Postdischarge Complications Predict Reoperation and Mortality after Otolaryngologic Surgery

Objectives

(1) Determine procedure-specific rates of postdischarge complications (PDCs) and their risk factors in the first 30 days following inpatient otolaryngologic surgery. (2) Evaluate association between PDCs and risk of reoperation and mortality.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2005-2011).

Subjects and Methods

We identified 48,028 adult patients who underwent inpatient otolaryngologic surgery. Outcomes of interest included complications, reoperation, and mortality in the first 30 days following surgery. Statistical analysis included chi-square, t tests, and multivariate regression.

Results

Laryngectomy, lip, and tongue/floor of mouth surgery had the highest PDC rates (8.0%, 7.4%, and 4.1%, respectively). Within the first 48 hours, week, and 2 weeks post discharge, 10%, 44%, and 73% of PDCs occurred, respectively. Common PDCs included surgical site infections (53.6%), other infections (37.4%), and venous thromboembolic events (7.4%). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that increasing age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.02), prolonged operative time (OR = 1.68; 95% CI, 1.39-2.03), hospital stay >1 day (OR = 1.49; 95% CI, 1.18-1.86), and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class ≥3 (OR = 1.45; 95% CI, 1.18-1.78) were independently associated with PDCs. Patients with PDCs were more likely to die (0.9% vs 0.1%, P < .001) or have a reoperation (10.4% vs 1.2%, P < .001).

Conclusion

This is the first study of overall postdischarge events after otolaryngologic surgery. PDC rates in otolaryngology occur soon after discharge, are procedure specific, and are associated with reoperation and mortality. Targeted procedure-specific triage and follow-up plans for high-risk patients may improve outcomes.

Post-discharge Complications Predict Reoperation and Mortality after Otolaryngology Surgery

Objectives:

1) Determine procedure-specific rates of post-discharge complications and their risk factors in the first 30 days following inpatient otolaryngology surgery. 2) Evaluate association between post-discharge complications and risk of reoperation.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study of the ACS-NSQIP database (2005-2011) was used to identify 48,028 adult patients who underwent one of eight groups of inpatient otolaryngology procedures and examine demographic and clinical characteristics. Outcomes of interest included postoperative complications, unplanned reoperation, and mortality in the first 30 days following surgery. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests, student’s t tests, and multivariate logistic regression.

Results:

Laryngectomy, lip, and tongue/floor of mouth surgery had the highest post-discharge complication rates (8.0%, 7.4%, and 4.1%, respectively). The most common complications were surgical site infections (46.4%), other infections (33.4%), and venous thromboembolic events (7.4%). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that increasing age (odds ratio [OR], 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-1.02), longer operative time (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.34-2.01), hospital stay >1 day (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.20-1.86), and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class >3 (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.19-1.79) were independently associated with post-discharge complications. Patients with complications were more likely to die (0.9% vs 0.1%, P< .001) or have a reoperation (10.4% vs 1.2%, P< .001). On multivariate analysis, post-discharge complications were independently associated with reoperation (OR, 6.55; 95% CI, 3.94-10.87).

Conclusions:

This is the first study of overall post-discharge events after otolaryngology surgery. Post-discharge complication rates in otolaryngology are procedure-specific and associated with reoperation. Targeted procedure-specific triage and follow-up plans for high-risk patients could improve outcomes.

Histologic grade as prognostic indicator for mucoepidermoid carcinoma: a population-level analysis of 2400 patients

BACKGROUND

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is an uncommon malignancy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest study investigating disease-specific survival (DSS) of parotid MEC and the first population-level study of the distribution of nodal metastases.

METHODS

Patients with MEC of the parotid gland were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (1988-2009).

RESULTS

We identified 2400 patients with MEC: 522 low grade, 1137 intermediate grade, and 741 high grade. Five-year DSS rates for low-grade, intermediate-grade, and high-grade MEC were 98.8%, 97.4%, and 67.0%, respectively (p < .001). Negative prognostic factors included high grade, increasing patient age, and tumor size, extraparenchymal extension, nodal metastases, and distant metastases. High-grade MEC was more likely to have lymph node metastases in levels I to III (34.0%) than low-grade (3.3%) and intermediate-grade MEC (8.1%; p < .001).

CONCLUSION

Grade influences the prognosis and distribution of nodal metastases. Results indicate that management guidelines should vary based on grade.

Parotid gland lymphoma: prognostic analysis of 2140 patients

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

Assess the demographic, clinical, and pathologic features of patients with parotid gland lymphoma and their prognostic importance using US population-based data.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

Patients were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program database between the years of 1973 and 2008, and individual characteristics were compared using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed and log-rank tests were performed.

RESULTS

We identified 2,140 patients with primary parotid gland lymphoma. Hodgkin lymphoma was found in 3.5% of patients. More common were non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes: marginal zone B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and diffuse large B cell lymphoma accounted for 27.9%, 25.8%, and 23.7% of cases, respectively. Survival was decreased with patient age over 50 years, increasing stage, male gender, non-Hodgkin histology, and status other than married. Of the patients, 72.0% received some form of surgery, and 136 patients had facial nerve sacrifice during parotidectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the predominant type of lymphoma seen in the parotid gland. Patient and histologic features determine survival, and surgery is often performed. Facial nerve sacrifice, which is contraindicated given the systemic nature of lymphoma and the role of chemotherapy and radiation in its treatment, is reported in 6.4% of patients with parotid gland lymphoma.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

2b.

Benign inverted papilloma with intracranial extension: prognostic factors and outcomes

We describe a case of benign inverted papilloma with intracranial extension treated with endoscopic resection combined with craniotomy. Intracranial involvement of inverted papilloma, in the absence of malignancy, is uncommon. We present an analysis of the literature identifying the characteristics and outcomes of benign intracranial inverted papilloma. PubMed database was searched using keywords intracranial, inverted or inverting, and papilloma. There are 17 reports of benign inverted papilloma with intracranial extension reported with a mean age of 49.2 years (range, 23 to 92 years), a female predominance, 22% of cases with an associated mucocele, and 60% recurrent disease. The most common sites of invasion are the frontal sinus or cribriform plate. The prognosis for benign intracranial inverted papilloma is dependent on the presence of dural invasion and the achievement of total resection. There are no reported recurrences after craniofacial resection with a mean follow-up of 7.9 years. Adjuvant radiation therapy has demonstrated benefit in cases of residual disease after resection. We expect that endoscopic resection, the standard treatment for sinonasal inverted papilloma, will be increasingly used in the presence of intracranial extension.

Vocal fold immobility and aspiration status: a direct replication study

The purpose of this direct replication study was to confirm the incidence of vocal fold immobility (VFI) and its relationship to pharyngeal dysphagia and aspiration. Using a single-group consecutively referred case series, a total of 2,650 participants underwent fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing between August 2003 and December 2007. Main outcome measures included overall incidence of VFI and aspiration status, with specific emphasis on age, gender, etiology and pharyngeal phase bolus flow characteristics, and side of VFI (right, left, or bilateral). These data were compared to and then combined with the original study (n = 1,452) for a total of 4,102 participants. Results indicated that the incidence of VFI was 4.3% (112/2,650), i.e., 27% (31/112) unilateral right, 58% (65/112) unilateral left, and 14% (16/112) bilateral. Incidence of aspiration was 22% (580/2,650). Of those with VFI, 40% (45/112) aspirated, i.e., 42% (13/31) unilateral right, 37% (24/65) unilateral left, and 50% (8/16) bilateral. An individual with VFI had 2.50 times the odds of aspirating as someone without VFI (95% CI = 1.86-3.37). For liquid aspiration, the odds ratio (OR) = 2.41 (95% CI = 1.77-3.28), and for puree aspiration, OR = 2.08 (95% CI = 1.47-2.93). Left VFI occurred most frequently due to surgical trauma. Liquid was aspirated more often than a puree. Males exhibited VFI more often than females. Side of VFI and age were not factors that increased the incidence of aspiration significantly. It was confirmed that VFI is not an uncommon finding during dysphagia testing and, when present, increased the odds of aspiration compared to a population already being evaluated for dysphagia.

UV radiation inhibits 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase levels in human skin: evidence of transcriptional suppression

Elevated levels of prostaglandins (PG) have been detected in the skin following UV radiation (UVR). PGs play an important role in mediating both the acute and the chronic consequences of UVR exposure. UVR-mediated induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) contributes to increased PG synthesis. In theory, reduced catabolism might also contribute to increased PG levels. 15-Hydroxyprostaglandin deyhdrogenase (15-PGDH), a tumor suppressor gene, plays a major role in PG catabolism. In this study, we investigated whether UVR exposure suppressed 15-PGDH while inducing COX-2 in keratinocytes and in human skin. UVR exposure caused dose-dependent induction of COX-2, suppression of 15-PGDH, and increased prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production in HaCaT cells. Exposure to UVR suppressed the transcription of 15-PGDH, resulting in reduced 15-PGDH mRNA, protein, and enzyme activities. UVR exposure induced Slug, a repressive transcription factor that bound to the 15-PGDH promoter. Silencing Slug blocked UVR-mediated downregulation of 15-PGDH. The effects of UVR were also evaluated in the EpiDerm skin model, a three-dimensional model of human epidermis. Here too, COX-2 levels were induced and 15-PGDH levels suppressed following UVR exposure. Next, the effects of UVR were evaluated in human subjects. UVR treatment induced COX-2 while suppressing 15-PGDH mRNA in the skin of 9 of 10 subjects. Collectively, these data suggest that reduced expression of 15-PGDH contributes to the elevated levels of PGs found in the skin following UVR exposure. Possibly, agents that prevent UVR-mediated downregulation of 15-PGDH will affect the acute or the long-term consequences of UVR exposure, including nonmelanoma skin cancer.

Effects of cigarette smoke on the human oral mucosal transcriptome

Use of tobacco is responsible for approximately 30% of all cancer-related deaths in the United States, including cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract. In the current study, 40 current and 40 age- and gender-matched never smokers underwent buccal biopsies to evaluate the effects of smoking on the transcriptome. Microarray analyses were carried out using Affymetrix HGU133 Plus 2 arrays. Smoking altered the expression of numerous genes: 32 genes showed increased expression and 9 genes showed reduced expression in the oral mucosa of smokers versus never smokers. Increases were found in genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism, oxidant stress, eicosanoid synthesis, nicotine signaling, and cell adhesion. Increased numbers of Langerhans cells were found in the oral mucosa of smokers. Interestingly, smoking caused greater induction of aldo-keto reductases, enzymes linked to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced genotoxicity, in the oral mucosa of women than men. Striking similarities in expression changes were found in oral compared with the bronchial mucosa. The observed changes in gene expression were compared with known chemical signatures using the Connectivity Map database and suggested that geldanamycin, a heat shock protein 90 inhibitor, might be an antimimetic of tobacco smoke. Consistent with this prediction, geldanamycin caused dose-dependent suppression of tobacco smoke extract-mediated induction of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 in vitro. Collectively, these results provide new insights into the carcinogenic effects of tobacco smoke, support the potential use of oral epithelium as a surrogate tissue in future lung cancer chemoprevention trials, and illustrate the potential of computational biology to identify chemopreventive agents.

UVR exposure sensitizes keratinocytes to DNA adduct formation

UV radiation (UVR) and exposure to tobacco smoke, a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), have been linked to skin carcinogenesis. UVR-mediated activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) stimulates the transcription of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1, which encode proteins that convert PAH to genotoxic metabolites. We determined whether UVR exposure sensitized human keratinocytes to PAH-induced DNA adduct formation. UVR exposure induced CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 in HaCaT cells, an effect that was mimicked by photooxidized tryptophan (aTRP) and FICZ, a component of aTRP. UVR exposure or pretreatment with aTRP or FICZ also sensitized cells to benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P)-induced DNA adduct formation. alphaNF, an AhR antagonist, suppressed UVR-, aTRP-, and FICZ-mediated induction of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 and inhibited B[a]P-induced DNA adduct formation. Treatment with 17-AAG, an Hsp90 inhibitor, caused a marked decrease in levels of AhR; inhibited UVR-, aTRP-, and FICZ-mediated induction of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1; and blocked the sensitization of HaCaT cells to B[a]P-induced DNA adduct formation. FICZ has been suggested to be a physiologic ligand of the AhR that may have systemic effects. Hence, studies of FICZ were also carried out in MSK-Leuk1 cells, a model of oral leukoplakia. Pretreatment with alpha-naphthoflavone or 17-AAG blocked FICZ-mediated induction of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1, and suppressed the increased B[a]P-induced DNA adduct formation. Collectively, these results suggest that sunlight may activate AhR signaling and thereby sensitize cells to PAH-mediated DNA adduct formation. Antagonists of AhR signaling may have a role in the chemoprevention of photocarcinogenesis.

Nuclear imaging and minimally invasive surgery in the management of hyperparathyroidism

Primary hyperparathyroidism is the most common cause of hypercalcemia, and the treatment is primarily surgical. Because of biochemical screening, more patients now present with asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism, and consensus guidelines have been developed for the treatment of these patients. There is now considerable interest in minimally invasive approaches to the treatment of hyperparathyroidism. Sestamibi scanning as a localizing study, used in combination with anatomic imaging and intraoperative rapid parathyroid hormone assays, has enabled focused surgical approaches. Patients with localizing studies that indicate a single parathyroid adenoma are candidates for such approaches, including unilateral neck exploration, minimally invasive single-gland exploration, or endoscopic exploration instead of the traditional approach of bilateral neck exploration. Nuclear imaging is also critical to the successful management of patients with persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism.

Reconstructive Application of the Endotine Suspension Devices

OBJECTIVE

To illustrate the potential reconstructive opportunities that the Endotine suspension devices can provide for patients with soft tissue ptosis secondary to facial nerve dysfunction, posttraumatic deformity, and postablative deformity.

METHODS

A review was performed of 23 Endotine midface and eyebrow suspension devices in 10 patients with facial nerve sacrifice, facial trauma, or tumor extirpation.

RESULTS

A total of 12 midface and 11 eyebrow suspension devices were used in 10 patients. All patients had improvement in soft tissue support and contour. The mean follow-up time was 10 months (range, 1-24 months). No major complications were noted. One patient had recurrent cellulitis secondary to maxillary sinusitis, and another had recurrent cellulitis that responded to treatment with intravenous antibiotics. The Endotine midface device was resistant to infection and did not require removal in either case. One patient requested revision surgery for resuspension of the eyebrow.

CONCLUSIONS

The Endotine midface and eyebrow suspension devices have been shown to be excellent methods of fixation in cosmetic eyebrow-lifts and midface-lifts. We have demonstrated that the Endotine device may be a good reconstructive option for patients with soft tissue ptosis in a multitude of scenarios.