TrachGPT: Appraisal of tracheostomy care recommendations from an artificial intelligent Chatbot.

Objective: Safe home tracheostomy care requires engagement and troubleshooting by patients, who may turn to online, AI-generated information sources. This study assessed the quality of ChatGPT responses to such queries. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ChatGPT was prompted with 10 hypothetical tracheostomy care questions in three domains (complication management, self-care advice, and lifestyle adjustment). Responses were graded by four otolaryngologists for appropriateness, accuracy, and overall score. The readability of responses was evaluated using the Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) and Flesch-Kincaid Reading Grade Level (FKRGL). Descriptive statistics and ANOVA testing were performed with statistical significance set to p < .05. Results: On a scale of 1-5, with 5 representing the greatest appropriateness or overall score and a 4-point scale with 4 representing the highest accuracy, the responses exhibited moderately high appropriateness (mean = 4.10, SD = 0.90), high accuracy (mean = 3.55, SD = 0.50), and moderately high overall scores (mean = 4.02, SD = 0.86). Scoring between response categories (self-care recommendations, complication recommendations, lifestyle adjustments, and special device considerations) revealed no significant scoring differences. Suboptimal responses lacked nuance and contained incorrect information and recommendations. Readability indicated college and advanced levels for FRE (Mean = 39.5, SD = 7.17) and FKRGL (Mean = 13.1, SD = 1.47), higher than the sixth-grade level recommended for patient-targeted resources by the NIH. Conclusion: While ChatGPT-generated tracheostomy care responses may exhibit acceptable appropriateness, incomplete or misleading information may have dire clinical consequences. Further, inappropriately high reading levels may limit patient comprehension and accessibility. At this point in its technological infancy, AI-generated information should not be solely relied upon as a direct patient care resource.

Safety and Utility of Transnasal Humidified Rapid-Insufflation Ventilatory Exchange (THRIVE) for Laser Laryngeal Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange (THRIVE) is gaining acceptance as a safe method for apneic ventilation and oxygenation during laryngeal procedures, but remains controversial during laser laryngeal surgery (LLS) due to the theoretical risk of airway fire. This study describes our experience with THRIVE during LLS. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Stanford University Hospital, October 15, 2015 to June 1, 2021. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of patients ≥18 years who underwent LLS involving the CO2 or KTP laser with THRIVE as the primary mode of oxygenation. RESULTS: A total of 172 cases were identified. 20.9% were obese (BMI ≥ 30). Most common operative indication was subglottic stenosis. The CO2 laser was used in 79.1% of cases. Median lowest intraoperative SpO2 was 96%. 44.7% cases were solely under THRIVE while 16.3% required a single intubation and 19.2% required multiple intubations. Mean apnea time for THRIVE only cases was 32.1 minutes and in cases requiring at least one intubation 24.0 minutes (p < .001). Mean apnea time was significantly lower for patients who were obese (p < .001) or had a diagnosis of hypertension (p = .016). Obese patients and patients with hypertension were 2.03 and 1.43 times more likely to require intraoperative intubation, respectively. There were no intraoperative complications or fires since the institution of our LLS safety protocol. CONCLUSION: By eliminating the fuel component of the fire triangle, THRIVE can be safely used for continuous delivery of high FiO2 during LLS, provided adherence to institutional THRIVE-LLS protocols.

The Effect of Povidone-Iodine Nasal Spray on Nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load: A Randomized Control Trial.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To determine the effect of povidone-iodine (PVP-I) nasal sprays on nasopharyngeal (NP) viral load as assessed by cycle threshold (Ct) on quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) of SARS-CoV-2 in outpatients. STUDY DESIGN: Three arm, triple blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. METHODS: Participants were randomized within 5 days of testing positive for COVID-19 to receive nasal sprays containing placebo (0.9% saline), 0.5% PVP-I, or 2.0% PVP-I. NP swabs for qPCR analysis were taken at baseline, 1-hour post-PVP-I spray (two sprays/nostril), and 3 days post-PVP-I spray (20 sprays/nostril). Symptom and adverse event questionnaires were completed at baseline, day 3, and day 5. University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Tests (UPSIT) were completed at baseline and day 30. RESULTS: Mean Ct values increased over time in all groups, indicating declining viral loads, with no statistically significant difference noted in the rate of change between placebo and PVP-I groups. The 2.0% PVP-I group showed statistically significant improvement in all symptom categories; however, it also reported a high rate of nasal burning. Olfaction via UPSIT showed improvement by at least one category in all groups. There were no hospitalizations or mortalities within 30 days of study enrollment. CONCLUSIONS: Saline and low concentration PVP-I nasal sprays are well tolerated. Similar reductions in SARS-CoV-2 NP viral load were seen over time in all groups. All treatment groups showed improvement in olfaction over 30 days. These data suggest that dilute versions of PVP-I nasal spray are safe for topical use in the nasal cavity, but that PVP-I does not demonstrate virucidal activity in COVID-19 positive outpatients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 Laryngoscope, 132:2089-2095, 2022.

Next-Generation Sequencing as an Auxiliary Tool in Pediatric Laryngeal Lymphoma Diagnosis.

Lymphomatous involvement of the larynx is a rare entity. We present a case of atypical laryngotracheitis as the initial manifestation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a pediatric patient. The diagnosis was aided through the use of microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA) testing, which detected the presence of Epstein-Barr virus in the patient's plasma. This enabled the consideration of an Epstein-Barr virus-related lymphoproliferative process, leading to additional workup and the final diagnosis of lymphoma. To our knowledge, this is the first case of mcfDNA testing leading not simply to an infectious organism, but further to a new oncologic diagnosis. Plasma mcfDNA testing has the potential to inform clinical practice beyond classic infectious disease manifestations. In this article, we review both the possible future applications and the areas of further investigation that remain.

End-of-Life Practice Patterns in Head and Neck Cancer.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: Despite the importance of symptom management and end-of-life (EOL) care in head and neck cancers (HNC), there is little literature on care practices in this population. This study examines EOL care practice patterns using nationally established metrics. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: Review of HNC patients who were actively followed and treated (defined as one clinic note within 90 days, two within preceding 9 months, and having received treatment at our institution) and died between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018. The cohort was reviewed for performance on Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) and other metrics. RESULTS: Of 133 patients identified, 52 met inclusion criteria. The average age at death was 69.8 years. About 59% had distant metastases, 30% had locoregional disease, 11% were undergoing primary treatment. Twenty-three percentage received chemotherapy within the last 14 days of life. Fifty percentage of patients were admitted in the last 30 days of life, and 33% died in the hospital. Fifty-four percentage of patients had either Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment or Advanced Directive on file. Eighty-one percentage of patients had any type of goals of care discussion documented. Sixty-five percentage of all patients received referrals to palliative care and 46% of all patients enrolled in hospice. The median days in hospice was 12. Having a goals of care discussion was significantly associated with utilization of palliative and hospice care. CONCLUSIONS: Provider-documented goals of care discussions were strongly correlated to referrals and enrollment in palliative and hospice care. Areas for improvement include better documentation of treatment directives and reducing low-utility treatments. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:1769-1773, 2021.

Validation of a Hearing-Related Quality-of-Life Questionnaire for Parents and Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Infants and Toddlers.

OBJECTIVE: To design and validate a hearing-related quality-of-life questionnaire targeted toward parents and deaf or hard-of-hearing infants and toddlers: the Hearing-Related Infant/Toddler and Parent Quality of Life (HIP-QL) questionnaire. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional questionnaire and prospective instrument validation. SETTING: Academic pediatric otolaryngology clinic. METHODS: A 67-question questionnaire developed from constructs of a grounded theory analysis was administered to parents of 31 deaf or hard-of-hearing children and 14 typically hearing children. Questionnaire construct validity, reliability, and discriminant validity were tested. RESULTS: Based on exploratory factor analysis, a 32-item construct composed of developmentally appropriate questions was reduced to a 17-item construct with 4 domains addressing quality of life for both child (auditory/communication behavior, temperament) and parent (management, parent-directed factors). Internal consistency measures were appropriate (Cronbach's alpha = 0.65), and test-retest reliability was high (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.73). Total HIP-QL scores correlated significantly with related total PedsQL scores (r = 0.57, P < .001). As predicted, parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing reported significantly lower mean HIP-QL scores but not mean PedsQL scores. HIP-QL was more sensitive than PedsQL for predicting case versus control membership (86.7% vs 76.9%). Multivariable regression confirmed a negative relationship between severity of hearing loss and HIP-QL score after controlling for age, sex, income, and maternal education. CONCLUSIONS: This context-specific questionnaire is the first validated quality-of-life instrument for parents and deaf or hard-of-hearing infants and toddlers. Previously, parental stress and functional disability questionnaires were used as proxies; therefore, this questionnaire has the potential to serve as an important tool for patient- and caregiver-centered outcomes research.

Managing head and neck cancer patients with tracheostomy or laryngectomy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Head and neck cancer patients with tracheostomies and laryngectomies, as well as their healthcare providers, face unique challenges in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic. This document consolidates best available evidence to date and presents recommendations to minimize the risks of aerosolization and SARS-CoV-2 exposures in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. The cornerstones of these recommendations include the use of closed-circuit ventilation whenever possible, cuffed tracheostomy tubes, judicious use of heat moisture exchange units, appropriate personal protective equipment for providers and patients, meticulous hand hygiene, and minimal manipulation of tracheostomy tubes.

COVID-19 and the Otolaryngologist: Preliminary Evidence-Based Review.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has rapidly swept across the world since its identification in December 2019. Otolaryngologists are at unique risk due to the close contact with mucus membranes of the upper respiratory tract and have been among the most affected healthcare workers in Wuhan, China. We present information on COVID-19 management relevant to otolaryngologists on the frontlines of this pandemic and provide preliminary guidance based on practices implemented in China and other countries and practical strategies deployed at Stanford University. Laryngoscope, 130:2537-2543, 2020.

Seeking equilibrium: The experiences of parents of infants and toddlers who are deaf/hard-of-hearing.

PURPOSE: To identify key determinants of the quality of life of caregivers of infants and toddlers (< 3 years) who are deaf/hard-of-hearing (DHH). METHODS: We conducted focus groups with providers for children who are DHH as well as interviews with hearing parents of infants and toddlers who are DHH. A multi-step qualitative analysis on interview data using grounded theory was performed, and an iterative analysis to investigate codes to characterize specific topics in caring for deaf infants and toddlers was conducted. RESULTS: Four focus groups (n= 33) and six semi-structured interviews (n= 7) were conducted. The major theoretical code found was the "Search for Equilibrium" in parenting which arose from the three main categories of the caregiver role/experience: (1) being a parent - modifying parenting style as a result of their child's hearing loss, (2) being a mediator - modulating and filtering interactions between their child and their child's environment, and (3) being a navigator - managing the logistics of the medical and educational system. CONCLUSIONS: For hearing parents, the diagnosis of hearing loss requires changes in multiple domains of parenting. Support in each of these areas is critical for parents to restore a sense of equilibrium that is central to their quality of life. This framework provides a way to categorize parent experiences and may act as a template for focused interventions in the three identified domains.

Linguistic and behavioral performance of bilingual children with hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the English and non-English language performance of deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) children raised in homes where English was not the primary language to their typically hearing peers from similar language backgrounds. METHODS: Case control study of bilingual DHH children with unilateral or bilateral non-fluctuating hearing loss defined as the most recent PTA between 26 and 70 dB in one or both ears. Typically hearing controls included bilingual siblings and children recruited from the General Pediatrics practice. Subjects completed the OWLS-II, a validated English language proficiency tool. The subject's parents completed the Child Behavioral Checklist, an assessment of problem behavior; the Student Oral Language Observation Matrix (SOLOM), an assessment of the child's non-English home language; and a study questionnaire on the child's medical, social, and language history. RESULTS: 26 typically hearing controls, 15 children with bilateral hearing loss, and 18 children with unilateral hearing loss participated. The groups were similar in age, sex, insurance status, place of birth, age at arrival in the US, and maternal education status. Performance on the English language oral composite was significantly lower amongst the bilateral hearing loss group (BHL: 66.9, 95% CI [56.2-77.7]; UHL: 82.9, 95% CI [75.6-90.2]; NH: 84.4, 95% CI [79.5-89.3], p = 0.002). Performance on the SOLOM was significantly lower in bilateral hearing loss group. (BHL: 18.6, 95% CI [15.9-21.3]; UHL: 19.8, 95% CI [17.1-22.4]; NH: 22.3, 95% CI [20.6-24.0], p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Bilingual children with bilateral hearing loss are at increased risk for poor oral expressive and receptive language development. These children comprise a particularly vulnerable population who might benefit from additional focused interventions to support their language development.

Clinical Utility of Routine CBC Testing in Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

The goal of this study was to identify situations in which routine complete blood count (CBC) testing could be avoided in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). This was a retrospective study of 50 patients with CAP. Vital signs, lab results, assessment and plan data, and computerized provider order entry logs were collected to determine if a lab result or clinical finding changed clinical management. Clinical stability was defined based on Patient Outcomes Research Team study criteria. There were 94 CBCs obtained after admission, of which only 6 were associated with management changes. Only two of these instances involved management changes related to patients' pneumonia, while the other cases represented chronic illnesses. Among all patients, the positive likelihood ratio of a post-admission CBC predicting a change in clinical management was low (1.12 [95% confidence interval, 0.86-1.44]). Low utility of CBC testing after admission may represent an opportunity to improvethe value of care in CAP patients. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2017;12:336-338.

Association between ordering patterns and shift-based care in general pediatrics inpatients.

Duty-hour restrictions have forced changes in care models for inpatient services, including an increase in shift work. In this study we aimed to determine whether a shift model compliant with 2011 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education duty-hour standards was associated with more active patient care management. Residents caring for pediatric patients changed from a schedule with extended duty shifts and cross-coverage to one based on day/night shifts, limiting interns to 16 consecutive duty hours. We conducted a retrospective review of orders written under each model. After the intervention, there was a significant increase in the mean number of orders written within the first 12 hours (pre: 0.58 orders vs post: 1.12, P = 0.009) and 24 hours (pre: 1.52 vs post: 2.38, P = 0.004) following admission (not including admission orders), but we did not detect a significantly higher percentage of orders written at night. This shift-based coverage system was associated with a greater number of orders written early in the hospitalization, indicating more active management of clinical problems.