The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on otolaryngologists: Should we be concerned?

OBJECTIVE: Physicians on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic are at increased risk of contracting the disease. Otolaryngologists are amongst the high-risk practitioners, as they are in close proximity to patient's upper airway, which may induce their psychological stress. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey study, conducted among otolaryngologists in Saudi Arabia from June 11 to June 22. Survey consisted of sociodemographic questionnaire, Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Available otolaryngologists with no history of mental health problems were included. A P-value lower than .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The study included 129 participants; 63.6% men and 36.4% women. 81.4% of participants were living with family, 57.4% living with either a child or an elderly family member. Nearly 7.8% of participants had dysfunctional COVID-19 anxiety and 75.2% had COVID-19-related depression symptoms ranging from minimal to severe. Obsession and dysfunctional thinking regarding COVID-19 were found in 26.4% of participants. Single otolaryngologists had significantly higher CAS (P = .025), OCS (P = .048), and PHQ-9 (P < .001) scores. Participants who lived with children or elderly individuals had significantly higher OCS scores (P = .005). When comparing job ranks, residents had significantly higher scores for the CAS (P = .016) and PHQ-9 (P < .001). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 has a considerable psychological impact on otolaryngologists. Specifically, the young and single who have less social support. This indicates the importance of psychological support to this group. Additional thorough studies should explore the psychological impact of COVID-19 in this field as it may carry devastating long-term consequences if left unattended. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4.

Knowledge and practice of Protective Personal Equipment (PPE) among healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia during the early stages of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Introduction: Healthcare providers are at high risk of becoming infected when taking care of patients who have COVID-19, especially while attending aerosol generating procedures. Protective personal equipment must be used in the correct manner to prevent transmission of the disease. Published protocols on protective personal equipment (PPE) donning and doffing have been issued by disease control agencies. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was designed. An online anonymous questionnaire, which was validated and tested for reliability, focused on PPE related knowledge, donning and doffing practices of healthcare providers across the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. Results: A total of 312 healthcare providers across the eastern region of Saudi Arabia participated in the study, 208 physicians (66.7%) and 104 non-physicians (33.3%). Results indicate poor practice regarding PPE donning (13.8% reported the correct sequence) and PPE doffing (3.5% reported the correct sequence) among participants. In addition, practice and confidence scores regarding other issues with PPE were analyzed. Based on questionnaire responses, being male (T = 2.825; p = 0.008), being a non-physician (T = -2.120; p = 0.014) and being an allied medical professional (F = 5.379; p = 0.003) were significantly associated with higher confidence levels. Also, being a consultant was significantly associated with higher practice scores (F = 4.774; p = 0.008). Conclusion: The study demonstrates deficiencies among healthcare providers in following the recommended practices for correctly using PPE during the pandemic. Poor practice in PPE donning and doffing necessitates additional educational and training programs focused on infection control practices.

Self-Induced Traumatic Macroglossia: Case Report and Literature Review.

Traumatic macroglossia is an extremely rare condition characterized by a sudden edematous swelling of the tongue due to trauma. We report a rare case of traumatic macroglossia in a 37-year-old male with known trisomy 21 and epilepsy who presented to the emergency room with a huge protruded tongue due to aggressive behavior and a history of multiple tongue tractions, leading to sudden severe tongue swelling without any respiratory distress symptoms. The examination was unremarkable; fixable nasolaryngoscopy relieved bilateral vocal cord movement, and there was no laryngeal edema. The patient was managed immediately by endotracheal intubation to secure the airway, and corticosteroids were used to diminish and stop the tongue swelling. We describe the clinical management for such patients, highlighting the different causes of traumatic macroglossia. A few cases have been reported in the literature, but this is the first case to report self-induced traumatic macroglossia in a seizure-free patient managed successfully by endotracheal intubation, corticosteroids, a bite block, and warm wet dressing.

Recurrent extensive plunging ranula: A rare case.

Plunging ranula (PR) is a cystic mass presenting on the lateral side of the neck with or without a history of the usual presentation of an intraoral lesion. "PR" is recognized as an uncommon lesion that has been found predominantly in the third decade of life mostly in males. However, the exact prevalence of "PR" is not yet known. We report a rare case of an extensive PR that reached the parapharyngeal space in a 17-year-old Saudi female. The diagnosis was made when she presented to the ENT clinic with swellings in the right submandibular and right floor of the mouth. The diagnosis of "PR" with the absence of an oral lesion is very challenging and requires a detailed history, clinical examination, and radiological imaging. Different modalities of treatment have been discussed. However, the excision of ranula and the sublingual gland is the most effective way of management.