Fast-Tracking of Publication Times of Otolaryngology Papers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction  The outbreak of COVID-19 has produced an unprecedented number of trials and articles. Objective  To study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (ORL-HNS) journal processing times. Methods  Original papers search of published in selected ORL-HNS journals in terms of times from submission-to-acceptance (S-A), acceptance-to-first online publication (A-P), and submission-to-online publication (S-P). Papers were divided into those published in the pre-COVID-19 era and those during the COVID-19 era. The latter were further divided into unrelated to COVID-19 and related to COVID-19. Results  A total of 487 articles from 5 selected ORL-HNS journals were included, of which 236 (48.5%) were published during the pre-COVID-19 era and 251 (51.5%) were published during the COVID-19 era. Among them, 180 (37%) papers were not related to COVID-19, and 71 (14.5%) were related to COVID-19. The S-A duration of COVID-19-related articles was significantly shorter compared with that of papers submitted in the pre-COVID-19 era and to papers submitted in the COVID-19 era but unrelated to COVID-19 (median 6 to 34 days compared to 65 to 125 and 46 to 127, respectively) in all 5 journals. The most prominent reductions in S-A and S-P times were documented in the laryngology and otology/neurotology disciplines, respectively. Conclusions  Processing times of the included papers were significantly shorter in most of the selected ORL-HNS journals during the COVID-19 era compared with the pre-COVID-19 era. COVID-19-related papers were processed more rapidly than non-COVID-19-related papers. These findings testify to the possibility of markedly expediting S-P times and hopefully set a precedent for postpandemic publishing schedules. Level Of Evidence: 5.

Contemporary trends can be revealed in an enquiry of presentations at a surgical symposium

Aims

Ascertain whether a demographic analysis of the archives of an annual national meeting head and neck section could reflect contemporary issues in our specialty and compare the results with available analysis from other ORL-HNS meetings.

Materials and methods

A review of all accepted abstracts of Sylvester O’Halloran Symposium—H&N section, from 2005 to 2020.

Results

ORL-HNS was responsible for 77% of the accepted abstracts. Presentations on H&N Malignancy were predominantly from ORL-HNS (84%), while Thyroid presentations were divided with General Surgery (45%). Medical students have appeared in recent years and produced 4% of papers at the last meeting while more junior presenters are participating with an increasing female preponderance (ranging from 7 to 53%). The overall publication rate was 27%, where male authors had a rate of 28% and females 22%. Similar papers published subsequent to the relevant meeting were identified from other institutions in 40% of presentations.

Conclusion

This review of presentations at a surgical meeting provides an insight into contemporary issues involving our specialty and lays down markers or challenges for organisers and presenters alike. Presentations on H&N Malignancy have become almost exclusively ORL-HNS, while Thyroid presentations are becoming more valorised to General Surgery and Facial Plastics with our colleagues in Plastic Surgery and Maxillofacial. Our publication rate of 27% is similar to other ORL-HNS meetings. Approximately 10% are published over 5 years after the meeting but presenters should endeavour to publish earlier as others may usurp publication in up to 40% of presentations.

Trends and patterns in urgent pediatric otolaryngology inter-hospital referrals in Saudi Arabia

Objectives:

To assess trends in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (ORL-HNS) referrals among pediatric patients, and to address common urgent causes of ORL-HNS referrals in this population. Additionally, to give recommendations regarding these causes, and assessing the impacts of coronavirus desease-19 on such referrals.

Methods:

A retrospective descriptive study were the data was extracted from the referral system of the Saudi Ministry of Health (Ehalati), from 2019-2020. Pediatric patients from all hospitals across Saudi Arabia with problems related to ORL-HNS who have been referred urgently to other hospitals were included.

Results:

A total of 1318 urgent ORL-HNS referrals were collected. The average age of the sample was 6.5 years, with the unavailability of specialty being the major cause for referrals. Foreign bodies, recurrent epistaxis, and tracheostomy were also common clinical causes. The average time for accepting referrals was 21 hours. Most cases had medical or surgical intervention prior to referral. The Western region of Saudi Arabia was the most common sender and receiver of all referrals. In 2020, referrals decreased by 18.4%.

Conclusion:

Maternity and pediatric hospitals make up the largest number of referring hospitals for ORL-HNS urgent cases. Expanding ORL-HNS services has been recommended in highly demanding areas. standards for urgent ORL-HNS referrals may limit inappropriate urgent referrals.