RESUMEN
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.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por Coronavirus/epidemiología , Otorrinolaringólogos/estadística & datos numéricos , Neumonía Viral/epidemiología , Sistema de Registros/estadística & datos numéricos , Cirujanos/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto , Aerosoles , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Infecciones por Coronavirus/prevención & control , Infecciones por Coronavirus/transmisión , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Salud Laboral , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Otorrinolaringológicos/efectos adversos , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Otorrinolaringológicos/estadística & datos numéricos , Pandemias/prevención & control , Neumonía Viral/prevención & control , Neumonía Viral/transmisión , SARS-CoV-2 , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
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.
Asunto(s)
Adenoidectomía/efectos adversos , Hemoglobinas/metabolismo , Hierro/metabolismo , Tonsilectomía/efectos adversos , Tonsilitis/cirugía , Adolescente , Anemia/etiología , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Ferritinas/sangre , Hemoglobinas/análisis , Humanos , Lactante , Hierro/análisis , Masculino , Tonsila Palatina/cirugía , Complicaciones Posoperatorias , Estudios Prospectivos , Protoporfirinas/sangre , RecurrenciaRESUMEN
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.