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The medical fields of anesthesiology and otolaryngology (ENT -- ears, nose, throat) are defined by overlapping clinical expertise as it relates to the management of airway issues. As a result of this shared clinical domain, interdisciplinary educational experiences provide an opportunity for collaboration and a broadened experience for resident physician learning. Our institution developed a two-week rotation in otolaryngology for first-year anesthesiology interns with the goal of utilizing interdisciplinary coaching to develop both technical and non-technical skills in airway management. The purpose of this project is to perform a formal evaluation of this rotation and share our training methods and processes.

Cricothyrotomy is an emergency procedure that is utilized in situations that require immediate access to a breathing pathway. This procedure may be performed by professionals in a variety of healthcare fields depending upon the specific emergency scenario, so the development of an interprofessional workshop is imperative for procedural confidence and skill development. Our team developed a training workshop with a specific focus on procedural skills, risks, benefits, and psychological ramifications associated with a cricothyrotomy procedure. Pre-workshop and post-workshop surveys were obtained for comparison of participant confidence. Overall, the organization and delivery of a cricothyrotomy training workshop significantly increased the overall participant confidence surrounding this procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teachers are at high risk of voice disorders due to the heavy vocal demand of their profession as well as diverse classroom conditions that can stress the voice. Healthy vocal hygiene practices reduce this risk, but many teachers lack knowledge in these areas or have misconceptions about ways to improve their vocal health. This study aimed to identify knowledge deficits among teachers, and directly address topics with poorest performance to better generate vocal health resources for teachers and improve their overall vocal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: (1) To present data from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Section for Residents and Fellows-in-Training (SRF) annual survey from 2002 to 2011. (2) To compare and analyze trends in resident demographics, residency experiences, and post-training career choices., Study Design: Review of cross-sectional survey data., Setting: Residents and Fellows registered as Members-in-Training through AAO-HNS., Methods: A review of data from surveys distributed between 2002 and 2011 was conducted. Respondent demographic data including age, postgraduate year, gender, and geographic distribution were analyzed. Responses about training experiences, fellowship selection, debt burden, and post-training practice choice were studied in order to elicit trends., Results: Respondents have consistently rated otolaryngology, anesthesia, and trauma/critical care as the most important intern rotations for otolaryngology residents. Each year, approximately 70% of respondents have reported interest in pursuing a fellowship. Pediatric otolaryngology fellowship is now the most popular fellowship among respondents. There has been a recent increase in the percentage of respondents who are interested in pursuing a career in academics. Location, family, and lifestyle have consistently been the most important factors in determining choice of practice. Respondents have reported increasing levels of educational debt., Conclusion: The AAO-HNS SRF survey collects important data regarding resident/fellow training. Several factors limit the generalizability of these results. Despite its limitations, these unique data provide valuable information for continual evaluation and improvement of physician training in the specialty.

Background: Perioperative examination ofthe vocal folds with flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy is not always feasible. Prior studies suggest vocal fold ultrasound may provide a useful screening tool, however, correlation to laryngoscopic findings is necessary. The purpose of the case series was to validate vocal fold ultrasound in the adult population and to correlate the ultrasound findings to the assessment provided by flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy., Materials and Methods: This IRB approved study accrued sixteen patients. Vocal fold ultrasound performed by the anesthesiologist was correlated with the laryngoscopy performed by the otolaryngologist., Results: Assessment of vocal fold motion was congruent in thirteen patients with normal vocal fold mobility; however, there was discordance between the findings in three patients., Conclusion: Vocal fold ultrasound may be useful to screen for vocal fold motion abnormalities in the adult population. Abnormal findings on vocal fold ultrasound should be confirmed with subsequent laryngoscopy.