OTO Journal

This podcast highlights original research published in the August 2015 issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, the official journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Foundation. Editor in chief John Krouse is joined by senior author Stacey Ishman and associate editor David Darrow in discussing the association of tonsillar size in children, the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and the response to surgical treatment for OSA in these children.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a problem of increasing concern for children and their parents. Many otolaryngologists may believe that OSA is worse in children with very large tonsils than it is in children with smaller tonsils. The present paper, however, suggests that the severity of OSA is independent of tonsillar size, and that children with both small and large tonsils appear to have similar reductions in objective indicators of OSA after adenotonsillectomy. An important message from this study is that even children with small tonsils on physical examination may have clinically significant OSA, and that surgical treatment might be of benefit even in this patient population. In addition, the participants discuss the role of polysomnography as a diagnostic modality in these children, as well as other diagnostic considerations that may be important. Drs. Ishman and Darrow discuss the implications of these observations for the medical and surgical management of children with obstructive sleep apnea.

Click here to read the full article.

This podcast highlights original research published in the August 2015 issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, the official journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Foundation. Editor in chief John Krouse is joined by senior author Stacey Ishman and associate editor David Darrow in discussing the association of tonsillar size in children, the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and the response to surgical treatment for OSA in these children.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a problem of increasing concern for children and their parents.  Many otolaryngologists may believe that OSA is worse in children with very large tonsils than it is in children with smaller tonsils.  The present paper, however, suggests that the severity of OSA is independent of tonsillar size, and that children with both small and large tonsils appear to have similar reductions in objective indicators of OSA after adenotonsillectomy.  An important message from this study is that even children with small tonsils on physical examination may have clinically significant OSA, and that surgical treatment might be of benefit even in this patient population.  In addition, the participants discuss the role of polysomnography as a diagnostic modality in these children, as well as other diagnostic considerations that may be important.  Drs. Ishman and Darrow discuss the implications of these observations for the medical and surgical management of children with obstructive sleep apnea.

Click here to read the full article.

This podcast highlights a state of the art review published in the July 2015 issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, the official journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Foundation. Editor in chief John Krouse is joined by senior author Ryan Bransky and associate editor Cristina Baldassari in discussing the growing use of electronic cigarettes in the United States.

Over the past decade there has been a rapid expansion in the use of and types of electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, among the US population. In 2009 less than 1% of the American population had tried using e-cigarettes, and by 2013 over 8% of Americans had used them. The sales of e-cigarettes are predicted to surpass $10 billion by 2017. There has also been a rapid expansion in use among teenagers, who enter the use of oral nicotine in early life as their first cigarette experience through “vaping.” There are establishments that are dedicated to the use of these products, and this use is currently unregulated. Drs. Bransky and Baldassari discuss the implications of this rapid growth in electronic cigarettes, especially among children during their school-age years, and look at the range of potential concerns for both present and future use.

Click here to read the full article.

This podcast highlights a state of the art review published in the July 2015 issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, the official journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Foundation. Editor in chief John Krouse is joined by senior author Ryan Bransky and associate editor Cristina Baldassari in discussing the growing use of electronic cigarettes in the United States.

 Over the past decade there has been a rapid expansion in the use of and types of electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, among the US population.  In 2009 less than 1% of the American population had tried using e-cigarettes, and by 2013 over 8% of Americans had used them.  The sales of e-cigarettes are predicted to surpass $10 billion by 2017.  There has also been a rapid expansion in use among teenagers, who enter the use of oral nicotine in early life as their first cigarette experience through “vaping.”  There are establishments that are dedicated to the use of these products, and this use is currently unregulated.  Drs. Bransky and Baldassari discuss the implications of this rapid growth in electronic cigarettes, especially among children during their school-age years, and look at the range of potential concerns for both present and future use.

Click here to read the full article.  

This podcast highlights original research published in the June 2015 issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, the official journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Foundation. Editor in chief John Krouse is joined by senior author Seth Dailey and associate editor Matthew Brigger in discussing the topic of office-based photoangiolytic laser therapy of Reinke’s edema.

Reinke’s edema is a common, benign condition of the vocal folds characterized by edema and vascular congestion in Reinke’s space. Multiple risk factors are associated with this condition, including tobacco use, vocal abuse, and laryngopharyngeal reflux. In this paper, the authors discuss an office-based procedure for treating Reinke’s edema using topical anesthesia and flexible transnasal endoscopy. They report their findings on 19 patients who completed this office-based therapy, and demonstrate improvement in both quality of life and acoustic and aerodynamic measures following the treatment. They also discuss patient characteristics that interfere with the successful completion of the procedure. Finally, the authors review the implications of their findings for clinical practice and further research.

Click here to read the full article.

This podcast highlights original research published in the June 2015 issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, the official journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Foundation. Editor in chief John Krouse is joined by senior author Seth Dailey and associate editor Matthew Brigger in discussing the topic of office-based photoangiolytic laser therapy of Reinke’s edema.

Reinke’s edema is a common, benign condition of the vocal folds characterized by edema and vascular congestion in Reinke’s space.  Multiple risk factors are associated with this condition, including tobacco use, vocal abuse, and laryngopharyngeal reflux.  In this paper, the authors discuss an office-based procedure for treating Reinke’s edema using topical anesthesia and flexible transnasal endoscopy.  They report their findings on 19 patients who completed this office-based therapy, and demonstrate improvement in both quality of life and acoustic and aerodynamic measures following the treatment.  They also discuss patient characteristics that interfere with the successful completion of the procedure.  Finally, the authors review the implications of their findings for clinical practice and further research.

 Click here to read the full article. 

This podcast highlights original research published in the May 2015 issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, the official journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Foundation. Editor in chief John Krouse is joined by lead author Lauren Roland and associate editor Meredith Adams in discussing mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy for tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a common problem that affects millions of patients on a chronic basis. In general there have been few treatment options for patients with tinnitus, and symptoms can be frustrating and debilitating for many individuals. In this paper, the authors utilize a therapeutic method that includes a cognitive-behavioral approach with planned meditation to reduce stress among patients. They were able to not only facilitate reduction in bother from tinnitus among a single group of selected patients, but also demonstrated changes in neural connectivity on functional MRI that suggested some adaptation to tinnitus with treatment. The authors discuss the implications of their interesting findings for patients bothered by tinnitus, and examine ideas for future research that would expand on the encouraging results noted in this pilot study.

Click here to read the full article.

This podcast highlights original research published in the May 2015 issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, the official journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Foundation. Editor in chief John Krouse is joined by lead author Lauren Roland and associate editor Meredith Adams in discussing mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy for tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a common problem that affects millions of patients on a chronic basis.  In general there have been few treatment options for patients with tinnitus, and symptoms can be frustrating and debilitating for many individuals.  In this paper, the authors utilize a therapeutic method that includes a cognitive-behavioral approach with planned meditation to reduce stress among patients.  They were able to not only facilitate reduction in bother from tinnitus among a single group of selected patients, but also demonstrated changes in neural connectivity on functional MRI that suggested some adaptation to tinnitus with treatment.  The authors discuss the implications of their interesting findings for patients bothered by tinnitus, and examine ideas for future research that would expand on the encouraging results noted in this pilot study.

Click here to read the full article. 

This podcast highlights the updated clinical practice guideline on adult sinusitis that is published as an April 2015 supplement to Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, the official journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Foundation. In the first of two podcasts for this supplement, Editor in chief John Krouse is joined by authors Ashok Kumar and Maggie Kramper in discussing key findings from the guideline in the diagnosis and treatment of adults with symptoms of sinusitis and their implications for primary care health providers and patients.

Sinusitis affects about 1 in 8 adults in the United States, resulting in more than 30 million annual diagnoses. More than 1 in 5 antibiotics prescribed in adults are for sinusitis, making it the fifth-most common diagnosis responsible for antibiotic therapy. Many symptoms of sinusitis can overlap with other common conditions such as allergic rhinitis, and can complicate the diagnosis and treatment of these individuals. Common symptoms of acute sinusitis include purulent nasal discharge accompanied by nasal obstruction, facial pain/pressure/fullness, or both. Patients and their health providers can utilize a variety of approaches in treating these symptoms, judiciously using antibiotics and other prescription and over-the-counter medications as indicated. These guidelines discuss recommendations and options for clinicians treating adult sinusitis and their patients.

Click here to read the full article.

This podcast highlights the updated clinical practice guideline on adult sinusitis that is published as an April 2015 supplement to Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, the official journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Foundation. In the first of two podcasts for this supplement, Editor in chief John Krouse is joined by authors Ashok Kumar and Maggie Kramper in discussing key findings from the guideline in the diagnosis and treatment of adults with symptoms of sinusitis and their implications for primary care health providers and patients.

Sinusitis affects about 1 in 8 adults in the United States, resulting in more than 30 million annual diagnoses. More than 1 in 5 antibiotics prescribed in adults are for sinusitis, making it the fifth-most common diagnosis responsible for antibiotic therapy.  Many symptoms of sinusitis can overlap with other common conditions such as allergic rhinitis, and can complicate the diagnosis and treatment of these individuals.  Common symptoms of acute sinusitis include purulent nasal discharge accompanied by nasal obstruction, facial pain/pressure/fullness, or both. Patients and their health providers can utilize a variety of approaches in treating these symptoms, judiciously using antibiotics and other prescription and over-the-counter medications as indicated.  These guidelines discuss recommendations and options for clinicians treating adult sinusitis and their patients.

Click here to read the full article.