Multimodality education for airway endoscopy skill development.

OBJECTIVES: Airway endoscopy is a difficult skill to master. A unique practicum was designed to help otolaryngology residents develop endoscopy skills. The learning modalities included lectures, an animal laboratory, high-fidelity manikins, virtual bronchoscopy simulation, and standardized patients. This study compares the relative subjective value of these learning modalities for skill development and realism. METHODS: Participants used a Likert scale (1=disagree to 5=agree) and open responses to anonymously rate the efficacy of 5 learning modalities for teaching airway management, endoscopy skills, and clinical leadership and for providing a realistic experience. RESULTS: The results in 2007 were uniformly positive, with mean scores for every category and modality greater than 4 for developing cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills; managing normal and abnormal conditions; preventing and managing complications; improving endoscopy skills; understanding team process; and experiencing overall and manual "feel" realism. In 2008, the participants were encouraged to more critically evaluate the course. The ratings demonstrated statistically significant differences between the mean scores for 4 of the 9 evaluation categories in 2007 and all 9 categories in 2008. CONCLUSIONS: Specific learning modalities (e.g., lecture, animal laboratory, high-fidelity manikin, virtual bronchoscopy, standardized patient) were perceived to have different values for teaching airway management, developing endoscopy skills, teaching clinical leadership, and providing a realistic experience. We propose that these learning modalities can be used in a complementary manner.

Tracheal stenosis after placement of percutaneous dilational tracheotomy.

OBJECTIVES: Percutaneous dilational tracheotomy procedures have been used successfully as a bedside alternative to open surgical tracheotomy. At our institution, we have seen patients with tracheal injuries following this procedure. In this paper, we review those cases to demonstrate that tracheal stenosis is a potential long-term complication of percutaneous dilational tracheotomy. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. METHODS: Patients were evaluated with computed tomography and operative endoscopy. Inpatient and outpatient records were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Nine patients were referred to our practice for management of tracheal stenosis after percutaneous dilational tracheotomy between 2003 and 2006. Presence of anterior tracheal ring compression and destruction or lateral wall collapse was noted in each case. Endoscopy revealed stenosis secondary to anterior tracheal wall injury in all cases. In eight of nine cases, operative intervention was needed to correct the stenotic segment. CONCLUSIONS: It has been demonstrated in the literature that with 20 years of experience, the percutaneous dilational tracheotomy procedure is more affordable, faster to perform, and a generally safe procedure when performed under appropriate conditions. Most case series of percutaneous dilational tracheotomy reveal an equal or lower risk of short-term complications than open tracheotomy. This series demonstrates that tracheal stenosis is a potential long-term complication. Longitudinal follow-up of patients undergoing percutaneous dilational tracheotomy is indicated.

Lack of association of CT findings and surgical drainage in pediatric neck abscesses.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between neck abscess characteristics on computerized tomography (CT) scan and surgical drainage in pediatric patients. METHODS: Retrospective data warehouse review identified 43 children younger than 19 years admitted to a tertiary care pediatric hospital during the first quarters of 2000 through 2003 who underwent CT imaging for suspicion of head and neck abscesses involving the neck; face; and peritonsillar, retropharyngeal, and parapharyngeal spaces. A total of 45 scans were graded by a radiologist blinded to management. Thickness of the prevertebral soft tissue; location, dimensions, and degree of enhancement of the abscess; patient age; steroid and preadmission antibiotic use; and surgical intervention were recorded. RESULTS: Surgical drainage was performed in 32 of 43 patients (74%). We found no significant correlation between prevertebral soft tissue thickness, abscess dimensions or enhancement on CT scan, and surgical drainage. There was no significant association between surgical drainage and patient age, administration of steroids, or preadmission antibiotic use. CONCLUSIONS: Neck abscess appearance on CT scan did not predict surgical drainage, although prevertebral soft tissue thickness and abscess dimensions may be important features. Abscess enhancement, patient age, and the use of steroids and prehospitalization antibiotics were not found to correlate with surgical drainage.