ENTtoday: December 2017

5 Truths ENTs Need to Know about the Opioid Crisis

Currently, there isn’t much uniformity regarding opioid prescribing practices, even within the same medical practice.

The Evolution of Informed Consent

The shifting focus from “consent” to how “informed” a patient should be.

Letter from the Editor: Closing Comments from ENTtoday’s Outgoing Editor

A thank you and comment on the future from Robert H. Miller.

How Gene Editing is Changing Otolaryngology

Researchers are turning to gene editing to correct certain types of hearing loss, but many practical details regarding gene editing still need to be determined.

How to Avoid Wrong-Patient Errors

While wrong-patient errors can be deadly, most are preventable.

Ransomware: What It Is and How to Prevent It

The goal of ransomware is to encrypt your files and effectively disable access to them. Here are some tips for preventing an attack.

What Is the Preferred Perioperative Antibiotic Following Major Head and Neck Surgery?

Ampicillin/sulbactam is the preferred perioperative prophylactic antibiotic in major head and neck surgery.

Is Sinus Surgery Indicated for Recurrent Acute Rhinosinusitis?

Surgical intervention is indicated when patients have four to six episodes of acute sinusitis lasting four weeks or less each with asymptomatic periods in the interim.

Can We Use the Status of One Ear to Predict Eustachian Tube Function of the Contralateral Ear?

There is little physiologic data comparing Eustachian tube function in each ear, but clinically relevant information can be gleaned from studies on surgical outcomes.

Cost of Sleep Studies for U.S. Medicare Beneficiaries Is High

The healthcare burden of administering sleep studies is substantial, although the annual cost is declining.

Pregnancy-Associated Bell’s Palsy Associated with Worse Longterm Outcomes

These poor outcomes seem to be the result of factors intrinsic to pregnancy, not the tendency for medical therapy to be withheld in pregnancy-associated cases of BP.

HN Sweat Gland Adenocarcinoma Rare, But Locally Aggressive

HNSGA are locally aggressive tumors that most commonly occur on the face. Their presence predicts poorer outcomes.

Higher-Quality Larynx Cancer Care Associated with Lower Mortality, Morbidity

High-volume surgical care was associated with lower one-year costs, even after controlling for quality.