ObjectivesCarotid body tumors (CBT) are rare paragangliomas of the carotid body at the carotid bi... more ObjectivesCarotid body tumors (CBT) are rare paragangliomas of the carotid body at the carotid bifurcation. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hypertension on outcomes in carotid body tumor surgery.Study DesignA retrospective database review.MethodsData on carotid body resections performed from 2005 to 2014 were drawn from the American College of Surgeons’ National Surgical Quality Improvement database. Two groups were created based on the presence of preoperative hypertension. These groups were analyzed for demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complications using bivariate and multivariate methods.ResultsOf the 452 patients included in the analysis, 49.3% had hypertension. Those with hypertension were significantly more likely to have additional comorbidities, which were controlled for by multivariate analysis to focus on hypertension. These hypertensive patients also had significantly longer hospital stays. Multivariate analysis showed that patients...
Head and neck cancer patients are often malnourished. In addition, these patients also face nutri... more Head and neck cancer patients are often malnourished. In addition, these patients also face nutritional problems related to the site of the tumor. Surgery and chemotherapy create additional difficulties in maintaining adequate nutritional status. Proper attention to the nutritional needs of these cancer patients is an important aspect of their overall management.
Many patients with severe swallowing disorders will require surgical intervention at some point i... more Many patients with severe swallowing disorders will require surgical intervention at some point in the course of their illness. Surgery should be designed to address specific dysfunctions identified by a thorough evaluation. Defining a patient's problem is usually a multidisciplinary effort, requiring the skills of several specialists.
ObjectivesFirearms have an enduring and visible presence within American culture. However, the pu... more ObjectivesFirearms have an enduring and visible presence within American culture. However, the public health impact of nonpowder firearms and other “toy” guns has not been fully studied. These guns—including BB guns (ie, ball bearing), paintball guns, and pellet guns—are typically marketed to a younger audience. The objective of this study is to analyze head and neck injuries related to nonpowder firearms.Study DesignCross‐sectional analysis of a national database.SettingAcademic medical center.Subjects and MethodsThe National Electronic Injury Surveillance System was queried for head and neck injuries involving nonpowder guns, including air, BB, and pellet guns, and associated ammunition. Analysis of age, sex, incidence, injury location, and diagnosis was performed.ResultsFrom 2005 to 2014, there were 1695 cases recorded, or 55,060 estimated emergency room visits, due to injuries related to nonpowder guns and fired ammunition. The majority of patients were male (80.9%). These injur...
International forum of allergy & rhinology, Mar 11, 2016
Currently, limited literature exists about sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma (SNACC). In this st... more Currently, limited literature exists about sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma (SNACC). In this study, we analyze the demographics, survival, and treatment efficacy of this rare entity. Our study was a retrospective population-based analysis of SNACC in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database assessing the 40-year time-frame of 1973 to 2013. Six hundred ninety-four SNACC patients were identified; 53.2% were female and 46.8% were male. Caucasians were most commonly affected (77.1%). SNACC most often arose from the maxillary sinuses, followed by the nasal cavity. The majority of SNACC cases presented as stage IV disease. Nodal and distant metastases were present in 3.6% and 7.1% of all cases, respectively. Overall 5-, 10-, and 20-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 66.5%, 41.1%, and 17.6%, respectively. The presence of distant metastasis dropped the 5-year DSS rate from 64.5% to 20.0%. Cases treated with combined surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy had...
Objectives/Hypothesis: Our objectives included using a nationally representative resource to eval... more Objectives/Hypothesis: Our objectives included using a nationally representative resource to evaluate charges, demographics, and complication rates among diabetics undergoing surgical repair of facial fractures. Methods: We evaluated the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, a database encompassing nearly 8 million hospitalizations, for patients with a diagnosis of a facial fracture who underwent surgical intervention during their hospitalization. Patients were organized by whether they had a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM). Results: Of 45,509 inpatients included, diabetics had greater costs, longer length of stays, and were significantly more likely to have a host of baseline comorbidities. On multivariate logistic regression corrected for age, race, gender, and preexisting cardiac disease, DM patients had significantly greater odds for cardiac complications (3.3; P < 0.001) and hepatic failure (15.0; P 5 0.007). There were no significant differences associated with DM in the rates of enophthalmos, epiphora, and diplopia among patients with orbital fractures. Diabetics did have a significantly greater risk of postoperative infection after mandible repair. Conclusion: In addition to a significant association with greater length of stay and increased hospital charges, DM patients undergoing surgical repair of facial fractures had a significantly greater risk of postoperative complications, including cardiac complications. Diabetics undergoing mandible repair had a greater risk of postoperative infection, even upon controlling for demographic factors, suggesting the need for further study evaluating the role of postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in this patient population. These findings reveal the potential value of developing and using standardized postoperative care algorithms aimed at minimizing complications in this susceptible population.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant epithelial neoplasm of secretory glands of the... more Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant epithelial neoplasm of secretory glands of the upper aerodigestive tract. It accounts for 3-5% of head and neck malignancies and most commonly arises from the minor salivary glands of the oral cavity. The clinical behavior of ACC from specific anatomic subsites, including the oral cavity, is not well described in the literature. We aim to elucidate patient demographics, clinicopathologic features, incidence, and survival trends for oral cavity ACC (OCACC). Methods: Retrospective population-based analysis of OCACC in the SEER database between 1973 and 2012. Results: 1066 OCACC patients were identified, of which 57.7% were female (P < 0.0001). Incidence was 0.049 per 100,000. Whites were most commonly affected (81.1%). The hard palate was the most commonly involved subsite (44.1%). Nodal involvement was seen in 8.4% of cases and distant metastasis was present in 6.2% of cases at the time of presentation. Disease-specific survival (DSS) rates at 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years were 97.4%, 83.9%, 69.9%, 57.6%, and 46.2%, respectively. Females had a higher 5-year DSS (87.8%) than males (78.4%, P = 0.0004). Cases treated with surgery had a favorable prognosis regardless of whether they received radiotherapy (P < 0.0001). Nodal involvement reduced 5-year DSS by 51.6% (P < 0.0001), while distant metastasis reduced 5-year DSS by 46.4% (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: OCACC is a rare malignancy with females and whites being more commonly affected. At presentation, regional and distant metastases are uncommon. Poor prognostic indicators include male gender, nonsurgical therapy, nodal involvement, and distant metastasis.
Otolaryngologic clinics of North America, Jan 18, 2016
The frontal sinus is the most complex of all paranasal sinuses. Given its proximity to the crania... more The frontal sinus is the most complex of all paranasal sinuses. Given its proximity to the cranial vault and orbit, frontal sinus pathology can progress to involve these structures and lead to significant morbidity, or even mortality. Surgical management of the frontal sinus is technically challenging. Various open and endoscopic surgical techniques are available to the otolaryngologist. This article presents an overview of the major disease entities that affect the frontal sinus, with a special emphasis on treatment principles and surgical management.
Otolaryngologic clinics of North America, Jan 18, 2016
Frontal sinus surgery has long been technically challenging in terms of access and chronic diseas... more Frontal sinus surgery has long been technically challenging in terms of access and chronic disease management. Decades of experience and advances in technology have led to the widespread use of various surgical approaches to the frontal sinus. Modifications to these existing procedures have been described to minimize unnecessarily invasive approaches. The lack of a classification that incorporates the newly described modifications prompts the proposal of a new classification. Eloy I-III incorporates all the previously described approaches as well as 3 recently published, and 1 newly described, procedures.
Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B: Skull Base, 2020
Glomus vagale tumor is a paraganglioma of the vagus nerve. It is a rare type of benign tumor that... more Glomus vagale tumor is a paraganglioma of the vagus nerve. It is a rare type of benign tumor that occupies the head and neck and skull base regions. Patients often present with lower cranial nerve dysfunctions such as difficulty swallowing, tongue weakness, and hoarseness. Surgical treatment can be complex and difficult due to its high vascularity, frequent involvement of lower cranial nerves, and surrounding critical vascular structures. In this operative video, we demonstrate an extended anterolateral infralabyrinthine transjugular approach for microsurgical resection of a giant glomus vagale tumor in a 53-year-old male who presented with an enlarging neck mass, difficulty swallowing, right tongue weakness, and hoarseness. Imaging revealed a giant glomus vagale tumor in the right parapharyngeal space extending into the jugular foramen with occlusion of the internal jugular vein. After preoperative embolization, the patient underwent a near-total resection of the tumor with a small...
Laryngeal chondrosarcomas are rare entities that arise from the cartilaginous structures of the l... more Laryngeal chondrosarcomas are rare entities that arise from the cartilaginous structures of the larynx, including the cricoid, thyroid cartilage, epiglottis, and arytenoid cartilages. These tumors represent a minority of malignancies involving the larynx and can be mistaken for benign pathologies. The treatment has historically been surgical excision, often by total laryngectomy. This review investigates treatment modalities and patient outcomes. Systematic review using PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE database. The databases were used to identify articles reporting cases of chondrosarcomas occurring exclusively in the larynx. Variables analyzed included patient demographics, presenting symptoms, grade, therapeutic approach, patient outcomes, and follow-up. Five hundred and ninety-two cases were identified. The average age reported was 62.5 years. There was a 3:1 male to female ratio. The most common surgical approach was local excision in 178 cases, followed by total laryngectomy in 174 c...
Unplanned readmissions within 30 days of surgery represent a significant marker for healthcare qu... more Unplanned readmissions within 30 days of surgery represent a significant marker for healthcare quality. Small institutional studies have described rates of readmission for patients undergoing head and neck free flap reconstruction. However, large, multi-institutional analyses have not previously been described. Retrospective study of cases from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients who underwent free flap reconstruction of the head and neck from 2011 to 2013 were identified. Univariate and multivariate analyses of unplanned readmission based on patient, laboratory, and hospital course characteristics were conducted. In total, 1,238 patients who underwent head and neck microvascular free flap reconstruction were included within the database, of which 1,204 patients had information pertaining to readmission. Overall 30-day readmission rate was 9.6%. A multivariate analysis of preoperative variables demonstrated that leukocytosis, diabetes mellitus, and hyponatremia were all associated with increased rates of readmission (odds ratio 2.224, 1.843, and 1.7423, respectively). A similar analysis of postoperative variables demonstrated that wound-related complications (surgical site infections and wound disruption), perioperative blood transfusion, and sepsis were associated with an increased rate of readmission. In patients with microvascular free flap reconstruction of the head and neck, the 30-day readmission rate was 9.6%. Preoperative diabetes mellitus, hyponatremia, and leukocytosis were associated with an increased rate of 30-day readmissions. Postoperative complications, particularly wound infections, perioperative blood transfusions, and sepsis, were found to be significant contributors to readmission. 4. Laryngoscope, 2016.
International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, 2012
Background: The extensive amount of medical literature available on the Internet is frequently ac... more Background: The extensive amount of medical literature available on the Internet is frequently accessed by patients. To effectively contribute to healthcare decision-making, these online resources should be worded at a level that is readable by any patient seeking information. The American Medical Association and National Institutes of Health recommend the readability of patient information material should be between a 4th to 6th grade level. In this study, we evaluate the readability of online patient education information available from the American Rhinologic Society (ARS) website using 9 different assessment tools that analyze the materials for reading ease and grade level of the target audience. Methods: Online patient education material from the ARS was downloaded in February 2012 and assessed for level of readability using the Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) Grading, Coleman-Liau Index, Gunning-Fog Index, FORCAST formula, Raygor Readability Estimate, the Fry Graph, and the New Dale-Chall Readability Formula. Each article was pasted as plain text into a Microso R Word R document and each subsection was analyzed using the so ware package Readability Studio Professional Edition Version 2012.1. Results: All healthcare education materials assessed were wri en between a 9th grade and graduate reading level and were considered "difficult" to read by the assessment scales. Conclusion: Online patient education materials on the ARS website are wri en above the recommended 6th grade level and may require revision to make them easily understood by a broader audience.
The h-index is an accurate and reliable indicator of scholarly productivity that takes into accou... more The h-index is an accurate and reliable indicator of scholarly productivity that takes into account relevance, significance, and influence of research contributions. As such, it is an effective, objective bibliometric that can be used to evaluate academic otolaryngologists for decisions regarding appointment and advancement. In this study, we evaluate the impact of NIH funding on scholarly productivity in otolaryngology. Analysis of bibliometric data of academic otolaryngologists. Funding data for the 20 otolaryngology departments with the largest aggregate total of NIH grants for the fiscal years (FY) 2011 and 2012 was obtained using the National Institutes of Health Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures and Reports (RePORTER) Database. H-indices were calculated using the Scopus online database, and then compared to funding data at both the departmental and individual level. Faculty members in otolaryngology departments who received NIH funding had significantly greater research productivity and impact, as measured by the h-index, than their nonfunded peers. H-indices increased with greater NIH funding levels, and investigators with MD degrees tended to have higher mean NIH funding levels than those with PhDs. While there was no correlation between average h-index and NIH funding totals at the level of departments, there was greater correlation upon examination of NIH funding levels of individual investigators. The h-index has a strong relationship with, and may be predictive of, grant awards of NIH-funded faculty members in otolaryngology departments. This bibliometric may be useful in decisions regarding appointment and advancement of faculty members within academic otolaryngology departments.
ObjectivesCarotid body tumors (CBT) are rare paragangliomas of the carotid body at the carotid bi... more ObjectivesCarotid body tumors (CBT) are rare paragangliomas of the carotid body at the carotid bifurcation. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hypertension on outcomes in carotid body tumor surgery.Study DesignA retrospective database review.MethodsData on carotid body resections performed from 2005 to 2014 were drawn from the American College of Surgeons’ National Surgical Quality Improvement database. Two groups were created based on the presence of preoperative hypertension. These groups were analyzed for demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complications using bivariate and multivariate methods.ResultsOf the 452 patients included in the analysis, 49.3% had hypertension. Those with hypertension were significantly more likely to have additional comorbidities, which were controlled for by multivariate analysis to focus on hypertension. These hypertensive patients also had significantly longer hospital stays. Multivariate analysis showed that patients...
Head and neck cancer patients are often malnourished. In addition, these patients also face nutri... more Head and neck cancer patients are often malnourished. In addition, these patients also face nutritional problems related to the site of the tumor. Surgery and chemotherapy create additional difficulties in maintaining adequate nutritional status. Proper attention to the nutritional needs of these cancer patients is an important aspect of their overall management.
Many patients with severe swallowing disorders will require surgical intervention at some point i... more Many patients with severe swallowing disorders will require surgical intervention at some point in the course of their illness. Surgery should be designed to address specific dysfunctions identified by a thorough evaluation. Defining a patient&#39;s problem is usually a multidisciplinary effort, requiring the skills of several specialists.
ObjectivesFirearms have an enduring and visible presence within American culture. However, the pu... more ObjectivesFirearms have an enduring and visible presence within American culture. However, the public health impact of nonpowder firearms and other “toy” guns has not been fully studied. These guns—including BB guns (ie, ball bearing), paintball guns, and pellet guns—are typically marketed to a younger audience. The objective of this study is to analyze head and neck injuries related to nonpowder firearms.Study DesignCross‐sectional analysis of a national database.SettingAcademic medical center.Subjects and MethodsThe National Electronic Injury Surveillance System was queried for head and neck injuries involving nonpowder guns, including air, BB, and pellet guns, and associated ammunition. Analysis of age, sex, incidence, injury location, and diagnosis was performed.ResultsFrom 2005 to 2014, there were 1695 cases recorded, or 55,060 estimated emergency room visits, due to injuries related to nonpowder guns and fired ammunition. The majority of patients were male (80.9%). These injur...
International forum of allergy & rhinology, Mar 11, 2016
Currently, limited literature exists about sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma (SNACC). In this st... more Currently, limited literature exists about sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma (SNACC). In this study, we analyze the demographics, survival, and treatment efficacy of this rare entity. Our study was a retrospective population-based analysis of SNACC in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database assessing the 40-year time-frame of 1973 to 2013. Six hundred ninety-four SNACC patients were identified; 53.2% were female and 46.8% were male. Caucasians were most commonly affected (77.1%). SNACC most often arose from the maxillary sinuses, followed by the nasal cavity. The majority of SNACC cases presented as stage IV disease. Nodal and distant metastases were present in 3.6% and 7.1% of all cases, respectively. Overall 5-, 10-, and 20-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 66.5%, 41.1%, and 17.6%, respectively. The presence of distant metastasis dropped the 5-year DSS rate from 64.5% to 20.0%. Cases treated with combined surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy had...
Objectives/Hypothesis: Our objectives included using a nationally representative resource to eval... more Objectives/Hypothesis: Our objectives included using a nationally representative resource to evaluate charges, demographics, and complication rates among diabetics undergoing surgical repair of facial fractures. Methods: We evaluated the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, a database encompassing nearly 8 million hospitalizations, for patients with a diagnosis of a facial fracture who underwent surgical intervention during their hospitalization. Patients were organized by whether they had a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM). Results: Of 45,509 inpatients included, diabetics had greater costs, longer length of stays, and were significantly more likely to have a host of baseline comorbidities. On multivariate logistic regression corrected for age, race, gender, and preexisting cardiac disease, DM patients had significantly greater odds for cardiac complications (3.3; P < 0.001) and hepatic failure (15.0; P 5 0.007). There were no significant differences associated with DM in the rates of enophthalmos, epiphora, and diplopia among patients with orbital fractures. Diabetics did have a significantly greater risk of postoperative infection after mandible repair. Conclusion: In addition to a significant association with greater length of stay and increased hospital charges, DM patients undergoing surgical repair of facial fractures had a significantly greater risk of postoperative complications, including cardiac complications. Diabetics undergoing mandible repair had a greater risk of postoperative infection, even upon controlling for demographic factors, suggesting the need for further study evaluating the role of postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in this patient population. These findings reveal the potential value of developing and using standardized postoperative care algorithms aimed at minimizing complications in this susceptible population.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant epithelial neoplasm of secretory glands of the... more Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant epithelial neoplasm of secretory glands of the upper aerodigestive tract. It accounts for 3-5% of head and neck malignancies and most commonly arises from the minor salivary glands of the oral cavity. The clinical behavior of ACC from specific anatomic subsites, including the oral cavity, is not well described in the literature. We aim to elucidate patient demographics, clinicopathologic features, incidence, and survival trends for oral cavity ACC (OCACC). Methods: Retrospective population-based analysis of OCACC in the SEER database between 1973 and 2012. Results: 1066 OCACC patients were identified, of which 57.7% were female (P < 0.0001). Incidence was 0.049 per 100,000. Whites were most commonly affected (81.1%). The hard palate was the most commonly involved subsite (44.1%). Nodal involvement was seen in 8.4% of cases and distant metastasis was present in 6.2% of cases at the time of presentation. Disease-specific survival (DSS) rates at 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years were 97.4%, 83.9%, 69.9%, 57.6%, and 46.2%, respectively. Females had a higher 5-year DSS (87.8%) than males (78.4%, P = 0.0004). Cases treated with surgery had a favorable prognosis regardless of whether they received radiotherapy (P < 0.0001). Nodal involvement reduced 5-year DSS by 51.6% (P < 0.0001), while distant metastasis reduced 5-year DSS by 46.4% (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: OCACC is a rare malignancy with females and whites being more commonly affected. At presentation, regional and distant metastases are uncommon. Poor prognostic indicators include male gender, nonsurgical therapy, nodal involvement, and distant metastasis.
Otolaryngologic clinics of North America, Jan 18, 2016
The frontal sinus is the most complex of all paranasal sinuses. Given its proximity to the crania... more The frontal sinus is the most complex of all paranasal sinuses. Given its proximity to the cranial vault and orbit, frontal sinus pathology can progress to involve these structures and lead to significant morbidity, or even mortality. Surgical management of the frontal sinus is technically challenging. Various open and endoscopic surgical techniques are available to the otolaryngologist. This article presents an overview of the major disease entities that affect the frontal sinus, with a special emphasis on treatment principles and surgical management.
Otolaryngologic clinics of North America, Jan 18, 2016
Frontal sinus surgery has long been technically challenging in terms of access and chronic diseas... more Frontal sinus surgery has long been technically challenging in terms of access and chronic disease management. Decades of experience and advances in technology have led to the widespread use of various surgical approaches to the frontal sinus. Modifications to these existing procedures have been described to minimize unnecessarily invasive approaches. The lack of a classification that incorporates the newly described modifications prompts the proposal of a new classification. Eloy I-III incorporates all the previously described approaches as well as 3 recently published, and 1 newly described, procedures.
Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B: Skull Base, 2020
Glomus vagale tumor is a paraganglioma of the vagus nerve. It is a rare type of benign tumor that... more Glomus vagale tumor is a paraganglioma of the vagus nerve. It is a rare type of benign tumor that occupies the head and neck and skull base regions. Patients often present with lower cranial nerve dysfunctions such as difficulty swallowing, tongue weakness, and hoarseness. Surgical treatment can be complex and difficult due to its high vascularity, frequent involvement of lower cranial nerves, and surrounding critical vascular structures. In this operative video, we demonstrate an extended anterolateral infralabyrinthine transjugular approach for microsurgical resection of a giant glomus vagale tumor in a 53-year-old male who presented with an enlarging neck mass, difficulty swallowing, right tongue weakness, and hoarseness. Imaging revealed a giant glomus vagale tumor in the right parapharyngeal space extending into the jugular foramen with occlusion of the internal jugular vein. After preoperative embolization, the patient underwent a near-total resection of the tumor with a small...
Laryngeal chondrosarcomas are rare entities that arise from the cartilaginous structures of the l... more Laryngeal chondrosarcomas are rare entities that arise from the cartilaginous structures of the larynx, including the cricoid, thyroid cartilage, epiglottis, and arytenoid cartilages. These tumors represent a minority of malignancies involving the larynx and can be mistaken for benign pathologies. The treatment has historically been surgical excision, often by total laryngectomy. This review investigates treatment modalities and patient outcomes. Systematic review using PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE database. The databases were used to identify articles reporting cases of chondrosarcomas occurring exclusively in the larynx. Variables analyzed included patient demographics, presenting symptoms, grade, therapeutic approach, patient outcomes, and follow-up. Five hundred and ninety-two cases were identified. The average age reported was 62.5 years. There was a 3:1 male to female ratio. The most common surgical approach was local excision in 178 cases, followed by total laryngectomy in 174 c...
Unplanned readmissions within 30 days of surgery represent a significant marker for healthcare qu... more Unplanned readmissions within 30 days of surgery represent a significant marker for healthcare quality. Small institutional studies have described rates of readmission for patients undergoing head and neck free flap reconstruction. However, large, multi-institutional analyses have not previously been described. Retrospective study of cases from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients who underwent free flap reconstruction of the head and neck from 2011 to 2013 were identified. Univariate and multivariate analyses of unplanned readmission based on patient, laboratory, and hospital course characteristics were conducted. In total, 1,238 patients who underwent head and neck microvascular free flap reconstruction were included within the database, of which 1,204 patients had information pertaining to readmission. Overall 30-day readmission rate was 9.6%. A multivariate analysis of preoperative variables demonstrated that leukocytosis, diabetes mellitus, and hyponatremia were all associated with increased rates of readmission (odds ratio 2.224, 1.843, and 1.7423, respectively). A similar analysis of postoperative variables demonstrated that wound-related complications (surgical site infections and wound disruption), perioperative blood transfusion, and sepsis were associated with an increased rate of readmission. In patients with microvascular free flap reconstruction of the head and neck, the 30-day readmission rate was 9.6%. Preoperative diabetes mellitus, hyponatremia, and leukocytosis were associated with an increased rate of 30-day readmissions. Postoperative complications, particularly wound infections, perioperative blood transfusions, and sepsis, were found to be significant contributors to readmission. 4. Laryngoscope, 2016.
International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, 2012
Background: The extensive amount of medical literature available on the Internet is frequently ac... more Background: The extensive amount of medical literature available on the Internet is frequently accessed by patients. To effectively contribute to healthcare decision-making, these online resources should be worded at a level that is readable by any patient seeking information. The American Medical Association and National Institutes of Health recommend the readability of patient information material should be between a 4th to 6th grade level. In this study, we evaluate the readability of online patient education information available from the American Rhinologic Society (ARS) website using 9 different assessment tools that analyze the materials for reading ease and grade level of the target audience. Methods: Online patient education material from the ARS was downloaded in February 2012 and assessed for level of readability using the Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) Grading, Coleman-Liau Index, Gunning-Fog Index, FORCAST formula, Raygor Readability Estimate, the Fry Graph, and the New Dale-Chall Readability Formula. Each article was pasted as plain text into a Microso R Word R document and each subsection was analyzed using the so ware package Readability Studio Professional Edition Version 2012.1. Results: All healthcare education materials assessed were wri en between a 9th grade and graduate reading level and were considered "difficult" to read by the assessment scales. Conclusion: Online patient education materials on the ARS website are wri en above the recommended 6th grade level and may require revision to make them easily understood by a broader audience.
The h-index is an accurate and reliable indicator of scholarly productivity that takes into accou... more The h-index is an accurate and reliable indicator of scholarly productivity that takes into account relevance, significance, and influence of research contributions. As such, it is an effective, objective bibliometric that can be used to evaluate academic otolaryngologists for decisions regarding appointment and advancement. In this study, we evaluate the impact of NIH funding on scholarly productivity in otolaryngology. Analysis of bibliometric data of academic otolaryngologists. Funding data for the 20 otolaryngology departments with the largest aggregate total of NIH grants for the fiscal years (FY) 2011 and 2012 was obtained using the National Institutes of Health Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures and Reports (RePORTER) Database. H-indices were calculated using the Scopus online database, and then compared to funding data at both the departmental and individual level. Faculty members in otolaryngology departments who received NIH funding had significantly greater research productivity and impact, as measured by the h-index, than their nonfunded peers. H-indices increased with greater NIH funding levels, and investigators with MD degrees tended to have higher mean NIH funding levels than those with PhDs. While there was no correlation between average h-index and NIH funding totals at the level of departments, there was greater correlation upon examination of NIH funding levels of individual investigators. The h-index has a strong relationship with, and may be predictive of, grant awards of NIH-funded faculty members in otolaryngology departments. This bibliometric may be useful in decisions regarding appointment and advancement of faculty members within academic otolaryngology departments.
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