of these mutations, we embarked upon a comprehensive study of NOTCH signaling in a cohort of 44 HNSCC tumors and 25 normal mucosal samples through a set of expression, copy number, methylation, and mutation analyses. Copy number increases were identified in NOTCH pathway genes, including the NOTCH ligand JAG1. Gene set analysis defined a differential expression of the NOTCH signaling pathway in HNSCC relative to normal tissues. Analysis of individual pathway-related genes revealed overexpression of ligands JAG1 and JAG2 and receptor NOTCH3. In 32% of the HNSCC examined, activation of the downstream NOTCH effectors HES1/HEY1 was documented. Notably, exomic sequencing identified 5 novel inactivating NOTCH1 mutations in 4 of the 37 tumors analyzed, with none of these tumors exhibiting HES1/HEY1 overexpression. Our results revealed a bimodal pattern of NOTCH pathway alterations in HNSCC, with a smaller subset exhibiting inactivating NOTCH1 receptor mutations but a larger subset exhibiting other NOTCH1 pathway alterations, including increases in expression or gene copy number of the receptor or ligands as well as downstream pathway activation. Our results imply that therapies that target the NOTCH pathway may be more widely suitable for HNSCC treatment than appreciated currently., (©2013 AACR.)

Importance: Portal vein embolization improves the safety of liver resection by increasing the size of residual liver, but the embolization may increase tumor growth during the waiting period before definitive hepatectomy., Objective: To determine whether the administration of chemotherapy mitigates tumor growth after portal vein embolization (PVE) performed before major hepatectomy for metastatic colorectal cancer., Design, Setting, and Participants: Review of prospectively collected data at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center was conducted. The database included patients subjected to PVE before major hepatectomy for metastatic colorectal cancer., Main Outcomes and Measures: Lesions in both the embolized and nonembolized lobes of the liver before and 1 month after PVE were measured and Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors were applied to assess disease status. Assessment of survival was based on receipt of post-PVE chemotherapy and then stratified by subsequent resectability., Results: Two hundred eight tumors were measured in 64 patients; 53 tumors were in patients undergoing post-PVE chemotherapy. Approximately one-third of the lesions progressed after PVE when no chemotherapy was administered. This did not differ significantly according to whether tumors were ipsilateral or contralateral to the PVE. When chemotherapy was administered, there was a significantly lower rate of progression (18.9%, P = .03). In long-term follow-up, treatment with post-PVE chemotherapy was also independently associated with improved survival (P < .006)., Conclusions and Relevance: Chemotherapy does not retard growth of the liver after PVE and may prevent cancer progression. Thus, the combination of PVE and chemotherapy may enhance both oncologic and operative safety.

Importance: No consensus exists as to the best technique, or techniques, to optimize wound healing, decrease pharyngocutaneous fistula formation, and shorten both hospital length of stay and time to initiation of oral intake after salvage laryngectomy. We sought to combine the recent experience of multiple high-volume institutions, with different reconstructive preferences, in the management of pharyngeal closure technique for post-radiation therapy salvage total laryngectomy in an effort to bring clarity to this clinical challenge., Objective: To determine if the use of vascularized flaps in either an onlay or interposed fashion reduces the incidence or duration of pharyngocutaneous fistula after salvage laryngectomy compared with simple primary closure of the pharynx., Design: Multi-institutional retrospective review of all patients undergoing total laryngectomy after having received definitive radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy between January 2005 and January 2012, conducted at 7 academic medical centers., Setting: Academic, tertiary referral centers., Patients: The study population comprised 359 patients from 8 institutions. All patients had a history of laryngeal irradiation and underwent laryngectomy between 2005 and 2012. They were grouped as primary closure, pectoralis myofascial onlay flap, or interposed free tissue. All patients had a minimum of 4 months follow-up., Main Outcomes and Measures: Fistula incidence, severity, and predictors of fistula., Results: Of the 359 patients, fistula occurred in 94 (27%). For patients with fistula, hospital stay increased from 8.9 to 12.1 days (P < .001) and oral diet initiation was delayed from 10.5 days to 29.9 days (P < .001). Patients were grouped according to closure technique: primary closure (n = 99), pectoralis onlay flap (n = 40), and interposed free tissue (n = 220). Incidence of fistula with primary closure was 34%. For the interposed free flap group, the fistula rate was lower at 25% (P = .07). Incidence of fistula was the lowest for the pectoralis onlay group at 15% (P = .02). Multivariate analysis confirmed a significantly lower fistula rate with either flap technique. For patients who developed fistula, mean duration of fistula was significantly prolonged with primary closure (14.0 weeks) compared with pectoralis flap (9.0 weeks) and free flap (6.5 weeks)., Conclusions and Relevance: Pharyngocutaneous fistula remains a significant problem following salvage laryngectomy. Use of nonirradiated, vascularized flaps reduced the incidence and duration of fistula and should be considered during salvage laryngectomy.

Objective: To gain an understanding of head and neck mucosal premalignant recurrence and progression based on histology, treatment modality, and risk factors., Design: Retrospective chart review., Setting: Academic medical center., Patients: Patients who were followed or treated for oral cavity dysplasia/carcinoma in situ., Main Outcomes Measures: Comparisons with clinical features, degree of dysplasia, anatomical location, rate of recurrences as well as malignant transformation and overall outcome were made., Results: Of the 136 patients who were included in the study, 20% (n = 27) initially presented with mild dysplasia, 39% (n = 53) with moderate dysplasia, 21% (n = 29) with severe dysplasia, and 20% (n = 27) with carcinoma in situ. Wide local excision (HR 0.54, p = 0.05) was associated with reduced local recurrence in comparison to observation. In comparison to observation, both wide local excision (HR 0.43, p = 0.04) and CO(2)/NO Yag laser treatment (HR 0.14, p = 0.02) of dysplastic lesions significantly reduced progression to cancer. Management of mild dysplasia included observation (n = 13), excision (n = 10) and laser therapy (n = 3). Six of the 13 observed patients suffered a premalignancy recurrence, whereas only 4 of the 13 patients who underwent excision/laser treatment experienced a recurrence. Similarly, 5/13 observed patients eventually progressed to malignancy in comparison to only 2/13 patients who underwent initial excision/laser treatment., Conclusion: Wide excision and/or ablation of head and neck mucosal premalignancy is more effective than observation in preventing recurrence of premalignancy and progression to malignancy. Mild dysplasia has a potentially high rate of recurrence and progression to malignancy when observed, and may be treated by wide excision or ablation., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

It has been estimated that more than 50 million cases of dengue occur worldwide each year, mostly in the tropics. In light of recent cases appearing in central and southern Florida, dengue has reemerged as a public health issue in the United States with respect to infection control and prevention. We review the course of dengue infection and its clinical presentation from the perspective of the practicing otolaryngologist, and we outline tactics for prevention and management.

Purpose: To validate a panel of methylation-based salivary rinse biomarkers (P16, CCNA1, DCC, TIMP3, MGMT, DAPK, and MINT31) previously shown to be independently associated with poor overall survival and local recurrence in a larger, separate cohort of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)., Experimental Design: One hundred ninety-seven patients were included. All pretreatment saliva DNA samples were evaluated for the methylation status of the gene promoters by quantitative methylation-specific PCR. The main outcome measures were overall survival, local recurrence-free survival, and disease-free survival., Results: In univariate analyses, the detection of hypermethylation of CCNA1, MGMT, and MINT31 was significantly associated with poor overall survival; the detection of hypermethylation of TIMP3 was significantly associated with local recurrence-free survival; and the detection of hypermethylation of MINT31 was significantly associated with poor disease-free survival. In multivariate analyses, detection of hypermethylation at any single marker was not predictive of overall survival in patients with HNSCC; detection of hypermethylation of TIMP3 in salivary rinse had an independent, significant association with local recurrence-free survival (HR = 2.51; 95% CI: 1.10-5.68); and none of the studied markers was significantly associated with disease-free survival., Conclusion: The detection of promoter hypermethylation of the seven genes in salivary rinse as an independent prognostic indicator of overall survival in patients with HNSCC was not validated. Detection of promoter hypermethylation of TIMP3 in pretreatment salivary rinse is independently associated with local recurrence-free survival in patients with HNSCC and may be a valuable salivary rinse biomarker for HNSCC recurrence., (©2012 AACR.)

Background: Salivary rinses have been recently proposed as a valuable resource for the development of epigenetic biomarkers for detection and monitoring of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Both salivary rinses collected with and without an exfoliating brush from patients with HNSCC are used in detection of promoter hypermethylation, yet their correlation of promoter hypermethylation has not been evaluated. This study was to evaluate the concordance of promoter hypermethylation between salivary rinses collected with and without an exfoliating brush from patients with HNSCC. METHODOLGY: 57 paired salivary rinses collected with or without an exfoliating brush from identical HNSCC patients were evaluated for promoter hypermethylation status using Quantitative Methylation-Specific PCR. Target tumor suppressor gene promoter regions were selected based on our previous studies describing a panel for HNSCC screening and surveillance, including P16, CCNA1, DCC, TIMP3, MGMT, DAPK and MINT31., Principal Findings: In salivary rinses collected with and without brush, frequent methylation was detected in P16 (8.8% vs. 5.2%), CCNA1 (26.3% vs. 22.8%), DCC (33.3% vs. 29.8%), TIMP3 (31.6% vs. 36.8%), MGMT (29.8% vs. 38.6%), DAPK (14.0% vs. 19.2%), and MINT31 (10.5% vs. 8.8%). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient showed a positive correlation between salivary rinses collected with and without brush for P16 (ρ = 0.79), CCNA1 (ρ = 0.61), DCC (ρ = 0.58), TIMP3 (ρ = 0.10), MGMT (ρ = 0.70), DAPK (ρ = 0.51) and MINT31 (ρ = 0.72) (P<0.01). The percent agreement of promoter methylation between salivary rinses with brush and without brush were 96.5% for P16, 82.5% for CCNA1, 78.9% for DCC, 59.7% for TIMP3, 84.2% for MGMT, 84.2% for DAPK, and 94.7% for MINT31., Conclusions: Our study demonstrated strong correlations of gene promoter hypermethylation between salivary rinses collected with and without an exfoliating brush. Salivary rinse collection without using an exfoliating brush may offer a cost effective, rapid, non-invasive, and reliable means for development of epigenetic salivary rinse biomarkers.

Objective: The goal of this study is to better understand the role of adenoid hypertrophy and its impact on mucociliary clearance as it relates to the symptoms of chronic sinusitis in children. More specifically, the goal is to better understand which symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis might be most likely to improve in children undergoing an adenoidectomy., Methods: We conducted this study on 35 healthy children (>3 and <18 years of age), either male or female, who underwent adenotonsillectomy or adenoidectomy (with or without tympanostomy tube insertion). Eighteen patients completed pre- and postoperative surveys, with 10 also completing the Andersen's saccharine test (AST). The nasal mucociliary clearance will be evaluated with the AST, in which a saccharin particle (1.5mm diameter) is carefully placed on the floor of the nasal cavity approximately 1cm behind the anterior end of the inferior turbinate. The time taken by the subjects from placement of particle to the perception of the sweet taste will be taken as mucociliary clearance time (MCT). The length of the nasal cavity is measured intraoperatively as the distance between the upper medial incisor and the inferior edge of the soft palate. From these two values nasal mucociliary clearance velocity (MCV) (cm/min) can be calculated and assessed. This study took place at an academic institution., Results: Symptomatic improvement was seen in all categories, as measured by the mean score improvement postoperatively. The greatest improvements were seen in nasal obstruction (mean=2.67 points ± .59) on the symptom survey, and emotional distress (mean=2.56 ± .47) on the SN5 survey. Quality of life improved by a mean=2.61 ± .49. Both MCT and MCV improved postoperatively (mean 3.64 min ± .84 and mean 1.96 cm/min ±.90, respectively)., Conclusions: We believe this study has the potential to provide otolaryngologists across the country with a benchmark to communicate the specific symptomatic benefits from adenoidectomy., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the role of intraoperative ablation as an adjunct to resection in patients with recurrent colorectal liver metastases (rCLM)., Methods: All patients undergoing curative-intent reoperative surgery for rCLM from 1992 to 2009 at a tertiary cancer center were included. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were compared between patients treated with resection alone or in combination with ablation., Results: A total of 112 reoperative hepatectomies were performed, of which 16 were combined with ablation. The proportion of patients treated with resection and ablation increased from 0% to 41%. Patients undergoing resection and ablation had a greater tumor burden (median, 4 vs. 1, p < 0.0001) and higher baseline clinical risk scores (median, 3 vs. 2, p = 0.065) than patients undergoing resection alone. Patients undergoing resection and ablation had lower intraoperative blood loss than patients undergoing resection alone (344 vs. 877 ml, p = 0.018). Five-year OS from the time of surgery was 48.6%. In multivariable analysis, there was no significant difference in OS or RFS based on the treatment modality., Conclusion: In patients with rCLM, the use of intraoperative ablation can extend the limits of surgical resection in patients with disease that might otherwise not be amenable to complete resection.

Introduction: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication offers significant improvement in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptom severity and frequency. This study was undertaken to determine the impact of preoperative medical comorbidities on the outcome and satisfaction of patients undergoing fundoplication for GERD., Methods: Prior to fundoplication, patients underwent esophageal motility testing and 24-h pH monitoring. Before and after fundoplication, the frequency and severity of reflux symptoms were scored using a Likert scale. Medical comorbidities were classified by organ systems, and patients were assigned points corresponding to the number of medical comorbidities they had. In addition, all patients were assigned Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) scores according to the medical comorbidities they had. A medical comorbidity was defined as a preexisting medical condition, not related to GERD, for which the patient was receiving treatment. Analyses were then conducted to determine the impact of medical comorbidities as well as CCI score on overall outcome, symptom improvement, and satisfaction., Results: Six hundred and ninety-six patients underwent fundoplication: 538 patients had no medical comorbidities and 158 patients had one or more medical comorbidities. Preoperatively, there were no differences in symptom severity and frequency scores between patients with or without medical comorbidities. Postoperatively, all patients had improvement in their symptom severity and frequency scores. There were no differences in postoperative symptom scores between the patients with medical comorbidities and those without. The majority of patients were satisfied with their overall outcome; there was no relationship between the number of medical comorbidities and satisfaction scores. These findings were mirrored when patients' CCI scores were compared with satisfaction, overall outcome, and symptom improvement., Conclusion: These results promote further application of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, even for patients with medical comorbidities.

Introduction: With ever greater numbers of fundoplications being undertaken, inevitably there will be an increase in the number of failed fundoplications, which will be considered for operative revision. This study was undertaken to compare the hospital costs of and outcomes after "redo" fundoplications to those of "first time" fundoplications., Methods: Patients undergoing anti-reflux surgery were prospectively followed. From 2000 to 2006, costs of and outcomes after 76 "redo" fundoplications were compared with 76 concurrent "first time" fundoplications. Prior to and after fundoplication, patients scored the frequency and severity of many symptoms, including dysphagia, chest pain, regurgitation, choking, and heartburn, using a Likert scale (0 = none/never, 10 = severe/always). The cost of care, including medical equipment, operating room expenses, and anesthesia was determined with standardization to 2006 cost and dollars. Data are presented as median (mean +/- standard deviation) where appropriate., Results: Prior to "redo" fundoplications, patients reported significantly greater dysphagia frequency and severity scores and significantly greater chest pain severity. DeMeester scores for patients undergoing "redo" fundoplications versus "first time" fundoplications were similar (45 (62 +/- 55.6) versus 39 (44 +/- 27.7)). After fundoplication, dysphagia frequency and severity significantly improved for all patients. Length of stay was significantly longer for patients requiring "redo" fundoplications [3 d (6 +/- 8.5) versus 1 d (3 +/- 7.6)]. Hospital costs for patients undergoing "redo" fundoplications were significantly greater., Conclusions: Patients requiring re-operative fundoplications report more frequent and severe symptoms, especially of dysphagia, when compared with patients undergoing "first-time" fundoplications. Laparoscopic "redo" fundoplications are technically challenging, more expensive, and more morbid (e.g., longer hospital stays). However, symptoms of reflux and dysphagia are ameliorated with "redo" fundoplications and application of "redo" fundoplication is warranted.

Antireflux fundoplications are undertaken with hesitation in older patients because of presumed higher morbidity and poorer outcomes. This study was undertaken to determine if symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) could be safely abrogated in a high-risk/reward popu lation of older patients. One hundred eight patients more than 70 years of age (range, 70-90 years) underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplications undertaken between 1992 and 2005 and were compared with 108 concurrent patients less than 60 years of age (range, 18-59 years) to determine relative outcomes. Before and after fundoplication, patients scored the severity of reflux and dysphagia on a Likert Scale (0 = minor, 10 = severe). Before fundoplication, older patients had lower reflux scores (P < 0.01), but not lower dysphagia scores or DeMeester scores. One patient (86 years old) died from myocardial infarction; otherwise, complications occurred infrequently, inconsequentially, and regardless of age. At similar durations of follow-up, reflux and dysphagia scores significantly improved (P < 0.01) for older and younger patients. After fundoplication, older patients had lower dysphagia scores (P < 0.01) and lower reflux scores (P < 0.01). At the most recent follow-up, 82 per cent of older patients rated their relief of symptoms as good or excellent. Similarly, 81 per cent of the younger patients reported good or excellent results. Ninety-one per cent of patients 70 years of age or more versus 85 per cent of patients less than 60 years would undergo laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication again, if necessary. With fundoplication, symptoms of GERD improve for older and younger patients, with less symptomatic dysphagia and reflux in older patients after fundoplication. Laparoscopic fundoplication safely ameliorates symptoms of GERD in elderly patients with symptomatic outcomes superior to those seen in younger patients.

Obesity has been shown to be a significant predisposing factor for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, obesity is also thought to be a contraindication to antireflux surgery. This study was undertaken to determine if clinical outcomes after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplications are influenced by preoperative body mass index (BMI). From a prospective database of patients undergoing treatment for GERD, 257 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication were studied. Patients were stratified by preoperative BMI: normal (<25), overweight (25-30), and obese (>30). Clinical outcomes were scored by patients with a Likert scale. Overweight and obese patients had more severe preoperative reflux, although symptom scores for reflux and dysphagia were similar among all weight categories. There was a trend toward longer operative times for obese patients. Mean follow-up was 26+/-23.9 months. Mean heartburn and dysphagia symptom scores improved for patients of all BMI categories (P<0.001). Postoperative symptom scores and clinical success rates did not differ among BMI categories. Most patients undergoing laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication are overweight or obese with moderate dysphagia and severe acid reflux. Clinical outcomes after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication did not differ among patients stratified by preoperative BMI. Obesity is not a contraindication to laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.