Search

Background: Preoperative laboratory tests (PLTs) are often obtained prior to outpatient surgical procedures. The objective of this study is to examine the current practice of routine PLT in low-risk patients undergoing ambulatory endoscopic sinonasal surgery (ESS) and to assess whether such testing impacts surgical outcomes., Methods: Patients undergoing ambulatory ESS were identified from the 2011 to 2018 NSQIP database. Low-risk patients were defined as American Society of Anesthesiologist class 1 or 2. PLTs were grouped into hematologic, chemistry, coagulation, and liver function tests. Chi-square analyses and independent samples t -tests were conducted to compare categoric and continuous variables, respectively., Results: A total of 664 cases met the inclusion criteria, of which 419 (62.1%) underwent at least one PLT. Of these, the most frequent PLT obtained was a complete blood cell count (92.4%). Major complications occurred in 1.5% of patients. There were no statistically significant differences in overall postoperative complications between those with and without PLT ( P  = .264). Specifically, no significant difference was seen in the incidence of postoperative bleeding ( P  = .184), urinary tract infection ( P  = .444), pulmonary embolism ( P  = .444), or wound infection ( P  = .701). On multivariable analyses, PLT status was not significantly associated with any complication ( P  = .097) or unplanned readmission ( P  = .898)., Conclusions: Our analysis did not reveal an association between the use of PLT and postoperative morbidity or unplanned readmission in low-risk patients undergoing outpatient ESS.

Objective: To determine how prolonged operative time (POT) impacts 30-day outcomes in patients undergoing endoscopic sinonasal surgery (ESNS)., Study Design: Retrospective study., Methods: Data from patients who underwent ESNS (nonsinus, sinus, and extended sinus) between 2005 to 2018 were collected from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement database. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of POT on postoperative outcomes., Results: Among 1,994 ESNS cases, 495 nonsinus procedures, 1,191 sinus procedures, and 308 extended sinus procedures were identified. Median OT was 90 minutes (interquartile range [IQR], 51-165 minutes) for nonsinus procedures, 113 minutes (IQR, 66-189 minutes) for sinus procedures, and 187 minutes (IQR, 137-251 minutes) for extended sinus procedures. Other than older age (P = .008), POT was not significantly associated with baseline demographics and comorbidities for patients undergoing non-sinus procedures. Older age (P < .001), White and Black race (P < .001), ASA physical classifications III or IV (P < .001), and several preoperative comorbidities, including obesity (P = .045), and hypertension (P < .001) were associated with POT for sinus procedures. Older age (P = .030), male sex (P = .010), and lower body mass index (P = .004) were associated with POT for extended sinus procedures. After risk-adjustment, POT was independently associated with prolonged hospital stay (LOS) for all procedure categories, and associated with overall surgical complications and postoperative bleeding for sinus and extended sinus procedures specifically., Conclusion: POT is independently associated with several adverse outcomes following ESNS, including prolonged LOS, overall surgical complications, and bleeding. Preoperative planning should include optimizing modifiable patient risk factors for POT and identifying surgeon-specific factors to enhance surgical efficiency., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 133:51-58, 2023., (© 2022 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background: To investigate the association between American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification and rates of postoperative complications in patients undergoing facial fracture repair., Methods: Patients were divided into 2 cohorts based on the ASA classification system: Class I/II and Class III/IV. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used for univariate analyses. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess the independent associations of covariates on postoperative complication rates., Results: A total of 3575 patients who underwent facial fracture repair with known ASA classification were identified. Class III/IV patients had higher rates of deep surgical site infection ( P  = .012) as well as bleeding, readmission, reoperation, surgical, medical, and overall postoperative complications ( P  < .001). Multivariate regression analysis found that Class III/IV was significantly associated with increased length of stay ( P  < .001) and risk of overall complications ( P  = .032). Specifically, ASA Class III/IV was associated with increased rates of deep surgical site infection ( P  = .049), postoperative bleeding ( P  = .036), and failure to wean off ventilator ( P  = .027)., Conclusions: Higher ASA class is associated with increased length of hospital stay and odds of deep surgical site infection, bleeding, and failure to wean off of ventilator following facial fracture repair. Surgeons should be aware of the increased risk for postoperative complications when performing facial fracture repair in patients with high ASA classification.

Objectives: Carotid 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 Design: A retrospective database review., Methods: Data 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., Results: Of 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 with hypertension undergoing carotid body resections had increased risk for overall medical complications but did not have increased risk for postoperative surgical complications or specific medical complications CONCLUSION: This statistically robust study revealed that hypertension does not independently increase a patient's risk for specific postoperative surgical complications following a carotid body tumor resection. However, hypertension increases the risk for postoperative medical complications and longer hospital stays. It is notable that almost half of all CBT patients have hypertension, and these hypertensives patients are significantly more likely to carry additional comorbid conditions that may have an adverse effect on outcomes including overall medical complications., Level of Evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 130: 2008-2012, 2020., (© 2019 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate the "July effect," as a possible risk factor for perioperative complications in otolaryngology microvascular reconstruction during the transitional period in the academic calendar., Study Design: Retrospective database review., Methods: Microvascular reconstruction outcomes in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2005-2016) database were compared between the first academic quarter (July-September) to the last academic quarter (April-June). The primary outcome was 30-day morbidity, and secondary outcomes included 30-day mortality, operative complications, or postoperative adverse events., Results: There were 612 and 580 patients who underwent microvascular reconstruction during the first and last academic quarters, respectively. There was no significant difference between the 30-day mortality between the first academic quarter (1.5%) and the last academic quarter (0.7%) (P = .194). There was no difference in 30-day morbidity (47.9% vs. 49.5%, P = .586), operative complications (wound disruption, P = .151; bleeding, P = .526; operative time, P = .162), or postoperative adverse events (deep vein thrombosis, P = .460; pneumonia, P = .737; reintubation, P = .201; pulmonary embolism, P = .452; ventilation for >48 hours, P = .769; acute renal failure, P = .500; urinary tract infection, P = .693; unplanned readmission, P = .202; and mean length of stay, P = .497)., Conclusions: There appears to be no July effect in microvascular reconstruction. Further studies should identify the mechanisms that preserve the safety of this operation year-round for application to other areas of medicine who have observed the July effect., Level of Evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 130:893-898, 2020., (© 2019 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives: Parotidectomies have become a common outpatient procedure, but their impact on postoperative complications as compared to inpatient procedures has not been evaluated in a multi-institutional study., Study Design: The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the differences in outcomes using a standardized cohort of patients undergoing outpatient or inpatient parotidectomies., Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for parotidectomies between 2005 and 2014. Univariate analyses were conducted to compare the outpatient and inpatient cohorts. A propensity-matching algorithm was used to ensure equal distribution of demographics and preoperative comorbidities., Results: Among the 4,368 parotidectomies examined, 2,915 (66.7%) were outpatient and 1,453 (33.3%) were inpatient. In the unmatched analysis, the inpatient group had higher rates of smokers (P = < 0.001), hypertension (P = 0.003), and disseminated cancer (P = 0.014). The outpatient group had higher rates of patients under age 40 years (P = 0.015), females (P = 0.016), and American Society of Anesthesiology class 1 and 2 (P = < 0.001). The total work relative value units (RVUs) were 17.01 ± 3.44 for the inpatient cohort and 16.19 ± 3.70 for the outpatient cohort (P = < 0.001). Following propensity matching, 1,352 cases were selected for each cohort, with no significant differences in comorbidities. Total work RVU after matching was 16.90 ± 3.47 for the inpatient group and 16.75 ± 3.44 for the outpatient group (P = .235). The matched inpatient cohort had increased rates of surgical complications (3.1% vs. 1.8%, P = 0.033), pneumonia (0.5% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.016), and overall complications (4.5% vs. 2.6%, P = 0.009)., Conclusion: Outpatient parotidectomies are associated with similar as well as decreased complication rates as compared to inpatient parotidectomies., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 129:655-661, 2019., (© 2018 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives: As the country ages, thyroidectomies can be expected to be performed more frequently among the elderly. In this study, we stratified patients by age to explore demographics and complications of patients undergoing thyroidectomy., Study Design: Retrospective study with a national database., Setting: Nationwide Inpatient Sample., Subjects and Methods: A total of 414,079 thyroidectomy cases from 2005 to 2013 were identified. Complications, outcomes, demographics, length of stay, and hospital charges were evaluated among patients and stratified by age into 4 cohorts: younger (<65 years), advanced age (65-74 years), elderly (75-84 years), and superelderly (≥85 years)., Results: Of 414,079 thyroidectomy cases identified, patients aged <65 years accounted for 75.6% of cases, while those aged 65-74, 75-84, and ≥85 years accounted for 16.3%, 7.2%, and 0.9%, respectively ( P < .001). There was a significant difference in length of stay, total hospital charges, and mortality throughout the different age groups ( P < .001), all trending upward with advancing age. In the aging population, incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, transfusion of erythrocytes, and acute cardiac complications increased with increasing age ( P < .001), while hypoparathyroidism decreased with age ≥65 but ≤85 years ( P < .001). Patients aged ≥75 years had increased odds of mortality as compared with their younger counterparts ( P < .001)., Conclusion: This study utilized a national database to describe and elucidate trends in older populations undergoing thyroidectomy. Thyroid-related complications, including blood transfusion and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, increased with increasing patient age. This information will help to guide pre- and postoperative care for aging patients undergoing thyroidectomy.

Background: Elderly patients with multiple comorbidities may be at higher risk of postoperative complications. With an increasingly aging population, more data assessing for predisposing factors are needed in this at-risk group. In this study, we analyzed the effect of elderly status on relative comorbidities and complications of sinonasal cancer (SNC) patients receiving surgery., Methods: A retrospective database analysis was performed using cases from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2003 to 2012. Patients with a diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses, who received surgery for sinonasal malignancy, including neck dissections, were selected. Demographics of interest included age, sex, race, type of admission, mean length of stay, and median hospital charges. Elderly and nonelderly patients were compared for differences in rates of acute medical complications, acute surgical complications, and relevant procedures during hospitalization., Results: Of the 920 cases identified in the NIS, 382 (41.5%) were elderly (≥65 years). Cases of SNC were more frequently seen in males than females (p < 0.001). Elderly patients had significantly higher comorbidity rates compared with nonelderly patients, which included congestive heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, chronic pulmonary disease, and chronic renal failure (p < 0.001 for all). Elderly patients more frequently had postoperative cardiac complications (6.0% vs 0.5%, p < 0.001), but this finding was not statistically significant on multivariate analysis when controlling for race, sex, and comorbidities., Conclusion: Elderly status is not an independent factor for postoperative complications in patients undergoing surgery for sinonasal malignancy., (© 2018 ARS-AAOA, LLC.)

Importance: Smoking is a highly prevalent risk factor among patients with head and neck cancer. However, few studies have examined the association of this modifiable risk factor on postoperative outcomes following microvascular reconstruction of the head and neck., Objective: To analyze the risk associated with smoking in patients undergoing free flap surgery of the head and neck., Design, Setting, and Participants: In this retrospective, population, database study, the National Quality Improvement Program data sets from 2005 to 2014 were queried for all cases of head and neck surgery involving free flap reconstruction in the United States. The 2193 cases identified were stratified into smoking and nonsmoking cohorts and compared using χ2 and binary logistic regression analyses. Pack-years of smoking data were used to assess the degree of risk associated with a prolonged history of smoking. All analyses were conducted between January 2018 and June 2018., Main Outcomes and Measures: Smoking and nonsmoking cohorts were compared for rates of demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and complications. Following correction for differences in patient demographics and comorbidities, smoking and nonsmoking cohorts were compared for rates of postoperative complications. Complication rates were further assessed within the smoking cohort by number of pack years smoked., Results: Of the 2193 patients identified as having undergone free flap reconstruction of the head and neck, 624 (28.5%) had a history of recent smoking. After accounting for differences in demographic variables and patient comorbidities using regression analyses, smoking status was found to be independently associated with wound disruption (odds ratio, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.17-2.59; P = .006) and unplanned reoperation (odds ratio, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.15-1.95; P = .003). An analysis by pack-years of smoking showed that a longer smoking history was significantly associated with higher rates of numerous comorbidities but not with a corresponding increase in rates of complications., Conclusions and Relevance: Smokers undergoing free flap reconstruction of the head and neck may be at significantly higher risk of postoperative wound disruption and subsequent reoperation. These risks were independent of pack-years of smoking history, suggesting that both risks were associated with perioperative smoke exposure, and preoperative smoking cessation may be of benefit., Level of Evidence: NA.

Objectives/hypothesis: Evaluate risk factors for unplanned reoperation following free flap surgery of the head and neck., Study Design: Retrospective database review., Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for free flap surgeries of the head and neck between 2010 and 2014. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare perioperative variables and postoperative complications in patients with and without unplanned reoperation., Results: A total of 1,796 patients were identified, with an overall unplanned reoperation rate of 20.0% (n = 359) within 30 days after surgery. Upon multivariate analysis, independent preoperative risk factors for unplanned reoperation include smoking (odds ratio [OR]: 1.389, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.042-1.850), hypertension (OR: 1.443, 95% CI: 1.096-1.901), and prior open wound/wound infection (OR: 1.675, 95% CI: 1.123-2.499). Intraoperative risk factors include prolonged operative time (OR: 1.045, 95% CI: 1.021-1.070). Surgical site infection (OR: 6.518, 95% CI: 2.728-15.574), wound disruption (OR: 17.034, 95% CI: 8.373-34.654), blood transfusion (OR: 1.561, 95% CI: 1.062-2.296), and ventilation > 48 hours (OR: 3.626, 95% CI: 1.955-6.723) were significant postoperative predictors of unplanned reoperation., Conclusions: In patients with free flap surgeries of the head and neck, preoperative smoking, hypertension, and prior open wound/wound infection, along with prolonged operative time, are risk factors for 30-day unplanned reoperation. In addition, postoperative surgical site infection, wound disruption, blood transfusion, and ventilation >48 hours are independently associated with unplanned reoperation., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 128:2790-2795, 2018., (© 2018 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives/hypothesis: Postoperative complications is an important marker of healthcare quality. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of resident and fellow participation on postoperative complications in transsphenoidal pituitary surgery in a multi-institutional setting., Study Design: Retrospective analysis of population-based surgical registry., Setting: Academic medical center., Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database was utilized to generate transsphenoidal pituitary surgery patient cohorts. The attending with resident and/or fellow group was compared to the attending alone based on demographics and preoperative and postoperative variables., Results: A total of 469 cases were included in the analysis, with 315 performed with resident participation and 154 by attendings alone. The attending group had higher rates of diabetics (20.1% vs. 11.7%, P = 0.015) and patients with a history of previous percutaneous coronary intervention (6.0 vs. 1.6%, P = 0.009). Although the attending group demonstrated higher rates of surgical complications, and the resident/fellow group showed increased incidence in medical and overall complication rates, there was no statistical difference between the two groups. Multivariate analysis further demonstrated lack of significance in complication rates between attendings and residents/fellows., Conclusion: Resident and fellow participation in transsphenoidal surgery is not associated with significant differences in surgical complications, medical complications, mortality, operating time, reoperation rates, or readmission rates when compared to attendings., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 128:2707-2713, 2018., (© 2018 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background Endoscopic pituitary surgery (EPS) is increasingly being used for the treatment of pituitary lesions. Obesity is a growing epidemic in our nation associated with numerous comorbidities known to impact surgical outcomes. We present a multi-institutional database study evaluating the association between body mass index (BMI) and postsurgical outcomes of EPS. Methods Patients who underwent EPS from 2005 to 2013 were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Preoperative variables, comorbidities, and postoperative outcomes, such as 30-day complications, morbidity, and mortality, were analyzed. Results A total of 789 patients were analyzed, of which 382 were obese (BMI ≥ 30) (48.4%). No difference in reoperation rate ( P = .928) or unplanned readmission rates ( P = .837) was found between the obese versus nonobese group. A higher overall complication rate was observed in the obese group compared to the nonobese counterparts ( P = .005). However, when separated into surgical complications (3.7% vs 1.5%, P = .068) and medical complications (7.6% vs 3.9%, P = .027), only medical complications, specifically pneumonia, remained significantly different. EPS on obese patients was also associated with prolonged operating time (154.8 min vs 141.0 min, P = .011). Conclusions EPS may be a safe treatment option for pituitary lesions in the obese population. Although obese patients undergoing EPS are at increased risk of medical complications and prolonged operating times, this did not influence mortality, reoperation, or readmission rate.

Objective: Diabetes is associated with microvascular pathology and may predispose patients undergoing microvascular surgery to complications. This study assesses diabetes as a risk factor for complications following free flap surgery of the head and neck., Patients and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, data on free flap surgeries of the head and neck between 2005 and 2014 was collected from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. A propensity-matching algorithm (PSM) was used to equilibrate distribution of numerous covariates between the diabetic and nondiabetic cohorts. A sub-analysis was performed to examine the impact of insulin-dependency., Results: The initial dataset contained 2187 free flaps of the head and neck. After implementing PSM, a new population was created containing 506 total cases with 253 DM patients. The majority of cases were male and white. The matched cohort did not contain any demographics or comorbidities associated with DM. Complications significantly elevated in the DM group were severe bleeding (P = .046), postoperative ventilation greater than 48 hours (P < .001), and pneumonia (P < .048). In patients with insulin-dependent diabetes, reintubation (P = .005), cardiac arrest (P = .010), severe bleeding (P = .006), overall surgical complications (P = .015), and overall complications (P = .005) were significantly increased., Conclusion: This study examines the impact of diabetes on postoperative complications following free flap reconstruction of the head and neck. Propensity score matching was utilized. Analysis of the PSM cohort suggests that diabetic patients have elevated rates of postoperative pulmonary complications. Additionally, patients with insulin-dependent diabetes have significantly elevated rates of medical and surgical complications., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objectives/hypothesis: Although previous studies have reported increased perioperative complications among obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients undergoing any surgery requiring general anesthesia, there is a paucity of literature addressing the impact of OSA on postoperative transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) complications. The aim of this study was to analyze postoperative outcomes in transsphenoidal pituitary surgery patients with OSA. Secondarily, we examined patient characteristics and comorbidities., Study Design: Retrospective analysis., Methods: The 2002 to 2013 National Inpatient Sample was queried for patients undergoing TSS for pituitary neoplasm. Patients with an additional diagnosis of OSA were identified, and compared to a non-OSA cohort., Results: There were 17,777 patients identified; 5.0% (N = 889) had an additional diagnosis of OSA. The OSA cohort had more comorbidities including diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary disease, coagulopathy, hypertension, hypothyroidism, liver disease, obesity, peripheral vascular disease, renal failure, acromegaly, and Cushing's syndrome. Postoperatively, OSA was independently associated with increased risks of tracheostomy (P = .015) and hypoxemia (P < .001), and decreased risk of cardiac complications (P = .034). OSA patients did not have increased rates of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, diabetes insipidus, reintubation, aspiration pneumonia, infectious pneumonia, thromboembolic complications, or urinary/renal complications. In-hospital mortality rates did not vary between the two cohorts., Conclusions: In patients who underwent transsphenoidal pituitary surgery, OSA was associated with higher rates of certain pulmonary and airway complications. OSA was not associated with increased non-pulmonary/airway complications or inpatient mortality, despite older average age and higher comorbidity rates., Level of Evidence: 2C. Laryngoscope, 128:1027-1032, 2018., (© 2017 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Importance: Prolonged anesthesia and operative times have deleterious effects on surgical outcomes in a variety of procedures. However, data regarding the influence of anesthesia duration on microvascular reconstruction of the head and neck are lacking., Objective: To examine the association of anesthesia duration with complications after microvascular reconstruction of the head and neck., Design, Setting, and Participants: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was used to collect data. In total, 630 patients who underwent head and neck microvascular reconstruction were recorded in the NSQIP registry from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2013. Patients who underwent microvascular reconstructive surgery performed by otolaryngologists or plastic surgeons were included in this study. Data analysis was performed from October 15, 2015, to January 15, 2016., Exposures: Microvascular reconstructive surgery of the head and neck., Main Outcomes and Measures: Patients were stratified into 5 quintiles based on mean anesthesia duration and analyzed for patient characteristics and operative variables (mean [SD] anesthesia time: group 1, 358.1 [175.6] minutes; group 2, 563.2 [27.3] minutes; group 3, 648.9 [24.0] minutes; group 4, 736.5 [26.3] minutes; and group 5, 922.1 [128.1] minutes). Main outcomes include rates of postoperative medical and surgical complications and mortality., Results: A total of 630 patients undergoing head and neck free flap surgery had available data on anesthesia duration and were included (mean [SD] age, 61.6 [13.8] years; 436 [69.3%] male). Bivariate analysis revealed that increasing anesthesia duration was associated with increased 30-day complications overall (55 [43.7%] in group 1 vs 80 [63.5%] in group 5, P = .006), increased 30-day postoperative surgical complications overall (45 [35.7%] in group 1 vs 78 [61.9%] in group 5, P < .001), increased rates of postoperative transfusion (32 [25.4%] in group 1 vs 70 [55.6%] in group 5, P < .001), and increased rates of wound disruption (0 in group 1 vs 10 [7.9%] in group 5, P = .02). No specific medical complications and no overall medical complication rate (24 [19.0%] in group 1 vs 22 [17.5%] in group 5, P = .80) or mortality (1 [0.8%] in group 1 vs 1 [0.8%] in group 5, P = .75) were associated with increased anesthesia duration. On multivariate analysis accounting for demographics and significant preoperative factors including free flap type, overall complications (group 5: odds ratio [OR], 1.98; 95% CI, 1.10-3.58; P = .02), surgical complications (group 5: OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.35-4.46; P = .003), and postoperative transfusion (group 5: OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.27-4.20; P = .006) remained significantly associated with increased anesthesia duration; the association of wound disruption and increased anasthesia duration was nonsignificant (group 5: OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 0.75-5.31; P = .16)., Conclusions and Relevance: Increasing anesthesia duration was associated with significantly increased rates of surgical complications, especially the requirement for postoperative transfusion. Rates of medical complications were not significantly altered, and overall mortality remained unaffected. Avoidance of excessive blood loss and prolonged anesthesia time should be the goal when performing head and neck free flap surgery., Level of Evidence: 3.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of smoking on complication rates following total laryngectomy., Study Design and Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for all total laryngectomies between 2005 and 2014. Patients were identified as smokers (n = 561) or nonsmokers (n = 513) and compared via univariate and multivariate analyses. A nearest-neighbor propensity score-generating algorithm was used to build a subpopulation (n = 714) of matched cases and evaluated in a similar manner. Additionally, pack-year data was available for select cases and analyzed appropriately., Results: On multivariate analysis of the unmatched cohort accounting for demographics and confounders, no significant difference in overall medical complications was identified between groups (odds ratio = 0.799, P = 0.495). Propensity matching corrected for all significantly distributed comorbidities, except for alcohol, which remained associated with the smoking group (P = < 0.001). In the matched population, there were no significant differences in complication rates between the two groups. Pack-year data was available for 340 patients. These cases were subdivided into cohorts with < 50 (n = 204) and 51+ (n = 136) pack-years. Postoperative pneumonia, ventilation for more than 48 hours, sepsis, and overall medical complications were associated with > 50 pack-years of smoking. After multivariate regression, sepsis and overall medical complications remained significant for the 51+ pack-year smoking cohort., Conclusion: After accounting for confounding comorbidities, smoking is found to play an insignificant role in the development of postoperative complications following total laryngectomy. However, those with 51+ pack-years are at an increased risk for postoperative sepsis and overall medical complications following these complex procedures., Level of Evidence: 4. Laryngoscope, 127:2302-2309, 2017., (© 2017 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives: Analyze postoperative complications after free flap surgery based on PGY training level., Methods: Data on free flap surgeries of the head and neck performed from 2005 to 2013 was collected from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Cases identifying the status of resident participation in the surgery and the PGY level were included., Results: There were 582 cases with primary surgeon data available. 63 cases were performed with a junior resident, 211 were performed with the assistance of a senior resident, 279 cases were performed with a fellow, and 29 cases were performed by an attending alone without resident involvement. The overall complication rate was 55.2%. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of complications between groups (47.6%, 59.7%, 53.0%, 58.6%, p=0.277). After controlling for all confounding variables using multivariate analysis there was no significant difference in morbidity, mortality, readmissions, and reoperation amongst the groups. Furthermore, when comparing resident versus fellow involvement using multivariate analysis there were no significant differences in morbidity (OR=0.768[0.522-1.129]), mortality (OR=1.489[0.341-6.499]), readmissions (OR=1.018[0.458-2.262]), and reoperation (OR=0.863[0.446-1.670])., Conclusion: Resident and fellow participation in microvascular reconstructive cases does not appear to increase 30-day rates of medical, surgical, or overall complications., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has become the treatment of choice for a variety of nasal conditions. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) on postoperative outcomes in ESS., Methods: Data on endoscopic sinus surgery performed from 2005 to 2013 were collected from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement (ACS-NSQIP) database. Two groups were created, based on the presence of a DM diagnosis, and were analyzed for preoperative variables, comorbidities, and postoperative complications using SPSS statistical software., Results: There were 644 patients included in the analysis, 85 of whom (13.2%) had a diagnosis of DM. Patients with DM were more likely to have higher rates of preoperative dyspnea and hypertension. After accounting for confounding factors, DM patients undergoing ESS were at higher risk of overall medical complications, pneumonia, unplanned reintubation, ventilator use of >48 hours, and mortality. However, after separating patients into outpatient and inpatient groups, DM was found to be an independent predictor of urinary tract infection in outpatients and of ventilator use >48 hours in inpatients., Conclusion: DM patients undergoing ESS are at increased risk for postoperative medical complications. However, DM does not appear to increase the postoperative surgical complication rate in this population. Furthermore, DM does not appear to have an impact on ESS mortality, readmission, or reoperation rates., (© 2017 ARS-AAOA, LLC.)

Over the past 2 decades, there has been a significant increase in the resection of larger and more complex ventral skull base malignancies. The resection of these lesions has resulted in the creation of larger and more difficult to repair skull base defects. There are many available options for ventral skull base reconstruction. Despite the variety of reconstructive options, the key objective is to eliminate any communication between the intracranial space and the sinonasal cavity. This article discusses some of the more common techniques currently used for repair of these skull base defects., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives/hypothesis: 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., Study Design: Retrospective study of cases from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database., Methods: 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., Results: 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., Conclusion: 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., Level of Evidence: 4. Laryngoscope, 2016 127:325-330, 2017., (© 2016 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objective: The impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on surgical outcomes and cost of care for patients undergoing surgery for head and neck cancer (HNCA) is not well established. We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to analyze the postoperative impact of DM on HNCA patients., Study Design: Population-based inpatient registry analysis., Setting: Academic medical center., Subjects and Methods: Discharge data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample were analyzed for patients undergoing HNCA surgery from 2002 to 2010. Patient demographics, comorbidities, length of stay, hospital charges, and postoperative complications were compared between HNCA patients with and without DM., Results: Of 31,075 patients, 4029 patients (13.0%) had a DM diagnosis. DM patients were older (65.7 ± 10.8 vs 61.1 ± 14.1 years old; P < .001), had more preexisting comorbidities, had longer hospitalizations, and incurred greater hospital charges. Compared with the non-DM cohort, DM patients experienced significantly higher rates of postoperative infections (2.6% vs 2.1%, P = .025), cardiac events (9.0% vs 4.3%, P < .001), pulmonary edema/failure (6.6% vs 5.7%, P = .023), acute renal failure (3.3% vs 1.5%, P < .001), and urinary tract infections (2.8 % vs 2.1%, P = .005). No differences in surgical wound healing rates were observed (0.1 vs 0.1, P = .794). On multivariate logistic regression corrected for age and race, DM patients had greater odds of postoperative infections (1.382, P = .007), cardiac events (1.893, P < .001), and acute renal failure (2.023, P < .001)., Conclusions: DM is associated with greater length of stay and hospital charges among HNCA patients. DM patients have significantly greater rates of postoperative complications, including postoperative infections, cardiac events, and acute renal failure., (© American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2015.)

Objective: Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) harbors a potential for hypopituitarism, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks, and other complications. We utilized the Nationwide Inpatient Sample Database (NIS) to compare inpatient complication rates between Cushing's disease (CD) and non-Cushing's disease (NCD) patients undergoing TSS., Methods: Inpatient hospitalization data for 960 CD and 12 110 NCD patients who underwent TSS between 2002 and 2010 were accessed. Demographic information, outcomes, and complication rates were evaluated., Results: Patients with CD had a female predilection (81.7%) and were younger (40.5 ± 14.4 years) than NCD patients (47.8% female; 52.1 ± 16.3 years) (P < .001). Length of stay and total charges did not differ between groups. Patients with CD had significantly greater postoperative diabetes insipidus rates (14.0% vs 9.6%, P < .001) and urinary/renal complications (1.7% vs 0.9%, P = .027). After adjusting for possible confounders, the relationship between urinary/renal complications and CD status strengthened. There was no difference in rates of CSF leak and iatrogenic pituitary disorders overall., Conclusion: No differences were noted in the rate of early CSF leaks between postoperative TSS CD and NCD patients. Postoperative diabetes insipidus did not significantly differ between groups after adjusting for confounders. Only odds of urinary/renal complications in CD patients was significant after adjustment., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

There is a potential for significant complications from the medical and surgical treatment of rhinosinusitis because of the intimate relationship between the paranasal sinuses and surrounding vital structures. Familiarity with the complex anatomic relationships between the skull base and other critical structures and knowledge of pharmacologic properties of commonly used medical therapies are essential for preventing serious and harmful seqsuelae. The authors hope that this review represents a valuable addition to the otolaryngologist-in-training's therapeutic armamentarium, and also serves as a reminder of the potential pitfalls for the experienced sinus surgeon., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives/hypothesis: Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) has emerged as the standard approach for pituitary resection due to its minimally invasive nature. There has been little analysis examining the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on patients undergoing TSS. In this study, we characterize DM's association with postoperative TSS complications. In addition to analysis of associated charges and patient demographics, we performed comparison of complication rates between DM and non-DM patients who have undergone TSS in recent years., Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample, a database encompassing nearly 8 million inpatient hospitalizations, was evaluated for patients undergoing TSS from 2002 to 2010., Results: Of 12,938 TSS patients, 2,173 (16.8%) had a DM diagnosis. The non-DM cohort was younger (50.1 y ± 16.6SD vs. 56.8 y ± 14.1; P < 0.001) and had shorter hospitalizations and lesser charges. DM patients had a greater incidence of pulmonary, cardiac, urinary/renal, and fluid/electrolyte complications, and had a lesser incidence of diabetes insipidus (P < 0.05). Upon controlling for age, the greater incidence of pulmonary and fluid/electrolyte complications was present only among patients < 60 years of age. Higher occurrence of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea was noted among black diabetics when compared to non-DM blacks., Conclusions: DM is associated with greater length of stay and hospital charges among TSS patients. DM patients undergoing TSS have a significantly greater incidence of pulmonary and fluid/electrolyte complications among patients under the age of 60, and greater risk for urinary/renal complications across all ages. Despite a theoretical concern due to an impaired wound-healing in DM patients, association with cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea was only noted among black diabetics., Level of Evidence: 2C., (© 2015 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives/hypothesis: Postoperative pneumonia (PNA) has been identified as a preventable never event by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The CMS has discussed possibly discontinuing reimbursement for this postoperative complication. In this study, risk factors, patient outcomes, and hospital charges of care associated with postoperative PNA in patients undergoing pituitary surgery were evaluated., Methods: Discharge data of patients who underwent pituitary surgery between 2002 and 2010 were obtained from the National Inpatient Sample database. Demographics, preexisting comorbidities, postoperative complications, morbidity, length of hospital stay, and hospital charges were analyzed., Results: A total of 15,317 patients were included in this analysis. Ninety-eight patients (0.6%) were diagnosed with PNA postoperatively. There was a significant association between postoperative PNA and older age (P < 0.001), male gender (P = 0.044), and transfrontal surgical approach (P < 0.001). Patients with anemia, congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, fluid and electrolyte disorders, paralysis, and weight loss had a significantly higher rate of PNA. Patients with PNA had a significantly higher mortality (P < 0.001). They also incurred on average over four times the hospital charges and nearly five times longer hospitalizations compared to patients without PNA., Conclusions: Variables associated with an increased risk of postoperative PNA in patients undergoing pituitary surgery include older age, male gender, and transfrontal surgical approach. Patients with postoperative PNA had a longer length of hospital stay, higher hospital charges, and increased mortality., Level of Evidence: 2C., (© 2015 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives/hypothesis: In 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services discontinued reimbursement for postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) events such as deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, citing them as preventable postoperative complications. We examined the impact of postoperative VTE on patients undergoing pituitary surgery., Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) was evaluated for patients undergoing pituitary resection from 2002 to 2010. Patient demographics, comorbidities, length of stay, hospital charges, and postoperative complications were analyzed., Results: Eighty-seven patients who underwent pituitary surgery developed a VTE. Patients who underwent pituitary surgery that developed VTE were older (55.9 ± 15.2 years) than those who did not develop VTE (50.1 ± 17.2 years) (P = 0.002). VTE occurred at a significantly higher rate in patients with coagulopathy, peripheral vascular disorder, and weight loss (P < 0.05). VTE was associated with increased rates of postoperative neurological, pulmonary, cardiac, urinary, renal, hemorrhage, fluid and electrolytes, diabetes insipidus, and cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea complications (P < 0.01)-as well as increased mortality rate (P < 0.001), length of stay (P < 0.001), and cost of care (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Analysis of the data from the NIS database showed that risk factors for the development of VTE following pituitary surgery include older age, preexisting coagulopathy, peripheral vascular disorder, and weight loss. Patients who developed postoperative VTE had a longer length of hospital stay, higher hospital charges, and increased morbidity and mortality., (© 2015 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background: Fewer than 4% of pituitary tumors are malignant lesions. These tumors predominantly represent metastatic disease from elsewhere. This study evaluates inpatient complications, demographics, and hospitalization characteristics of patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for malignant pituitary lesions., Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was evaluated for TSS patients from 1998 to 2010. Demographics, hospitalization characteristics, and complications were evaluated among patients with malignant lesions and compared to those with benign tumors., Results: There were 17,425 inpatient records, 1.0% of which involved malignant pituitary tumors. There was no difference in age between these cohorts (p = 0.378). Patients with malignant tumors had greater length of stay (6.7 days vs 4.5 days, p = 0.003) and higher trending charges ($55,371 vs $40,550 p = 0.091). The most common postoperative complications among patients with malignant lesions included diabetes insipidus (DI) (17.9%), fluid/electrolyte abnormalities (14.0%), neurological complications (5.6%), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea (2.2%), and iatrogenic pituitary disorders (2.2%). Patients with malignant lesions had a significantly greater rates of postoperative DI and fluid/electrolyte abnormalities (odds ratio = 2.0 and 1.7, respectively), whereas no statistical difference was noted in the rates of CSF rhinorrhea (p = 0.372)., Conclusion: In this analysis of inpatient hospitalizations for TSS patients, malignant pituitary disease was associated with a greater rate of postoperative DI and fluid/electrolyte abnormalities, but no differences in the rates of postoperative CSF rhinorrhea and other complications were found. Patients with malignant pituitary lesions undergoing TSS had significantly longer hospitalizations and higher trending charges than those with benign lesions. This analysis is, however, subject to the limitations of the database., (© 2015 ARS-AAOA, LLC.)

Background: Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) is a common procedure for a variety of pituitary lesions. This procedure can be associated with complications related to the surgery or specific pathology. In this study, we evaluate inpatient postoperative complications among patients who underwent TSS for growth hormone adenomas using a nationally representative database, and compare patient characteristics and complications to patients who underwent TSS for other benign pituitary neoplasms., Methods: Analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample revealed 13,070 TSS patients (including 892 with acromegaly) between 2002 and 2010. Complication rates, outcomes, patient demographics, hospital stay, and total charges were evaluated among TSS patients with and without acromegaly., Results: There was an increase in TSS performed in both cohorts from 2002 to 2010. Acromegaly patients were younger, had shorter hospital stays, and incurred fewer charges. Acromegaly patients had a lower occurrence of postoperative urinary/renal complications (0.2% vs 1.1%), thromboembolic events (0% vs 0.4%), fluid/electrolyte abnormalities (5.7% vs 9.1%), and iatrogenic hypopituitarism (0.3% vs 1.1%) compared to other TSS patients (all p < 0.05). After adjusting for age, acromegalic patients maintained a statistically lower occurrence of fluid/electrolyte abnormalities (p = 0.007). Cerebrospinal fluid leak occurrence in acromegaly patients was 2.6% vs 1.7% in non-acromegaly patients, a result that did not reach significance (p = 0.054)., Conclusion: Upon comparison of inpatient hospitalizations for patients undergoing TSS for growth hormone adenomas and other benign pituitary neoplasms, acromegaly patients had a significantly lower occurrence of postoperative fluid/electrolyte abnormalities. Acromegaly patients had shorter hospitalizations and subsequently fewer total charges., (© 2015 ARS-AAOA, LLC.)

Background: The use of image-guidance (IG) in endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has escalated over the last decade despite a lack of consensus that its use improves outcomes or decreases complications. One theoretical reason for using IG in ESS is its potential to minimize legal liability should an adverse outcome occur. In this study, we aimed to characterize the role of IG in ESS litigation, and further detail other factors in pertinent cases. A secondary objective was to characterize recent malpractice litigation for other relevant factors., Methods: Relevant cases from Westlaw were examined to determine whether the use of IG played a role in initiating litigation in ESS malpractice suits. Factors such as patient demographics and alleged cause(s) of malpractice litigation were examined., Results: Out of 30 malpractice cases from 2004 to April 2013, 4 (13.3%) mentioned the use of IG during ESS, although this did not appear to be a factor affecting the plaintiff's decision to initiate litigation, nor the case outcomes. In the 26 cases (86.7%) in which IG was not used, its non-use was not specified as an alleged cause of negligence. Eleven (36.7%) cases were resolved in the defendant's favor. Frequently-cited factors included iatrogenic injury (83.3%), permanent deficits (66.7%), needing additional surgery (63.3%), orbital and intracranial injury, and perceived deficits in informed consent (40.0%)., Conclusion: The use of IG was not found to be a factor in ESS litigation. This suggests that not using IG does not necessarily make one more vulnerable to malpractice litigation., (© 2013 ARS-AAOA, LLC.)

We report a case of post-operative frontal basal encephalocoele evaluated using a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence, fast inversion recovery for myelin suppression (FIRMS). FIRMS was developed to enhance the differentiation between grey and white matter. In this case, the sequence was beneficial in distinguishing the encephalocoele from adjacent nasal mucosa and secretions.