International registry of otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: It has become clear that healthcare workers are at high risk, and otolaryngology has been theorized to be among the highest risk specialties for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The purpose of this study was to detail the international impact of COVID-19 among otolaryngologists, and to identify instructional cases. METHODS: Country representatives of the Young Otolaryngologists-International Federation of Otolaryngologic Societies (YO-IFOS) surveyed otolaryngologists through various channels. Nationwide surveys were distributed in 19 countries. The gray literature and social media channels were searched to identify reported deaths of otolaryngologists from COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 361 otolaryngologists were identified to have had COVID-19, and data for 325 surgeons was available for analysis. The age range was 25 to 84 years, with one-half under the age of 44 years. There were 24 deaths in the study period, with 83% over age 55 years. Source of infection was likely clinical activity in 175 (54%) cases. Prolonged exposure to a colleague was the source for 37 (11%) surgeons. Six instructional cases were identified where infections occurred during the performance of aerosol-generating operations (tracheostomy, mastoidectomy, epistaxis control, dacryocystorhinostomy, and translabyrinthine resection). In 3 of these cases, multiple operating room attendees were infected, and in 2, the surgeon succumbed to complications of COVID-19. CONCLUSION: The etiology of reported cases within the otolaryngology community appear to stem equally from clinical activity and community spread. Multiple procedures performed by otolaryngologists are aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) and great care should be taken to protect the surgical team before, during, and after these operations.

Effects of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy on hemoglobin and iron metabolism.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate a possible effect of adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, or both operations combined in children on hemoglobin concentration and iron metabolism. METHODS: Children eligible for surgery due to recurrent tonsillitis or upper airway obstruction had a venous blood sample drawn at the time of the operation and 6 months later. One hundred and three preoperative and 91 blood samples at follow-up from patients not given iron supplementation were available for analysis of hemoglobin concentration, serum-ferritin and protoporphyrin-IX in erythrocytes. RESULTS: A 1.4g/dl median increase in hemoglobin concentration during the observation period was associated with a significant reduction of protoporphyrin-IX, while serum-ferritin remained unchanged and low. A preoperative prevalence of anemia of 56.3% was reduced to 7.71%. All combinations of normal and pathological values of serum-ferritin and protoporphyrin-IX were found in anemic and non-anemic patients. CONCLUSIONS: A beneficial effect of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy on hemoglobin and iron metabolism was demonstrated. Iron deficiency was common.

Treatment of simple snoring using radio waves for ablation of uvula and soft palate: a day-case surgery procedure.

OBJECTIVE: Uvulopalatoplasty, performed with high-frequency radio waves, was evaluated as a treatment for social snoring. METHODS: Forty male social snorers were included in this prospective, nonrandomized study. Patients' subjective complaints before, during, and 3 months after radio-assisted uvulopalatoplasty were recorded on a visual analogue scale. RESULTS: Complications were negligible. Snoring sounds and daytime tiredness reduced significantly. Considering effect and suffering during and after surgery, a high number of patients (93%) were willing to undergo the procedure again if necessary. CONCLUSIONS: The results of radio-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (RAUP) seem to be similar to other surgical methods used to reduce snoring. The relative small investments needed and its simplicity makes RAUP a good alternative to known treatment strategies.