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Introduction: Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection commonly manifests as subacute or chronic cervicofacial lymphadenitis in immunocompetent children. The optimal management of this pathology remains controversial. Objectives: This international consensus guideline aims to understand the practice patterns for NTM cervicofacial lymphadenitis and to address the primary diagnostic and management challenges. Methods: A modified three-iterative Delphi method was used to establish expert recommendations on the diagnostic considerations, expectant or medical management, and operative considerations. The recommendations herein are derived from current expert consensus and critical review of the literature. Setting: Multinational, multi-institutional, tertiary pediatric hospitals. Results: Consensus recommendations include diagnostic work-up, goals of treatment and management options including surgery, prolonged antibiotic therapy and observation. Conclusion: The recommendations formulated in this International Pediatric Otolaryngology Group (IPOG) consensus statement on the diagnosis and management of patients with NTM lymphadenitis are aimed at improving patient care and promoting future hypothesis generation. Keywords: Atypical mycobacteria; Cervical lymphadenitis; Consensus recommendations; Non-tuberculous mycobacteria.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Repair of large, recurrent, and complex tracheoesophageal fistulas (TEFs) is challenging and numerous different surgical approaches exist. These various techniques each carry a set of risks and possible complications such as fistula recurrence, tracheal stenosis or pouches, esophageal stenosis, and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Slide tracheoplasty is a reconstructive technique successfully used in many different airway pathologies, including TEF repair. This study examines the success, limits, and complications related to slide tracheoplasty for repair of complex TEFs. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective chart review. METHODS Patients undergoing TEF repair using a cervical or thoracic approach slide tracheoplasty, at a single institution, between July 2008 and December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, comorbidities, TEF etiology and surgical history, slide tracheoplasty details and outcomes, and postoperative complication data were examined using descriptive statistics. RESULTS Twenty-six patients underwent 27 slide tracheoplasties for TEF (20 cervical approaches, 7 thoracic approaches) with a mean age of 5.2 years (IQR 0.7-7.6) at time of surgery. The most common TEF etiologies included congenital (n = 13), tracheostomy tube erosion (n = 5), and button battery ingestion (n = 4). Fistulas ranged in size from

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Evaluate swallowing and airway outcomes following laryngotracheoplasty with posterior grafting (LTP PCCG). METHODS Retrospective review of pediatric patients undergoing LTP PCCG from 2016 to 2019 at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. We included demographics, indications, approach, and revision status. We evaluated preoperative and postoperative instrumental and functional swallow evaluations, and we also gathered information on airway outcomes. RESULTS Thirty-one patients were included in the study. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) age was 4.0 (2.0, 7.0) years old. Primary indication for surgery was bilateral vocal cord immobility (BVCI) in 11 (35.5%) and posterior glottic stenosis (PGS) in 20 (64.5%). Mean (standard deviation) length of follow-up was 11.0 (8.3) months. Twelve patients had gastrostomy tubes (GT) before surgery, and no patients required placement of GT after surgery. Of the remaining 19 patients, 6 required nasogastric feeding for >4 weeks (average length 1.8 months, longest 3.5 months). At last follow-up, 25 (80.6%) patients were primarily orally fed. Eighteen patients had tracheotomies prior to surgery. No patients without a tracheostomy required placement of tracheostomy before or after surgery and only 1 patient had a tracheostomy at last follow-up. Average time to decannulation was 3.7 months, with surgery-specific success of 87.1% and overall success of 96.8%. Four (12.9%) patients required a major intervention to achieve decannulation. CONCLUSION LTP PCCG is an effective surgical technique to address PGS and BVCI with high decannulation rates. It may cause temporary swallowing dysfunction, but in this series a majority of children were orally fed at last follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 131:2798-2804, 2021.

The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) is the basis for physician reimbursement by public and private payers. The PFS values physician services according to the estimated time and intensity required to perform them; intensity reflects the summation of technical skill, cognitive load, and risk-related stress. The fee schedule uses relative value units (RVUs) as a metric that permits comparison across procedures. Recent debate has focused on whether the methods by which the Centers for MedicareMedicaid Services (CMS) estimate procedural intensity are valid. We therefore sought to investigate current CMS estimates of intensity (RVUs/min) for surgical procedures performed by pediatric otolaryngologists.We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of fiscal year 2021 PFS valuations for pediatric otolaryngology key indicator procedures specified by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. We additionally examined general otolaryngology procedures, including adenotonsillectomy and tympanostomy tube insertion. We utilized the 2021 Medicare PFS conversion factor of $34.89/RVU to convert intensity (wRVUs/min) to a compensation rate ($/min). Primary outcomes were: (1) total compensation rate and (2) intraservice (i.e., incision-to-closure) compensation rate for each studied procedure.Our study sample included 167 unique procedures. The mean (standard deviation) total compensation rate for all included procedures was $1.35/min ($0.29/min) and the mean intraservice rate was $1.71/min ($0.89/min). Intraservice compensation rates ranged from $-1.50/min (drainage of throat abscess) to $4.75/min (pediatric tracheostomy).Total and intraservice compensation rates under the Medicare PFS vary widely for surgical procedures performed by pediatric otolaryngologists. Further investigation is necessary to examine the validity of assumptions underlying these procedural intensity valuations.NA Laryngoscope, 2022.

Objectives: To examine whether social determinants of health (SDH) factors are associated with time to diagnosis, treatment selection, and time to recurrent surgical intervention in idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) patients. Methods: Adult patients with diagnosed iSGS were recruited prospectively (2015-2017) via clinical providers as part of the North American Airway Collaborative (NoAAC) and via an online iSGS support community on Facebook. Patient-specific SDH factors included highest educational attainment (self-reported), median household income (matched from home zip code via U.S. Census data), and number of close friends (self-reported) as a measure of social support. Main outcomes of interest were time to disease diagnosis (years from symptom onset), treatment selection (endoscopic dilation [ED] vs cricotracheal resection [CTR] vs endoscopic resection with adjuvant medical therapy [ERMT]), and time to recurrent surgical intervention (number of days from initial surgical procedure) as a surrogate for disease recurrence. Results: The total 810 participants were 98.5% female, 97.2% Caucasian, and had a median age of 50 years (IQR, 43-58). The cohort had a median household income of $62 307 (IQR, $50 345-$79 773), a median of 7 close friends (IQR, 4-10), and 64.7% of patients completed college or graduate school. Education, income, and number of friends were not associated with time to diagnosis via multivariable linear regression modeling. Univariable multinominal logistic regression demonstrated an association between education and income for selecting ED versus ERMT, but no associations were noted for CTR. No associations were noted for time to recurrent surgical procedure via Kaplan Meier modeling and Cox proportional hazards regression. Conclusions: Patient education, income, and social support were not associated with time to diagnosis or time to disease recurrence. This suggests additional patient, procedure, or disease-specific factors contribute to the observed variations in iSGS surgical outcomes.

Subglottic stenosis (SGS) and tracheal stenosis (TS) can be congenital or acquired. Ongoing improvements in neonatal care have led to an increased number of infants with prolonged intubation and tracheostomy. Both of these interventions have led to an increase in SGS and TS and management of these lesions can be challenging. A wide array of endoscopic and open techniques exist to manage these issues. This article aims to review previous and current literature on open airway reconstruction to guide care for these children. Experience and expertise in airway surgery have shifted recent research towards non-airway outcome measures such as swallowing and voice, though the primary treatment objective remains decannulation. Various open surgical options as slide tracheoplasty, laryngotracheal reconstruction, and partial cricotracheal resection and anastomosis are available for correcting laryngotracheal stenosis. The choice of the surgery should be based on demography and characteristics of the stenosis found during endoscopy and the associated comorbidities of the patient. Open airway reconstruction for treatment of LTS is effective but careful preoperative evaluation and patient selection are important. Ongoing research focuses on improving swallowing and voice outcomes.

* Abbreviations: ETT: : endotracheal tube EXIT: : ex utero intrapartum treatment POPS: : procedure on placental support A 36-year-old gravida 3, para 2-0-0-2 pregnant woman was referred to our fetal care center at 20 5/7 weeks’ gestation because of fetal micrognathia, lagging femur length, and a single umbilical artery. Her pertinent medical and surgical histories included asthma and a prior cesarean section. The pregnancy was the product of in vitro fertilization. Preimplantation genetic screening demonstrated an embryo with a normal karyotype. Her medications included fluticasone propionate/salmeterol, montelukast, lansoprazole, and prenatal vitamins. Family history revealed 2 paternal female first cousins once removed with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome and seizure disorder related to sodium channelopathy. Her standard prenatal screening results were unremarkable. Evaluation at our fetal care center included the following: Figure 1. Fetal magnetic resonance imaging scan obtained at 20 weeks’ gestation. A. The abnormal facial profile with severe micrognathia. B. Facial profile; white arrow indicates glossoptosis. The conglomeration of these fetal findings is consistent with a diagnosis of Pierre Robin sequence. Pierre Robin sequence occurs …

Mainstem bronchial atresia (MBA) is a rare and fatal entity with no survivors reported to date. We describe a neonate born at 36 weeks gestational age (GA) with right MBA who underwent successful slide tracheobronchoplasty at 32 days of life. It is theorized that during fetal life a transient fistulous connection developed, allowing right lung decompression and left lung development.

Hospital prices vary substantially for myringotomy with tympanostomy tube placement (MT) and adenotonsillectomy (TA). The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently implemented hospital price transparency requirements to help families make financially informed decisions about where to seek care. We sought to determine price availability and the extent of price variation for these procedures.We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the Turquoise Health Hospital Rates Data Platform, which extracts prices for facility fees from publicly available hospital chargemasters. We determined the proportion of hospitals serving pediatric patients that published payer-specific prices for MT and TA. We additionally characterized the extent of variation in payer-specific prices both across and within hospitals.Approximately 40% (n = 909 of 2,266 hospitals) serving pediatric patients disclosed prices for MT or TA. Among disclosing hospitals, across-center ratios (adjusted for Medicare hospital wage indices) ranged from 11.0 (MT; 10th percentile adjusted median price: $536.80 versus 90th percentile adjusted median price: $5,929.93) to 23.4 (revision adenoidectomy age12 years; 10th percentile: $393.82 versus 90th percentile: $9,209.88). Median within-center price ratios for procedures ranged from 2.2 to 2.7, indicating that some private payers reimbursed the same hospital more than twice as much as other payers for the same procedure.The majority of hospitals serving pediatric patients were non-compliant with federal requirements to disclose prices for MT and TA. Among disclosing hospitals, there was wide variation in payer-specific prices between and within institutions. Further research is necessary to understand whether disclosure of prices will enable families to make more financially informed decisions.3 Laryngoscope, 2022.

Traditionally, data regarding thyroidectomy were extracted from billing databases, but information may be missed. In this study, a multi-institutional pediatric thyroidectomy database was used to evaluate recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury and hypoparathyroidism.Retrospective multi-institutional cohort study.Tertiary care pediatric hospital systems throughout North America.Data were individually collected for thyroidectomies, then entered into a centralized database and analyzed using univariate and multivariable regression models.In total, 1025 thyroidectomies from 10 institutions were included. Average age was 13.9 years, and 77.8% were female. Average hospital stay was 1.9 nights and 13.5% of patients spent at least 1 night in the pediatric intensive care unit. The most frequent pathology was papillary thyroid carcinoma (42%), followed by Graves' disease (20.1%) and follicular adenoma (18.2%). Overall, 1.1% of patients experienced RLN injury (0.8% permanent), and 7.2% experienced hypoparathyroidism (3.3% permanent). Lower institutional volume (odds ratio [OR], 3.57; 95% CI, 1.72-7.14) and concurrent hypoparathyroidism (OR, 3.51; 95% CI, 1.64-7.53) correlated with RLN injury on multivariable analysis. Graves' disease (OR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.35-3.80), Hashimoto's thyroiditis (OR, 4.67; 95% CI, 2.39-9.09), central neck dissection (OR, 3.60; 95% CI, 2.36-5.49), and total vs partial thyroidectomy (OR, 7.14; 95% CI, 4.55-11.11) correlated with hypoparathyroidism.These data present thyroidectomy information and complications pertinent to surgeons, along with preoperative risk factor assessment. Multivariable analysis showed institutional volume and hypoparathyroidism associated with RLN injury, while hypoparathyroidism associated with surgical indication, central neck dissection, and extent of surgery. Low complication rates support the safety of thyroidectomy in pediatric tertiary care centers.

Create a competency-based assessment tool for pediatric esophagoscopy with foreign body removal.Blinded modified Delphi consensus process.Tertiary care center.A list of 25 potential items was sent via the Research Electronic Data Capture database to 66 expert surgeons who perform pediatric esophagoscopy. In the first round, items were rated as "keep" or "remove" and comments were incorporated. In the second round, experts rated the importance of each item on a seven-point Likert scale. Consensus was determined with a goal of 7 to 25 final items.The response rate was 38/64 (59.4%) in the first round and returned questionnaires were 100% complete. Experts wanted to "keep" all items and 172 comments were incorporated. Twenty-four task-specific and 7 previously-validated global rating items were distributed in the second round, and the response rate was 53/64 (82.8%) with questionnaires returned 97.5% complete. Of the task-specific items, 9 reached consensus, 7 were near consensus, and 8 did not achieve consensus. For global rating items that were previously validated, 6 reached consensus and 1 was near consensus.It is possible to reach consensus about the important steps involved in rigid esophagoscopy with foreign body removal using a modified Delphi consensus technique. These items can now be considered when evaluating trainees during this procedure. This tool may allow trainees to focus on important steps of the procedure and help training programs standardize how trainees are evaluated.5. Laryngoscope, 131:1168-1174, 2021.

Congenital airway stenosis secondary to absent tracheal or bronchial rings is a rare congenital anomaly that is difficult to manage both clinically and surgically. This typically manifests as severe segmental tracheomalacia, and only isolated cases with short-term follow-up have been previously described. We aim to describe a series of children with absent tracheal or bronchial rings who underwent surgical management and had long-term follow-up.Case series with chart review.Tertiary care pediatric hospital.Patients with absent tracheal or bronchial rings from 2002 to 2016. Electronic and paper medical records were queried to obtain demographics, age at diagnosis and surgery, pre- and postoperative symptoms, location of absent rings, procedure performed, length of follow-up, and adjunctive procedures performed.Nine subjects were identified who underwent slide tracheoplasty for correction of congenital absent tracheal or bronchial rings. Age at diagnosis ranged from 10 days to 5 years of age (median, 4 weeks). Age at surgery ranged from 3 weeks to 5 years of age (median, 5 weeks). Six out of 9 subjects were extubated on postoperative day 1. Only 1 subject required additional intervention, which included balloon dilation, tracheobronchial stenting, and aortopexy to alleviate the obstruction. Mean follow-up time was 5.89 years.This is the largest series of children with absent tracheal rings who underwent slide tracheoplasty with long-term follow-up presented to date. Slide tracheoplasty is an effective surgical intervention for the treatment of absent tracheal or bronchial rings in infants and young children.

Objectives/hypothesis Create a competency-based assessment tool for pediatric esophagoscopy with foreign body removal. Study design Blinded modified Delphi consensus process. Setting Tertiary care center. Methods A list of 25 potential items was sent via the Research Electronic Data Capture database to 66 expert surgeons who perform pediatric esophagoscopy. In the first round, items were rated as "keep" or "remove" and comments were incorporated. In the second round, experts rated the importance of each item on a seven-point Likert scale. Consensus was determined with a goal of 7 to 25 final items. Results The response rate was 38/64 (59.4%) in the first round and returned questionnaires were 100% complete. Experts wanted to "keep" all items and 172 comments were incorporated. Twenty-four task-specific and 7 previously-validated global rating items were distributed in the second round, and the response rate was 53/64 (82.8%) with questionnaires returned 97.5% complete. Of the task-specific items, 9 reached consensus, 7 were near consensus, and 8 did not achieve consensus. For global rating items that were previously validated, 6 reached consensus and 1 was near consensus. Conclusions It is possible to reach consensus about the important steps involved in rigid esophagoscopy with foreign body removal using a modified Delphi consensus technique. These items can now be considered when evaluating trainees during this procedure. This tool may allow trainees to focus on important steps of the procedure and help training programs standardize how trainees are evaluated. Level of evidence 5. Laryngoscope, 131:1168-1174, 2021.

Rationale: Complete tracheal ring deformity (CTRD) is a rare congenital abnormality of unknown etiology characterized by circumferentially continuous or nearly-continuous cartilaginous tracheal rin...

Objectives/hypothesis Determine surgical and swallowing outcomes after surgery for type III laryngotracheoesophageal cleft (LTEC). Study design Case series with chart review. Methods Chart review was performed on patients with type III LTEC between 2000 and 2019. Demographics, surgical outcomes, and swallowing outcomes were collected and analyzed. Results Thirty-three patients met inclusion criteria (28 open and 5 endoscopic repairs). Mean age was 3.4 years for the open group and 0.9 years for the endoscopic group. Seventeen (51.5%) patients had a syndromic diagnosis, most commonly Opitz syndrome and Trisomy 21. Mean follow-up was 33.6 months. Thirteen (39.4%) patients had a previous repair attempt prior to repair at our institution. Twenty-four (70.6%) patients had a tracheostomy prior to or at the time of surgical repair and 13 (38.2%) remain tracheostomy-dependent. Nine patients (27.3%) required a revision cleft repair and four (12.1%) required two revisions. Thirty-one patients had an intact repair at last follow-up (93.9). Two patients died outside the hospital over a year after surgery. Preoperatively 13 of 17 patients with swallowing evaluations aspirated. After repair, 11 of 20 patients were deemed safe for all consistencies and seven were safe for thickened. Endoscopic approaches were performed during the last 2 years of the study and had significantly lower operative time (354.4 minutes vs. 171.5 minutes). Conclusions Endoscopic and open approaches are effective for treatment of type III LTEC with 27.3% requiring revision and 93.9% of repairs intact at last follow-up. Overall swallowing outcomes were good in patients who underwent postoperative instrumental swallow evaluation. Level of evidence IV Laryngoscope, 2021.

We have performed fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of the intracellular domain of a model of the GABA

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Endoscopic repair is the preferred surgical treatment for type 1 laryngeal clefts (T1LCs) and deep interarytenoid notches (DINs). No studies exist showing differences in repair rates using laser and cold steel. Our objective is to assess overall success and revision rate for endoscopic cleft repair and determine whether there is any difference in surgical outcomes between cold steel and laser techniques. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective chart review, cohort study. METHODS Retrospective review at a quaternary care pediatric hospital. Included all patients who underwent endoscopic repair for T1LCs and DINs between January 2010 and December 2019. Demographics, comorbidities, surgical data, outcomes, and revision status were collected and analyzed. We excluded patients who did not have a follow-up at our institution. RESULTS A total of 194 patients were identified, 14 were excluded for lack of follow-up data so 180 were analyzed. Of these, 127 had cold steel repair and 53 had laser repair. There is no significant difference in demographics or comorbidities. In the cold steel group, 4 of 127 (3.1%) had breakdown and in the laser group, 10 of 53 (18.9%) had breakdown. Patients who failed after a cold steel repair tended to break down later (median 12.7 months) when compared to laser repairs (median 2.1 months). Nine of the 10 patients with breakdown after laser repair were noted on initial postoperative evaluation. CONCLUSIONS Endoscopic cleft repair is a well-described and effective method for repair of T1LCs and DINs. Both cold steel and laser have high success rates; however, higher failure rates were noted in the laser repair group. Failure after laser repair may occur earlier than failure after cold steel repair. But this did not reach significance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3 Laryngoscope, 131:2805-2810, 2021.

Plane wave density functional theory codes generally assume periodicity in all three dimensions. This causes difficulties when studying charged systems, for instance energies per unit cell become infinite, and, even after being renormalised by the introduction of a uniform neutralising background, are very slow to converge with cell size. The periodicity introduces spurious electric fields which decay slowly with cell size and which also slow the convergence of other properties relating to the ground state charge density. This paper presents a simple self-consistent technique for producing rapid convergence of both energies and charge distribution in the particular geometry of 2D periodicity, as used for studying surfaces., 14 pages, 7 figures

To compare the clinical outcomes of patients with prophylactic petiole suspension (PPS) at the time of laryngofissure and patients without PPS.Retrospective case series.Tertiary pediatric hospital from May 2003 to August 2017.Patients included those undergoing airway reconstruction with complete laryngofissure. Patients in the study group had PPS at the time of laryngofissure, while control group patients did not.Eighty-one patients underwent complete laryngofissure (22 study patients, 59 controls) at a median age of 4.8 years (interquartile range, 2.1-9.7). Patients in the control group were younger at the time of the surgery (3.7 vs 6.5 years,Patients with PPS had significantly fewer symptoms after complete laryngofissure as compared with patients without PPS. PPS should be considered when a complete laryngofissure is being performed during airway reconstruction.

Objective Epiglottic petiole prolapse is an overlooked entity that could lead to supraglottic airway obstruction for patients with complex airway history. Classical symptoms include exercise intolerance, obstructive sleep apnea, and difficulty with decannulation. The goal of this project was to evaluate the factors associated with epiglottic petiole repositioning success. Methods Retrospective case series of patients with a complex history of airway reconstruction evaluated by the aerodigestive team at a tertiary pediatric hospital from May 2003 to August 2017. All patients underwent repositioning for petiole prolapse. Results We had a total of 59 patients (14 females, 23.7%) with complex airway anomalies with petiole prolapse noted during a microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy. Mean age was 12.9 ± 6.1 year old (range 1.3-35.9). Patients had a history of 2.2 (1-5) open airway surgeries, and 51 of 58 (87.9%) of them had a prior complete laryngofissure. Laryngotracheoplasty and petiole repositioning were performed as a double-stage surgery for 54 of 58 (91.5%) patients. Epiglottic petiole prolapse was persistent in 20 patients (33.9%) and became symptomatic for 14 of them (23.7%). The main preventive factor of petiole prolapse recurrence was pre-epiglottic fat debulking at the time of the repositioning, with an odds ratio of 0.06 (95% confidence interval 0.007-0.6, P = 0.01). Stent placement, longer duration of stent placement, and double-stage procedure also increased the likelihood of success (all P Conclusion Patients with petiole prolapse have a history of complete laryngofissure and multiple open airway surgeries. Pre-epiglottic fat debulking and longer stent placement at the time of the repositioning surgery appear to significantly increase the long-term success rate. Level of evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 129:1984-1988, 2019.

Objectives Discuss the ethical issues in the management of postoperative hemorrhage in pediatric patients whose parents are Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) and 2) Describe a framework for shared decision making in this population. Methods A recall review of pediatric otolaryngology patients with parents of the JW faith and postoperative hemorrhage was performed over a year long period at a single institution. The literature on transfusions for JW minors was reviewed. Results Two patients were identified. The first patient had a severe post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage requiring multiple emergency operative interventions. The child developed a hemoglobin of 5.2 g/dl and received an emergent transfusion against parents’ wishes. The child subsequently did not require further intervention. The second patient hemorrhaged after a supraglottoplasty and was administered erythropoietin and iron infusion but did not require transfusion (hemoglobin nadir 7.9 g/dl). In both cases hematology was consulted, and extensive discussion with the families and the JW Hospital Liaison Committee occurred. Conclusions The risks of hemorrhage should be discussed with JW parents of patients undergoing even routine otolaryngologic surgery. In these cases, early shared decision making with family, the JW Hospital Liaison committee, and hematology was pursued regarding mutually acceptable interventions. Aggressive non-transfusion based resuscitation was carried out to minimize the likelihood of transfusion. In the first case, danger to the patient's life eventually necessitated transfusion in accordance with the patient's best interest and previous case law. A defined framework involving all stake-holders, including Pastoral Care, in the event of postoperative hemorrhage is critical.

Objective To provide guidance for home care tracheostomy management in the pediatric population. The mission of the IPOG is to develop expertise-based recommendations for the management of pediatric otolaryngologic disorders with the goal of improving patient care. Methods Survey of expert opinion by the members of the International Pediatric Otolaryngology Group (IPOG). Results Survey results provide guidance for caregiver teaching, the reuse of tracheostomies and suction catheters while inpatient and following discharge, acceptable sterilization practices for tracheostomies, tracheitis workup and management, and outpatient follow-up practices. Conclusion This presentation of common home tracheostomy care practices are aimed at improving patient-centered care in the pediatric population.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Otolaryngology instructional videos available online are often of poor quality. The objective of this article was to establish international consensus recommendations for the production of educational surgical videos in otolaryngology. Study Design: DELPHI survey. Methods: Twenty-seven international respondents participated in this study from 12 countries. Consensus was reached after three rounds of questionnaires following the Delphi methodology. The proposals having reached the 80% agreement threshold in the third round were retained. Results: The main recommendations are as follows: 1) Ethics: patients must be anonymized and unrecognizable (apart from plastic surgery if necessary). A signed authorization must be obtained if the person is recognizable. 2) Technical aspects: videos should be edited and in high-definition (HD) quality if possible. Narration or subtitles and didactic illustrations are recommended. 3) Case presentation: name of pathology and procedure must be specified; the case should be presented with relevant workup. 4) Surgery: surgical procedures should be divided into several distinct stages and include tips and pitfalls. Pathology should be shown if relevant. Key points should be detailed at the end of the procedure. 5) Organ-specific: type of approach and bilateral audiometry should be specified in otology. Coronal plane computed tomography scans should be shown in endonasal surgery. It is recommended to show pre- and postoperative videos in voice surgery and preoperative drawings and photos of scars in plastic surgery, as well as the ventilation method in airway surgery. Conclusions: International recommendations have been determined to assist in the creation and standardization of educational surgical videos in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery. Level of Evidence: 5 Laryngoscope, 131:E732–E737, 2021.

Objectives Tracheal A-frame deformity is a known consequence of tracheostomy that may lead to obstruction after decannulation. The goal of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility and success of endoscopic carbon dioxide (CO2 ) laser-assisted tracheoplasty of tracheal A-frame deformity in children. Methods Retrospective case series of symptomatic children with tracheal A-frame deformity with no other site of airway obstruction (2016-2018). All patients underwent CO2 -laser assisted endoscopic resection tracheoplasty. Results Eight patients (six male) were included with a median age of 15.4 (IQR 12.3-17.9) years. Patients had a median of two previous open airway surgeries (IQR 1-2.5) and all patients had a history of tracheostomy with successful decannulation. Tracheal A-frame deformity presented as dyspnea on exertion for all patients (n = 8, 100%). Obstructive sleep apnea was confirmed for all patients who underwent polysomnography (4/4, 100%). Median interval from decannulation to development of symptoms was 8.7 years (IQR 5.8-9.3). All patients sized with an age-appropriate endotracheal tube despite the deformity. Endoscopic A-frame tracheoplasty was successful for 7/8 (87.5%) patients and was performed with overnight observation for these patients (8/8, 100%). Unilateral A-frame tracheoplasty was performed successfully for five patients (62.5%), bilateral A-frame tracheoplasty was performed successfully for two patients (25.0%), and one patient (12.5%) did not have complete resolution of symptoms after bilateral A-frame tracheoplasty due to multi-level airway obstruction. Conclusions CO2 laser-assisted tracheoplasty is an innovative endoscopic technique to relieve symptoms of airway obstruction for selected patients with tracheal A-frame deformity although avoiding the morbidity and hospital stay duration associated with tracheal resection. Level of evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E719-E723, 2021.

OBJECTIVES Airway reconstruction for subglottic and tracheal stenosis is often successful in achieving tracheostomy decannulation and improving airway symptoms. However, one common reason for late failure is development of a tracheal A-frame deformity, which can necessitate additional surgery. Although knowledge of this deformity exists, the incidence and risk factors have not been reported. This study seeks to determine the incidence of A-frame following airway reconstruction and define factors that correlate with development of this deformity. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case series. METHODS Patients under 21 years of age undergoing open airway reconstruction at our institution between January 2005-December 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, comorbidities, airway history/reconstruction type, and follow-up airway findings were examined using multivariable logistic regression. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to examine time to A-frame repair. RESULTS Two hundred patients underwent airway reconstruction and 69 (34.5%) developed an A-frame deformity. History of tracheostomy was the most significant contributor to A-frame development (P

OBJECTIVE Primary tracheobronchial tumors (PTTs) are rare heterogeneous lesions arising from any part of the tracheobronchial tree. Nonspecific symptoms may lead to delayed diagnosis that requires more aggressive surgical treatment. An analysis of cases collected by the International Network of Pediatric Airway Team was undertaken to ensure proper insight into the behavior and management of PTTs. METHODS Patients

OBJECTIVE Our objective was to gather data that would enable us to suggest more specific guidelines for the management of children with airway disruption. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case series with data from five tertiary medical centers. METHODS Children younger than 18 years of age with a disrupted airway were enrolled in this series. Data pertaining to age, sex, etiology and location of the disruption, type of injury, previous surgery, presence of air extravasation, management, and outcome were obtained and summarized. RESULTS Twenty children with a mean age of 4.4 years (range 1 day-14.75 years) were included in the study. All were evaluated by flexible endoscopy and/or microlaryngoscopy in the operating room. Twelve (60%) children had tracheal involvement; seven had bronchial involvement; and one had involvement of the cricoid cartilage. Nine children had air extravasation, and all these children required surgical repair. Of the 11 who did not have air extravasation, only one underwent surgical repair. Complete healing of the disrupted airway was seen in all cases. CONCLUSION This series suggests that if there is no continuous air extravasation demonstrated on imaging studies or clinical examination, nonoperative management may allow for spontaneous healing without sequelae. However, surgical repair may be considered in those patients with continuous air extravasation unless a cuffed tube can be placed distal to the site of injury. For children in whom airway injury occurs in a previously operated area, the risk of extravasation is reduced. This risk is also diminished if positive pressure ventilation can be avoided or minimized. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 131:921-924, 2021.

Objective To provide recommendations for the comprehensive management of airway obstruction in patients with Robin Sequence. Methods Expert opinion by the members of the International Pediatric Otolaryngology Group (IPOG). Results The consensus statement provides recommendations for medical specialists who manage infants with Robin Sequence including: evaluation and treatment considerations for commonly debated issues in post-natal airway obstruction, assessment of antenatal obstruction and perinatal airway management. Conclusion Consensus recommendations are aimed at improving management of airway obstruction in patients with Robin Sequence.

Objectives To develop consensus recommendations for the evaluation and management of juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP) in pediatric patients. Methods Expert opinion by the members of the International Pediatric Otolaryngology Group (IPOG). The mission of the IPOG is to develop expertise-based consensus recommendations for the management of pediatric otolaryngologic disorders with the goal of improving patient care. The consensus recommendations herein represent the first publication by the group. Results Consensus recommendations including diagnostic considerations, surgical management, systemic adjuvant therapies, postoperative management, surveillance, and voice evaluation. These recommendations are based on the collective opinion of the IPOG members and are targeted for otolaryngologists, primary care providers, pulmonologists, infectious disease specialists, and any other health care providers that manage patients with JORRP. Conclusions Pediatric JORRP consensus recommendations are aimed at improving care and outcomes in this patient population.

OBJECTIVES Develop multidisciplinary and international consensus on patient, disease, procedural, and perioperative factors, as well as key outcome measures and complications, to be reported for pediatric airway reconstruction studies. METHODS Standard Delphi methods were applied. Participants proposed items in three categories: 1) patient/disease characteristics, 2) procedural/intraoperative/perioperative factors, and 3) outcome measures and complications. Both general and anatomic site-specific measures were elicited. Participants also suggested specific operations to be encompassed by this project. We then used iterative ranking and review to develop consensus lists via a priori Delphi consensus criteria. RESULTS Thirty-three pediatric airway experts from eight countries in North and South America, Europe, and Australia participated, representing otolaryngology (including International Pediatric Otolaryngology Group members), pulmonology, general surgery, and cardiothoracic surgery. Consensus led to inclusion of 19 operations comprising open expansion, resection, and slide procedures of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi as well as three endoscopic procedures. Consensus was achieved on multiple patient/comorbidity (10), disease/stenosis (7), perioperative-/intraoperative-/procedure-related (16) factors. Consensus was reached on multiple outcome and complication measures, both general and site-specific (8 general, 13 supraglottic, 15 glottic, 17 subglottic, 8 cervical tracheal, 12 thoracic tracheal). The group was able to clarify how each outcome should be measured, with specific instruments defined where applicable. CONCLUSION This consensus statement provides a framework to communicate results consistently and reproducibly, facilitating meta-analyses, quality improvement, transfer of information, and surgeon self-assessment. It also clarifies expert opinion on which patient, disease, procedural, and outcome measures may be important to consider in any pediatric airway reconstruction patient. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 5 Laryngoscope, 129:244-255, 2019.

The normal trachea consists of approximately 15–20 cartilaginous rings situated in a “horseshoe” or “C shape” as well as a posterior membranous portion in a 4–5:1 ratio (Cummings et al. Otolaryngology – head & neck surgery [print/digital]. Philadelphia: Elsevier Mosby, 2005). Alterations in this ratio are seen in two of the most common congenital tracheal anomalies, tracheal stenosis and tracheomalacia. Congenital disorders of the trachea, while rare, can cause a wide range of symptoms with varying severity. The diversity in presentation mandates a high degree of clinical suspicion to identify these disorders. Management has evolved significantly, such that there is potential to address both morbidity and mortality in this patient population. Concomitant congenital anomalies may be present and can complicate management. A multidisciplinary approach to care is necessary to ensure the best airway, feeding, and overall outcomes for these complex patients. This chapter will focus on the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of congenital tracheal stenosis, most commonly caused by complete tracheal rings. Additionally, other causes of tracheal stenosis and disorders involving tracheal collapse, including both intrinsic and extrinsic causes, will be reviewed.

Objectives/hypothesis Over the past decade, thoracic slide tracheoplasty (TST) has become the principal operation in the management of congenital tracheal stenosis. The purpose of this report was to describe our experience with revision TST following unsuccessful prior tracheal reconstruction. Study design Retrospective analysis at an academic children's hospital. Methods Patients undergoing TST on cardiopulmonary bypass between January 2005 and May 2014 were reviewed. Patients with a history of prior airway surgery were extracted for further analysis. Preoperative patient variables and postoperative outcomes were evaluated and compared between patients undergoing revision slide tracheoplasty (RTST) and a control group of 26 matched patients undergoing primary surgery TST. Results Twenty-six revision patients (25 referrals, one primary patient) of 162 patients reviewed over the study period met inclusion criteria. Twenty-three patients had a history of complete tracheal rings, and three patients had cartilaginous deficiency. A total of 41 airway reconstruction procedures had been performed prior to RTST. When compared to primary TST, patients undergoing RTST required fewer cardiac procedures intraoperatively, and fewer mean ventilator hours (P = .01) postoperatively. There was no significant difference in the median length of stay, requirement of >48 hours ventilation, or postoperative complications between groups. There was one nonsurgical postoperative mortality following RTST. Conclusions Despite some differences in the postoperative management when compared to nonrevision cases, revision TST can be successfully performed after prior tracheal reconstruction with good postoperative outcomes. Level of evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 128:2181-2186, 2018.

Objectives To document the natural growth pattern of unrepaired complete tracheal rings (UCTRs) and describe the patient population managed conservatively. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary pediatric academic center. Subjects/Methods Medical records of patients with confirmed complete tracheal rings on bronchoscopy from 1993 to 2017 were reviewed. Patients aged 0 to 18 who had documented tracheal sizing over time and did not require surgical intervention were included. Exclusion criteria included tracheal stenosis not caused by complete tracheal rings. Comorbidities and airway characteristics were documented in addition to endoscopic findings. These were compared with children requiring surgical repair. Results In total, 149 patients with complete tracheal rings were identified. Twenty-five had UCTRs for an overall 16.8% rate of conservative management. Nineteen patients met inclusion criteria and underwent a total of 90 microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopies (MLBs) with sizing. The growth of the UCTRs over time, based on MLB sizing, was chronicled. The median airway growth noted was 0.38 mm/y. A moderately strong positive correlation was seen between age and airway size ( rs = 0.72, P < .0001). Children with UCTRs were less likely to have long-segment involvement than those who required repair (92%, P = .024). Conclusions A select group of children with complete tracheal rings can be managed expectantly without surgical intervention. Conservative management may be less successful in children with long-segment complete tracheal rings. Airway growth does occur in this population and can be monitored over time. Having a standardized method for sizing UCTRs allows for more effective communication between providers and assurance of continued growth of the airway while following these patients.

A 6-month-old female presented for 2 months of noisy breathing. Flexible laryngoscopy showed limited bilateral vocal fold abduction. Computed tomography revealed a non-enhancing 3.6 × 2.3 × 3.5 cystic prevertebral mass spanning C2-T. Using an endoscopic approach, the overlying mucosa was incised, and the cyst was freed and fully excised from the surrounding mucosa with blunt microlaryngeal instruments without complication. Three months postoperatively she had no respiratory issues and was eating well. Flexible laryngoscopy revealed bilateral vocal fold mobility. We propose that endoscopic removal of a cervical esophageal duplication cyst in selected cases is an alternative to open excision. Laryngoscope, 130:2053-2055, 2020.

Objective Aortopexy including innominate artery suspension is a well-established treatment of anterior vascular compression and associated tracheomalacia. We report the results of our case series of cervical approach to innominate artery suspension and hypothesize that increased distance from the innominate to the sternum is predictive of superior symptomatic outcome. Study design Retrospective Case Series. Methods All cases of cervical innominate artery suspension at our institution over the last 10 years were reviewed. CT scans of the neck and chest were reviewed to obtain anatomical measurements including anterior-posterior thoracic outlet distance, thymic thickness, and sternum-innominate artery distance. Measurements were compared with surgical outcomes as verified by follow up bronchoscopy and clinical course to determine factors predictive of success. Results Ten cases of cervical innominate artery suspension were performed by the otolaryngology service at our institution over the last 10 years. Six patients had improvement in their symptoms. The average sternum-innominate artery distance (SID) was larger (14.4 mm (95% CI 9.1–19.7)) in patients who had improvement in clinical symptoms following innominate suspension compared to those that did not improve (6.3 mm (95% CI 2.5–10.1)) (p value = 0.02). Similarly, the anterior-posterior distance of the thoracic outlet was larger (34.9 mm (95% CI 27.4–42.4)) in patients who had improvement post-op compared to those that did not improve (22.6 mm (95% CI 18.2–27.2) (p value = 0.01). Two patients required spine surgery to achieve improvement in their symptoms. Conclusion Cervical innominate artery suspension is successful in carefully selected patients. More space in the thoracic outlet and larger distance from the innominate artery to the sternum is associated with symptomatic improvement.

Acquired tracheal stenosis can result from iatrogenic injury or, less commonly, tracheal tumors. Symptoms can arise insidiously and typically include respiratory distress, sleep disordered breathing, or exercise intolerance. Diagnostic evaluation includes cross-sectional imaging and endoscopy. Various endoscopic and open procedures exist to address acquired tracheal stenosis and treatment should be tailored to the patient. Cervical slide tracheoplasty without cardiopulmonary bypass is a versatile technique that can address different types of tracheal stenosis. It allows for immediate reconstruction with vascularized tissue and continued opportunity for growth as the child ages, with high success rates with minimal morbidity.

Ex-utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) is a delivery strategy developed to manage a variety of prenatally diagnosed conditions in the transition to newborn life. This procedure allows control and provides time for intervention in otherwise life-threatening malformations, such as congenital upper airway obstructions. EXIT-to-airway has changed the outcome of fetuses with these anomalies. The main purpose of this intervention is to improve the safety of establishing a reliable airway at birth. Maximal but controlled uterine relaxation to maintain feto-maternal perfusion and thus gas exchange, while keeping the fetal and maternal well-being are the paradigms of any type of EXIT. The most important aspect of fetal airway management is to consolidate a highly trained, well-coordinated, multidisciplinary team that is prepared for every contingency. A comprehensive prenatal assessment, including ultrasound, fetal echocardiogram, fetal MRI, and genetic testing is imperative for patient selection. Extensive preoperative planning, ad-hoc team meetings, and surgical simulations for challenging cases are critical strategies to achieve the best outcomes. This article outlines the prenatal work-up, decision making, technical aspects, and principles for a successful EXIT-to-airway procedure.

Introduction The diagnosis and management of type I laryngeal clefts can be controversial and varies across centers and surgeons. Using existing peer-reviewed literature to develop an expert-based consensus will help guide physicians in the treatment of these patients as well as develop research hypotheses to further study this condition. Objective To provide recommendations for the diagnosis and management of type I laryngeal clefts. Methods Determination of current expert- and literature-based recommendations, via a survey of the International Pediatric Otolaryngology Group, using a modified Delphi method. Setting Multinational, multi-institutional, tertiary pediatric hospitals. Results Consensus recommendations include diagnostic workup, medical management, pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative considerations for type I laryngeal clefts. Conclusions This guide on the diagnosis and management of patients with type I laryngeal clefts is aimed at improving patient care and promoting future hypothesis generation and research to validate the recommendations made here.

Objectives/Hypothesis Children with bilateral true vocal fold immobility (BTVFI) may present with significant airway distress necessitating tracheostomy. The objective of this study was to review our preliminary experience with the anterior–posterior cricoid split (APCS), an endoscopic intervention used as an alternative to tracheostomy in children with BTVFI. Study Design Multicenter review. Methods A review of patients undergoing endoscopic APCS for BTVFI at four institutions was performed. Patients were evaluated for the ability to ventilate without the requirement for tracheostomy or reintubation. Additional data extracted included the duration of intubation following APCS, the requirement for additional procedures, and demographics. Surgical success was defined as the ability to avoid tracheostomy and to cap or decannulate without respiratory symptoms if a tracheostomy was present prior to APCS. Results Nineteen APCS procedures were performed between October 2010 and June 2016. There were 12 male patients, the mean age at APCS was 4.7 months. BTVFI was primarily idiopathic (58%) and associated with other comorbidities (74%). All patients were candidates for tracheostomy prior to APCS. Fourteen patients (74%) were considered surgical successes. Of the unsuccessful patients, three (66%) required tracheostomy following APCS, and one was treated with a posterior cartilage graft. There was one nonsurgical mortality greater than 2 months after APCS and thought to be unrelated to the airway. Conclusions Endoscopic APCS appears to be a safe and effective intervention for pediatric BTVFI. Under the correct circumstances, this can be performed as a single procedure, obviating tracheostomy. Further study is warranted. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 128:257–263, 2018