A Mouse Model of Dysphagia After Facial Nerve Injury.

OBJECTIVE: Dysphagia is common following facial nerve injury; however, research is sparse regarding swallowing-related outcomes and targeted treatments. Previous animal studies have used eye blink and vibrissae movement as measures of facial nerve impairment and recovery. The purpose of this study was to create a mouse model of facial nerve injury that results in dysphagia to enhance translational research outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective animal study. METHODS: Twenty C57BL/6J mice underwent surgical transection of the main trunk (MT) (n = 10) or marginal mandibular branch (MMB) (n = 10) of the left facial nerve. Videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) assays for drinking and eating were performed at baseline and 14 days postsurgery to quantify several deglutition-related outcome measures. RESULTS: VFSS analysis revealed that MT transection resulted in significantly slower lick and swallow rates during drinking (P ≤ .05) and significantly slower swallow rates and longer inter-swallow intervals during eating (P ≤ .05), congruent with oral and pharyngeal dysphagia. After MMB transection, these same VFSS metrics were not statistically significant (P > .05). CONCLUSION: The main finding of this study was that transection of the facial nerve MT leads to oral and pharyngeal stage dysphagia in mice; MMB transection does not. These results from mice provide novel insight into specific VFSS metrics that may be used to characterize dysphagia in humans following facial nerve injury. We are currently using this surgical mouse model to explore promising treatment modalities such as electrical stimulation to hasten recovery and improve outcomes following various iatrogenic and idiopathic conditions affecting the facial nerve. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 131:17-24, 2021.

The state of diversity based on race, ethnicity, and sex in otolaryngology in 2016.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the representation of women and racial minorities among otolaryngology residents and faculty to other surgical specialties. METHODS: Information from 2016 regarding female and minority representation among medical school graduates, otolaryngology applicants, otolaryngology residents, otolaryngology faculty and residents, and faculty in other surgical specialties was obtained from the publicly available registries from the American Medical Association and the American Association of Medical Colleges. The data obtained was used to explore the differences between the various stages of training in otolaryngology and to compare the female and minority diversity of otolaryngology residents with residents in other surgical specialties. RESULTS: Women and African Americans were underrepresented at the resident level compared with their level of representation as medical school graduates. Women were underrepresented in otolaryngology resident applicants (P < .001), but equally represented between otolaryngology residency applicants and residents (P = .582). African Americans were equally represented between medical school graduates and otolaryngology resident applicants (P = .871), but underrepresented in otolaryngology residents (P < .001). Asian Americans and Hispanics were underrepresented among otolaryngology faculty compared with their representation in otolaryngology residency programs (P < .001, P < .001, respectively). Otolaryngology has the lowest percentage of African-American residents and faculty compared to other surgical specialties. The representation of women in otolaryngology residencies is higher than most surgical specialties but worse than general surgery, integrated plastics, and medical school graduates. CONCLUSION: Otolaryngology lags behind other surgical specialties in representation of minorities and women. Continued efforts should be made to increase diversity in the field of otolaryngology, especially in regard to underrepresented minorities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 2019.