Amplifying patient voices amid pandemic: Perspectives on tracheostomy care, communication, and connection.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate perspectives of patients, family members, caregivers (PFC), and healthcare professionals (HCP) on tracheostomy care during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The cross-sectional survey investigating barriers and facilitators to tracheostomy care was collaboratively developed by patients, family members, nurses, speech-language pathologists, respiratory care practitioners, physicians, and surgeons. The survey was distributed to the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative's learning community, and responses were analyzed. RESULTS: Survey respondents (n = 191) from 17 countries included individuals with a tracheostomy (85 [45 %]), families/caregivers (43 [22 %]), and diverse HCP (63 [33.0 %]). Overall, 94 % of respondents reported concern that patients with tracheostomy were at increased risk of critical illness from SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19; 93 % reported fear or anxiety. With respect to prioritization of care, 38 % of PFC versus 16 % of HCP reported concern that patients with tracheostomies might not be valued or prioritized (p = 0.002). Respondents also differed in fear of contracting COVID-19 (69 % PFC vs. 49 % HCP group, p = 0.009); concern for hospitalization (55.5 % PFC vs. 27 % HCP, p < 0.001); access to medical personnel (34 % PFC vs. 14 % HCP, p = 0.005); and concern about canceled appointments (62 % PFC vs. 41 % HCP, p = 0.01). Respondents from both groups reported severe stress and fatigue, sleep deprivation, lack of breaks, and lack of support (70 % PFC vs. 65 % HCP, p = 0.54). Virtual telecare seldom met perceived needs. CONCLUSION: PFC with a tracheostomy perceived most risks more acutely than HCP in this global sample. Broad stakeholder engagement is necessary to achieve creative, patient-driven solutions to maintain connection, communication, and access for patients with a tracheostomy.

Pediatric vestibular testing: Tolerability of test components in children.

INTRODUCTION: Objective of the study is to define rates of successful completion of components of pediatric vestibular testing (VT). METHODS: Retrospective review of VT performed on patients less than 18 years of age from 2004 to 2015. RESULTS: 188 pediatric patients (mean age: 13.9 ±â€¯3.56 years old, range 2-17 years) underwent testing. Thirty-five (18.6%) had abnormal test results. Pediatric patients unable to complete all aspects of VT could still complete an average of 7.9 ±â€¯4.0 of 12 test components. The optokinetic tracking test was the most commonly omitted component of the vestibular tests. In a multivariate analysis, failure to perform Nylen-Barany positional testing (χ2 27.5, p < 0.0001) or Dix-Hallpike (5.66, p = 0.0174) testing was associated with inability to obtain final diagnosis on VT. CONCLUSIONS: Interpretable VT may be obtained in most children, even in those that do not tolerate the full testing protocol. Spontaneous and gaze-evoked nystagmus testing maybe considered as part of initial testing protocol before attempting less well-tolerated components such as bithermal calorics or components that require VNG goggles.

Oropharyngeal stenosis: a complication of multilevel, single-stage upper airway surgery in children.

OBJECTIVES: To describe oropharyngeal stenosis (OPS), a potential complication of multilevel, single-stage upper airway surgery involving lingual tonsillectomy in children, and to discuss the manner in which OPS may be managed successfully. DESIGN: Case series with an average follow-up of 12 months. SETTING: Tertiary care children's hospital. PATIENTS: Medical charts were reviewed for 104 patients who underwent lingual tonsillectomy over a 30-month period from January 1, 2007, to June 30, 2009. INTERVENTION: Multilevel, single-stage upper airway surgery, including lingual tonsillectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Development of OPS noted during office or intraoperative examination. RESULTS: Forty-nine of 104 patients underwent multilevel, single-stage upper airway procedures that included lingual tonsillectomy. Four of these 49 patients developed OPS, for a complication rate of 8.2%. Three patients required pharyngoplasty (scar release, debulking of fibrotic tissue, and reorientation of the scar) and triamcinolone injections in the operating room. A fourth patient underwent simple scar release in the operating room. No patient who underwent lingual tonsillectomy alone or in combination with an additional procedure at the same level of the upper airway developed OPS. CONCLUSIONS: Oropharyngeal stenosis is a potential complication of multilevel, single-stage upper airway surgery involving lingual tonsillectomy in children. Although there is pressure to perform multilevel procedures that address each site of upper airway obstruction in 1 sitting, this case series suggests the need for a more conservative, staged approach if lingual tonsillectomy is planned.

H1N1 influenza A presenting as bacterial tracheitis.

Six cases of bacterial tracheitis (BT) occurring early in the 2009 flu season have been isolated in conjunction with the H1N1 strain of influenza A (H1N1). No previous H1N1 cases have presented as BT in the literature to date. We would like to discuss viral coinfection in BT patients and how this new strain may affect the rate and type of presentation encountered. The life-threatening potential of BT and the pandemic proportion of H1N1 highlight a possibly dangerous combination that should be recognized by the otolaryngology community. In hospitalized patients with presumed BT, consideration should be given to routine H1N1 testing and the addition of antiviral medication when indicated as this entity is further investigated.