Tonsillar origin of deep neck infection as a negative prognostic factor for developing complications.

<b>Aim:</b> The aim of this study was to compare the odontogenic and tonsillar origins of deep neck infection (DNI) as a negative prognostic factor for developing complications. </br></br> <b>Methods:</b> This was a retrospective study of 544 patients with tonsillar and odontogenic origins of DNI treated between 2006 and 2015 at 6 ENT Departments and Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Complications from DNI (descending mediastinitis, sepsis, thrombosis of the internal jugular vein, pneumonia, and pleuritis) were evaluated in both groups and compared. Associated comorbidities (cardiovascular involvement, hepatopathy, diabetes mellitus respiratory involvement, gastroduodenal involvement) were reviewed. </br></br> <b>Results:</b> Five hundred and forty-four patients were analyzed; 350/544 males (64.3%) and 19/544 females (35.7%). There were 505/544 cases (92.8%) with an odontogenic origin and 39/544 cases (7.2%) with a tonsillar origin of DNI. Complications occurred more frequently in the group with tonsillar origin of DNI (P < 0.001). There was no difference in diabetes mellitus between the two groups. </br></br> <b>Conclusions:</b> Currently, the tonsillar origin of DNI occurs much less frequently; nevertheless, it carries a much higher risk of developing complications than cases with an odontogenic origin. We recommend that these potentially high-risk patients with a tonsillar origin of deep neck infections should be more closely monitored.

Guidelines and Recommendations for Patient Management, Surgical Activities, and Safety in the Maxillofacial Unit and Head and Neck Department During COVID-19 Pandemic.

The recent pandemic has led to an unprecedented overload of sanitary systems around the world. Despite that a maxillofacial department is not a frontline specialty in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 infections, our department has found itself faced with numerous problems in keeping the care system active and efficient while ensuring safety for patients and healthcare professionals. Massive redistribution of health personnel was needed to improve prevention and personal safety measures. The education and training system has been kept active, giving residents a decisive role in managing the state of emergency response. This article outlines new guidelines for infection prevention: from clinical control, treatment processes, clinical management, protection, and disinfection of healthcare professionals.

Overview of Upper Airway Management During COVID-19 Outbreak: Head and Neck Surgeon's Perspective.

At the end of December, 2019, a new virus was named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 appeared in Wuhan, China, and the disease caused is called as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by World Health Organization, which to date having infected more than 3,588,773 people worldwide, as well as causing 247,503 deaths. A human to human transmission is thought to be predominantly by droplet spread, and direct contact with the patient or contaminated surfaces. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview as well as to highlight essential evidence-based guidelines for how head and neck surgeon and healthcare providers need to take into consideration during their management of the upper airway during the COVID-19 pandemic safely and effectively to avoid the spread of the virus to the health provider.

Severe parapharyngeal abscess that developed significant complications: management during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A 50-year-old Caucasian man presented to the emergency department during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic with a rapidly progressive facial swelling, fever, malaise and myalgia. The patient had recently travelled to a COVID-19-prevalent European country and was therefore treated as COVID-19 suspect. The day before, the patient sustained a burn to his left forearm after falling unconscious next to a radiator. A CT neck and thorax showed a parapharyngeal abscess, which was surgically drained, and the patient was discharged following an intensive care admission. He then developed mediastinitis 3 weeks post-discharge which required readmission and transfer to a cardiothoracic unit for surgical drainage. This report discusses the evolution of a deep neck space infection into a mediastinitis, a rare and life-threatening complication, despite early surgical drainage. This report also highlights the difficulties faced with managing patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Pandemic: What Every Otolaryngologist-Head and Neck Surgeon Needs to Know for Safe Airway Management.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has unfolded with remarkable speed, posing unprecedented challenges for health care systems and society. Otolaryngologists have a special role in responding to this crisis by virtue of expertise in airway management. Against the backdrop of nations struggling to contain the virus's spread and to manage hospital strain, otolaryngologists must partner with anesthesiologists and front-line health care teams to provide expert services in high-risk situations while reducing transmission. Airway management and airway endoscopy, whether awake or sedated, expose operators to infectious aerosols, posing risks to staff. This commentary provides background on the outbreak, highlights critical considerations around mitigating infectious aerosol contact, and outlines best practices for airway-related clinical decision making during the COVID-19 pandemic. What otolaryngologists need to know and what actions are required are considered alongside the implications of increasing demand for tracheostomy. Approaches to managing the airway are presented, emphasizing safety of patients and the health care team.

Aerosol-generating procedures in head and neck surgery - can we improve practice after COVID-19?

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on international medicine practice. The propensity for head and neck surgery to generate aerosols needs special consideration over and above simply adopting personal protective equipment. This study sought to interrogate the literature and evaluate whether which additional measures might provide benefit if routinely adopted in minimising viral transmission.

Role and Management of a Head and Neck Department during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Lombardy.

The recent Italian outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 led to an unprecedented burden on our health care system. Despite head and neck-otolaryngology not being a front-line specialty in dealing with this disease, our department had to face several specific issues. Despite a massive reallocation of resources in the hospital, we managed to keep the service active, improving safety measures for our personnel, specifically during common otolaryngologic maneuvers known to produce aerosols. Furthermore, we strived to maintain our teaching role, giving residents an inclusive role in managing the response to the emergency state, and we progressively integrated our inactive specialists into other service rotations to relieve front-line colleagues' burden. Specific issues and management decisions are discussed in detail in the article.