Fast-Tracking of Publication Times of Otolaryngology Papers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Introduction The outbreak of COVID-19 has produced an unprecedented number of trials and articles. Objective To study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (ORL-HNS) journal processing times. Methods Original papers search of published in selected ORL-HNS journals in terms of times from submission-to-acceptance (S-A), acceptance-to-first online publication (A-P), and submission-to-online publication (S-P). Papers were divided into those published in the pre-COVID-19 era and those during the COVID-19 era. The latter were further divided into unrelated to COVID-19 and related to COVID-19. Results A total of 487 articles from 5 selected ORL-HNS journals were included, of which 236 (48.5%) were published during the pre-COVID-19 era and 251 (51.5%) were publishedduring theCOVID-19era.Amongthem, 180 (37%) papers werenot related to COVID-19, and 71 (14.5%) were related to COVID-19. The S-A duration of COVID-19-related articles was significantly shorter compared with that of papers submitted in the pre-COVID-19 era and to papers submitted in the COVID-19 era but unrelated to COVID-19 (median 6 to 34 days compared to 65 to 125 and 46 to 127, respectively) in all 5 journals. The most prominent reductions in S-A and S-P times were documented in the laryngology and otology/neurotology disciplines, respectively. Conclusions Processing times of the included papers were significantly shorter in most of the selected ORL-HNS journals during the COVID-19 era compared with the pre-COVID-19 era. COVID-19-related papers were processed more rapidly than non-COVID-19-related papers. These findings testify to the possibility of markedly expediting S-P times and hopefully set a precedent for postpandemic publishing schedules. Level Of Evidence: 5

Indications and outcomes of Tracheostomy: A descriptive study using the outcome-based evaluation forms of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Department in a Tertiary Hospital (2016-2020)

Introduction@#Tracheostomy is a surgical procedure that creates a neck opening directly into the trachea, typically performed to establish an alternative airway for individuals who experience difficulty breathing as a result of certain medical conditions. Tracheostomy can be temporary or permanent, and it plays a crucial role in the management of both acute and chronic respiratory issues and can significantly improve the quality of life for those who require it.@*Objective@#This study aims to investigate the incidence, common indications and outcomes of tracheostomy in the Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ORL-HNS) department of a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines. @*Methodology@#This is a retrospective descriptive study including all admissions and in-patient referrals to the clinical division of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery who underwent tracheostomy from January 2016 to December 2020. Data were retrieved by review of medical records and Outcome Based Evaluation (OBE) form of all patients who underwent tracheostomy during the study period.@*Results@#Our study involved 74 patients with a male-to-female ratio of 22:15. The patients' ages ranged from 5 to 89 years. Prolonged intubation was the main reason for tracheostomy, followed by upper airway obstruction due to supraglottic mass for males and vocal cord paralysis for females. Only three patients who had tracheostomy experienced complications and were managed accordingly. @*Conclusion@#Tracheostomy is one of the most valuable and reliable surgical procedures for managing airway obstructions. Proper patient and caregiver education as well as constant follow-up are crucial to prevent complications.