ENTtoday: February 2020

Will Otolaryngology Match Numbers Continue to Rise?

In 2019 a total of 398 U.S. seniors applied for 328 otolaryngology positions. But will the rise in match numbers last?

Thyroid Guidelines Had Major Impact on Patient Care, Otolaryngologists Say

The American Thyroid Association published its latest update on management guidelines of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. Here’s how the update changes patient care.

Otolaryngologists See Immunotherapy as Hope for Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

Otolaryngologists identify transformations in clinical care for patients with head and neck cancer.

Letter from the Editor: Looking Beyond Otolaryngology to the Explosion of Technology in Medicine

It’s good to take a trip outside the otolaryngology world once in a while to experience something novel and innovative.

Moral Strength and Professional Courage Are Necessities for Physicians

Even with ethical principles available to guide physicians in their approach to clinical ethical dilemmas, doing the right thing often requires bravery and personal risk.

At-Home vs. In-Home Calls: How Residency Programs Decide Which Option Is Best

There are pros and cons to at-home and in-home calls, but the biggest concern is educating the resident and caring for patients.

ENT Myth Buster: Take 10,000 Steps Daily for Good Health?

A new study shows that walking as few as 4,400 steps per day was significantly related to lower mortality and that those rates continued to decrease with more steps,

What Is The Optimal Duration of Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Clean-Contaminated Head and Neck Surgery?

Postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in clean-contaminated head and neck free flap reconstruction cases is most likely sufficient and recommended for use less than 24hours from wound closure.

Study Design Flaws Can Create Result Interpretation Problems

Pitfalls in scientific reserach were identified in two major areas: design and data analysis.

Secondary Medicare Diagnosis Coding Expansion, Electronic Health Records Associated with Increase in Illness Severity

A look at whether the expansion of secondary diagnosis codes in January 2011 and incentive payments for health information technology is associated with changes in measured severity of illness.

Benefits of Cochlear Implants in Single-Sided Deafness Patients

There was an improvement in health-related quality of life and a reduction of tinnitus and cognitive distress in patients with SSD after cochlear implantation.

OSA Treatment: Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy May Not Significantly Affect Surgical Success

A look at whether drug-induced sleep endoscopy affects the success of nose, palate, or tongue surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients?

Surgical Resection of Pediatric Skull Base Tumors: Expanded Endonasal Approaches Compare Well with Traditional Transcranial Approaches

There was no difference in midfacial growth measurements between expanded endonasal approaches and open-route patients after three years of imaging follow-up.

Abscess, Stridor, Diabetes Mellitus Are Associated with Need for Airway Intervention in Adult Epiglottitis

What are the predictors of airway collapse and the need for airway intervention in adult epiglottitis?

Tumor, Host, and Treatment Factors Define Laryngeal Cancer Outcomes

Optimal outcomes for a laryngeal cancer patient can be achieved when taking into account tumor, host, and treatment factors.

Changes to Federal Laws May Mean Better Collaboration Between Healthcare Providers

Proposed changes to the the U.S. healthcare system’s primary fraud and abuse laws were finally unveiled in October 2019. Here’s what the reforms mean for physicians.