OTO Journal

Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, is joined by lead authors Heather M. Weinreich, MD, MPH and Carrie L. Nieman, MD, MPH to provide a patient and primary care provider-focused overview of the “Clinical Practice Guideline: Age-Related Hearing Loss” which published in the May 2024 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. They discuss the pearls and pitfalls in screening and treating hearing loss for the patient and non-otolaryngologist providers. Click here to read the full article.

Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, is joined by lead authors Betty S. Tsai Do, MD, and Matthew L. Bush MD, PhD, MBA, for a discussion of some key points of the “Clinical Practice Guideline: Age-Related Hearing Loss” which published in the May 2024 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. They discuss the recommendations for screening of hearing loss and the pros and cons for different treatment options of age-related hearing loss. Click here to read the full article.

Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, is joined by senior author Anne C. Kane, MD, and Associate Editor Michael J. Brenner, MD for a discussion of the article “Otolaryngology Applicant Perspectives on In-person and Virtual Residency Interviews", which published in the April 2024 issue of Otlaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. They discuss the pros and cons of conducting residency interviews either in-person or virtually, including the impacts of in-person interviews on underrepresented applicants. Click here to read the full article.

Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, is joined by author Cecelia C Damask, DO and author Christine M. Reger, DNP, CRNP for a discussion of the implications for non-otolaryngologists of the “Clinical Practice Guideline on Immunotherapy for Inhalant Allergy,” which published in the March 2024 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. They discuss how allergies impact patients' lives and how immunotherapy can improve their symptoms. Click here to read the full article.

Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, is joined by lead author Richard K. Gurgel, MD, MSC, and author Stacey L. Ishman, MD, MPH for a discussion of the implications for otolaryngologists of the “Clinical Practice Guideline on Immunotherapy for Inhalant Allergy,” which published in the March 2024 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. They discuss how the CPG came together over two years and what they discovered comparing different types of immunotherapy and the effects on different patient populations. Click here to read the full article.

Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, is joined by Associate Editor Michael J. Brenner, MD and Associate Editor and senior author John P. Dahl, MD, PhD, MBA for a discussion of the article “Reducing Pediatric Posttonsillectomy Opioid Prescribing: A Quality Improvement Initiative,” which published in the February 2024 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. They discuss how the researchers were able to reduce the numbers of opioid doses given to pediatric patients after adenotonsillectomy through standardized processes for prescribing. Click here to read the article.

Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, is joined by Associate Editor Jacob Hunter, MD, and senior author Jay F. Piccirillo, MD, for a discussion of the article “Identifying Predictors of Treatment Response in Meniere's Disease: A Clinical Severity Staging System,” which published in the January 2024 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Their conversation highlights how decreased vertigo severity, reduced comorbidity burden, and absence of hearing loss are associated with conservative treatment response in Meniere's disease. Click here to read the article.

Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, is joined by Associate Editor Jacob Hunter, MD, and co-author Anil K. Lalwani MD, for a discussion of the article “The Association of Hearing Loss With Active Music Enjoyment in Hearing Aid Users,” which published in the December 2023 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Their conversation highlights the effect of hearing aids on active music enjoyment in individuals with varying levels of hearing loss. Article: https://aao-hnsfjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ohn.473

Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, is joined by Associate Editor Babak Givi, MD, and lead author Leila J. Mady MD, PhD, MPH, to discuss “Gender Differences Among Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstructive Surgeons,” which published in the November 2023 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. The research used a survey that was sent to facial plastic and maxillofacial surgeons, in addition to microvascular surgeons, to gain a comprehensive understanding of what causes gender differences in the subspecialty. One takeaway of note was that there were no gender differences when it came to training and practice patterns. Another revealed gender differences when explaining changes in practice—for men, the reasons related to career advancement; for women, the reasons related to burnout, usually related to work-life balance and especially if they have children.

Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, is joined by Associate Editor Raymond L. Chai, MD, and lead author Julia E. Noel, MD, to discuss “Time-Driven Activity-Based Cost Comparison of Thyroid Lobectomy and Radiofrequency Ablation,” which published in the October 2023 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Noel and her coauthors used time-driven activity-based cost methodology to drill down the details that reveal radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a more cost-effective treatment modality. They looked at the entire treatment cycle for both lobectomy and RFA— from initial visit in clinic through the procedure and postoperative visit—to determine cost data for the hospital.

Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, hosts Associate Editor Michael J. Brenner, MD, and lead author Ryan N. Heffelfinger, MD, for a conversation about the article “Recovery Benefit With Total Intravenous Anesthesia in Patients Receiving Rhinoplasty,” which published in the September 2023 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. This wide-ranging discussion covers outcomes of less nausea and vomiting for patients receiving TIVA, cost of TIVA, and data related to the environmental impact of TIVA vs. inhalational agents. Click here to read the article.

Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, is joined by Associate Editor Thomas Q. Gallagher, DO, and lead author Sarah Nuss, BS, for a discussion of the article “Developing Consensus on Priority Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Conditions and Procedures,” which published in the August 2023 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. This study was done in collaboration with the Global OHNS Initiative and used the Delphi method to capture consensus lists through survey participants representative of the seven World Bank regions. Click here to read the article.

Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, Associate Editor James “Whit” Mims, MD, and lead author Ameen Amanian, MD, MSE, discuss “The Evolution and Application of Artificial Intelligence in Rhinology: A State of the Art Review.” The article, published in the July 2023 issue of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, provides a good introduction to what AI can do within the context of rhinology. One podcast highlight fleshes out the AI nomenclature and provides examples within rhinology of machine learning and deep learning, both of which fall under the AI domain. AI for diagnosis and AI for treatment outcomes are explained as are the limits of AI within the high stakes of patient care, including how AI will never replace the personal touch only clinicians can provide. Click here to read the article.

Join Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, for a compelling discussion of “Individuals Experiencing Homelessness: A Systematic Review of Otolaryngology-Related Health Needs and Community-Based Interventions,” which published in the June 2023 issue of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Associate Editor Michael J. Brenner, MD; senior author Antoine Eskander MD, ScM, FRCSC; and lead author and recent graduate Dorsa Mavedatnia, MD, take part in the discussion of this literature review on otolaryngology health needs and interventions for populations, both adult and pediatric, experiencing homelessness.

Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, hosts a rich discussion of “Current Management of Subcondylar Fractures: A Systematic Review,” which published in the May 2023 issue of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Lead author Kalpesh Vakharia, MD, and Associate Editor Babak Givi, MD, join Dr. Schmalbach in a conversation that delves into the approaches used for subcondylar fractures when treating facial trauma. This systematic review provides a resource for surgeons and demonstrates a need for more research in this area. Click here to read the article.

Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, hosts a discussion on “Expert Consensus Statement: Management of Dysphagia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients,” which published in the April 2023 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Joining the conversation are authors Maggie A. Kuhn MD, MAS, and M. Boyd Gillespie MD, MSc, and Associate Editor Lee M. Akst, MD. This ECS is the result of a multidisciplinary team comprising experts who reached consensus on recommendations that fill existing clinical practice knowledge gaps. Also discussed are the statements that did not reach consensus, particularly those around the use of reactive and prophylactic feeding tubes. Click here to read the article.

Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, hosts this podcast on the article “Sponsorship and Negotiation for Women Otolaryngologists at Midcareer: A Content Analysis,” which published in the March 2023 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Coauthors Janice L. Farlow, MD, PhD, and Sonya Malekzadeh, MD, along with Associate Editor Chau T. Nguyen, MD, join Dr. Schmalbach for a compelling discussion around the need for midcareer women otolaryngologists to gain knowledge about sponsorship and negotiation. Click here to read the full article.

Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, hosts this podcast on “Expert Consensus Statement: Management of Pediatric Persistent Obstructive Sleep Apnea After Adenotonsillectomy,” which published in the February 2023 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Joining Dr. Schmalbach in conversation are lead author and chair of the expert panel, Stacey L. Ishman, MD, MPH, and coauthor Stephen C. Maturo, MD. This ECS focuses on pediatric patients (between ages 2 and 18) with persistent OSA and on those with recurrent OSA who underwent previous tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy, but OSA came back. Rich discussion occurs around how consensus statements concentrate on quality opportunities that exist and areas on which experts agree to put forth best practices. Click here to read the full article.

Join Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery’s Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, as she discusses the article “Reimbursement Trends in Pediatric Otolaryngology From 2000 to 2020: A CMS Physician Fee Schedule Analysis” with senior author Jay R. Shah, MD, and Associate Editor Thomas Q. Gallagher, DO. This engaging conversation touches on Common Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, relative value units, reevaluation of CPT codes, and trends in reimbursements. Click here to read the full article.

This podcast highlights a systematic review to determine safety of cochlear implantation in pediatric patients 12 months and younger. This research was published in the December 2022 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, the official journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis involving 269 studies suggest that cochlear implantation in patients 12 months and younger is safe with similar rates of complications to older cohorts. Click here to read the full article