Objective: The aim of this study was to ascertain the relationship between Bethesda category and molecular mutation of thyroid nodules in patients undergoing thyroidectomy. Design: A retrospective cohort of patients who underwent thyroidectomy following needle biopsy and molecular profile testing was performed. Setting: Two tertiary care academic hospitals. Participants: Consecutive patients with a dominant thyroid nodule who underwent both USFNA and molecular profile testing followed by thyroidectomy were included in the study. Main Outcome and Measures: The main outcome was postoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancer and aggressivity of disease based on histopathological variants, nodal metastasis or extra-thyroidal extension. Associations between Bethesda category, molecular mutation and postoperative pathology was assessed using descriptive analysis and Chi-square testing. Results: 451 patients were included. 95.9% (93/97) of patients with a BRAFV600E mutation had a Bethesda category V or VI (P<0.001), and all had confirmed thyroid cancer on postoperative pathology. Those with H, K or N RAS or EIF1AX mutations, gene expression profiling (GEP) or copy number alterations showed an association with Bethesda categories III and IV (P≤0.01). Those with no identified molecular mutation had a lower incidence of aggressive thyroid cancer compared to those with an identified mutation (12.6% vs 44.3%, P<0.01). Conclusion: BRAFV600E mutations were associated with thyroid cancer subtypes known to be more aggressive. These findings may help thyroid specialists better identify aggressive thyroid nodules associated with indeterminate Bethesda categories.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was the evaluation of any alterations in the microvascular network of the nasal mucosa in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis and the investigation of potential correlations with olfactory acuity and serum levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme (sACE). Design: Patients’ nasal mucosa was examined with contact endoscopy (CE). A novel classification scheme for the microvascular pattern at the anterior septal mucosa (Little’s area) was introduced and implemented. Olfaction was tested using sniffin’sticks. Fifteen healthy subjects served as controls. Participants: 15 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis and sinonasal symptoms. Main outcome measures: Microvascular pattern at the anterior septal mucosa (Little’s area). Olfaction tested using sniffin’sticks. Setting: Tertiary referral medical centre. Results: The nasal microvascular network was disrupted under CE in most (14/15) patients, while in one patient no microvascular net could be detected. Moreover, hyposmia was documented in four patients and complete anosmia in one patient. In healthy subjects, a very strong correlation between vascular pattern of the mucosa and olfactory test results was found (r=0.93). Conclusions: Contact endoscopy findings show promise and should be further tested, to evaluate their validity as a surrogate marker of mucosal nasal inflammation in sarcoidosis patients with sinonasal symptoms. Vascular patterns of nasal mucosa and olfaction seem to be strong correlated.

Key Points • Transnasal Oesophagoscopy (TNO) is an approach to inspect the upper aerodigestive tract, especially in the head and neck cancer (HNCA) population that present with dysphagia. • Twenty-five (25) office-based TNO procedures were performed, with a same-day discharge rate of 96% (24/25) and no reported complications. • This case series is the first to compare preoperative and postoperative outcomes (EAT-10) following stricture dilatation using TNO in the UK. Our results show a statistically significant improvement in symptom severity (EAT-10 scores) (n=11, P=0.001). In the majority of these patients, strictures were due to post-radiation complications. Biopsy in 4/5 cases was sufficient for diagnosis/ruling out disease. Of these patients, 80% had a previous HNCA. • This study identifies the remit for a new ‘one-stop’ TNO service for suspected cancer referrals, of which a large proportion are patients with a previous HNCA. Surveillance, therapeutics and diagnostics can be achieved in a single visit. • Earlier staging or treatment may be achieved due to a fast turnover in clinic

Abstract Objective: Although various guidelines have been established for the management of antithrombotic therapy during surgical treatments, surgical tracheostomy (ST) under continued antithrombotic therapy (CAT) remains a challenge. We investigated the risk factors for complications after ST by focusing on CAT use during ST. Method: Patients’ medical records from 2009 to 2020 were reviewed in this retrospective study. We selected patients who underwent ST at the Department of Otolaryngology of the University of Tokyo Hospital. Patient demographics, complications, and blood test values were recorded and statistically analyzed to identify the risk factors for postoperative complications. Results: We identified 288 patients (median age: 64 years; 184 men [64%]), among whom 40 (median age: 67 years; 29 men [73%]) underwent CAT. Although the patients undergoing CAT had significantly higher values of activated partial thromboplastin time (p = 0.002) and prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (p = 0.006) than those of antithrombotic naïve patients, no statistically significant intergroup differences were observed in the risks of bleeding, infection, or subcutaneous emphysema. Instead, ST under local anesthesia (p = 0.01) and ST for airway emergency (p = 0.02) significantly increased the risk of early postoperative complications. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that ST under CAT can be safely performed without any increased risk of postoperative complications. Nevertheless, surgeons should be extra cautious about early complications after ST under local anesthesia without intubation or ST for airway emergency. Key points: 1. We aimed to investigate the risk factors for complications after ST by focusing on CAT use during ST. 2. Patients undergoing CAT had significantly higher values of APTT and PT-INR than those of antithrombotic naïve patients. 3. ST under CAT can be safely performed without any increased risk of postoperative complications. 4. ST under local anesthesia and airway emergency was a risk factor for complications after ST. 5. Among the complications, subcutaneous emphysema was significantly more frequent in ST under local anesthesia and under airway emergency.

Objectives: To assess the cohort of patients undergoing sialendoscopic intervention for improvement of symptoms and gland-related quality of life at long-term follow up. Design: retrospective review of medical records with a prospective follow-up by questionnaire. Methods: All patients undergoing sialendoscopy between March 2008 and June 2020 were analyzed in detail regarding indications, technical aspects and postoperative course. To maximize follow-up, patients also received a questionnaire by e-mail. Results: 272 sialendoscopies were performed in 221 patients. Median follow-up time was 37 months. The sialendoscopies were performed in 130 patients for lithiasis, in 66 for stenosis, in 14 for recurrent parotitis of childhood, in 8 for recurrent sialadenitis of unknown origin and in 3 for radio-iodine induced sialadenitis. Complications occurred in 11 of 272 sialendoscopies (4%). Those were iatrogenic perforations, temporary lingual nerve paresthesia and swelling of the floor of the mouth. 53% of patients returned the questionnaire, for a total of 146 evaluable sialendoscopies. The majority of the responders indicated that sialendoscopy had improved their symptoms (83.6%). Salivary glands could be preserved in 89% of the responder group. The highest percentage of patients reporting residual symptoms was found in the RPC group (81.3%) and the lowest in the lithiasis group (16.2%). Besides age, no statistical differences in demographic and pathological features between the responder and non-responder groups were found, supporting generalization of the responders’ results to the entire cohort. Conclusions: This study confirms the good long-term outcomes of sialendoscopic interventions in patients with chronic sialadenitis of different etiologies and a high rate of gland preservation.

Objective: Otitis media (OM) is a common disease in childhood, but much less prevalent in adults, where it, however, tends to have a less benign course. The incidence of OM in children has decreased in recent years, which might be partly explained by the introduction of watchful waiting strategies, and by the introduction of conjugate pneumococcal vaccination (PCV) in children. Adult OM has been sparsely studied, and it is not known whether a herd immunity effect has been achieved after the introduction of PCV. Watchful waiting is usually not considered in adult OM patients. The purpose of this study was to use a national database to investigate the incidence of adult OM in Sweden during the last 20 years. Design: The yearly number of patients aged 20 and over, admitted to hospital with OM was obtained through a national database from 2000 to 2019. The corresponding numbers for outpatients were obtained between 2005 and 2019. Main outcome measures: incidence of acute otitis media in adults in in- and outpatient care. Results: Incidence rates decreased steadily during the study period. Comparing data on hospitalised patients from 2016-2019 to 2005-2008 (PCV was introduced in 2009), the incidence rate ratio was 0.49 (95% CI 0.45-0.53); p<0.0001. The corresponding figures for outpatients were 0.62 (95% CI 0.61-0.63); p<0.0001. The decrease in hospital admissions was most pronounced among younger patients, whereas the opposite was true for outpatient visits. Conclusions: There has been a continuous decrease in incidence of adult patients admitted to hospital with OM in Sweden during the last twenty years. Outpatient visits for OM have declined since 2009.

Key points 1. This is the first report of adult primary herpetic oropharyngitis in the view point of the differences between the two types of herpes simplex virus (HSV). 2. 41 (25 type 1 and 16 type 2) HSV specific antigen positive cases among 68 immunoserologically confirmed adult HSV primary infection cases were investigated. 3. Significantly low incidence of oral lesions and high incidence of nausea were seen in HSV type 2 oropharyngitis cases, that might mean particular correlation vagus nerve and HSV type 2. 4. Significantly increased white blood cell count and high C-reacative protein value were seen in oropharyngitis by HSV type 2. 5. HSV type 2 possibly cause more severe symptoms and higher inflammatory reactions than type 1, without oral lesions.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of ciprofloxacin 0.3% antibiotic eardrops in preventing clinically significant postoperative otorrhea and tube obstruction following grommet insertion in children. Design: 3-arm double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Randomisation in 1:1:1 ratio into two interventional and one control arm. The interventional groups received either 5 drops of topical ciprofloxacin 0.3% eardrops in each ear intraoperatively or intraoperatively and for 5 days postoperatively. The control group received no drops. Patients were assessed by blinded assessors at 6 weeks postoperatively. Setting: The study was conducted in a large tertiary health network in Melbourne, Australia. Participants: All children, 17 years and under, undergoing bilateral MEVT surgery with or without concurrent upper airway surgery for recurrent acute otitis media and chronic otitis media with effusion were approached. Main Outcome Measures: Presence of postoperative otorrhea and ventilation tube obstruction at 6 weeks postoperatively. Results: 256 pediatric patients completed the study with a median age of 4.02 years. 153 participants were male. Intraoperative antibiotics were more effective than control in preventing otorrhea (RR=0.341, 95%CI 0.158–0.738, NNT= 11.25, p=.006). Postoperative antibiotics were more effective than control in preventing ventilation tube obstruction (RR=0.424, 95%CI 0.193 to 0.930, NNT=14.7 p=.032). Conclusion: Intraoperative topical ciprofloxacin was effective at preventing early postoperative otorrhea and a prolonged course was effective at preventing ventilation tube obstruction. Future studies on this topic should seek to clarify whether particular subgroups of patients benefit more from prophylactic topical antibiotics and model for cost-effectiveness. Trial Registration: This trial was registered prospectively on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12618001082291) on the 28th of June 2018. Available at URL: https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375306

1. We focused on 175 patients operated on for otosclerosis. There were 89 in group 1 (preoperative 4000 Hz BC threshold better than 2000 Hz) and 86 in group 2 (preoperative 2000 Hz BC threshold better than 4000 Hz). 2. Preoperatively, there was no significant difference in terms of average bone conduction (BC) thresholds, average air conduction (AC) thresholds and air-bone gap (ABG) between the two groups. 3. Three months and 1 year after surgery, group 1 had better audiometric outcomes than group 2 in terms of average AC and BC thresholds and ABG. 4. Postoperative BC gain was better in group 1 than group 2, particularly at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz. 5. When the 4000 Hz BC threshold was preoperatively impaired (group 2), it was not worsened after stapes surgery. This was not the case in group 1.

Objective: Epistaxis is the most common otolaryngological emergency and up to one third of patients in treated on an inpatient basis take oral anticoagulants (OAC). Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC), an OAC subgroup, have been on the market since 2010 and are being increasingly prescribed due to the cardiologic and hematologic guidelines that favour them over vitamin K antagonists (VKA), the older of the OAC subgroups. The present study aims to investigate which subgroup of epistaxis patients taking OACs has a more favourable outcome. Design/Setting: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed according to the PRISMA 2020 statement using the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases. Continuous data was analysed and standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated according to Hedges’ g. Dichotomous data was analysed and the Mantel-Haenszel method was applied to establish the odds ratio (OR). Heterogeneity was assessed according to the I2 statistics. Main Outcome/Results: A total of 8 reports covering 1390 patients were included in the final synthesis. The pooled analysis demonstrated significantly shorter hospital stays in the DOAC group (SMD= -0.22, 95% CI -0.42 to -0.02, P= .03) and a significantly higher rate of posterior bleeding in the VKA group (OR= .39, 95% CI .23 to .68, P= .001). No statistically significant differences with regard to recurrence rates, admission rates, the need for transfusion, or surgical intervention (P= .57, .12, .57 and .38 respectively) were found. Conclusion: According to this meta-analysis, epistaxis patients taking DOACs have a more favourable outcome than patients taking VKAs.

Importance: Tumor encasement of the common carotid artery (CCA) and/or the internal carotid artery (ICA) in patients with advanced head and neck tumors represents a significant surgical challenge. At present, there are few reports on the treatment approach that can achieve the maximal oncological resection and reduce the difficulty of operation without affecting the carotid artery blood flow. Objective: To examine whether the combination of oncologic complete tumor resection and intravascular covered stent placement is more advantageous in the management of advanced head and neck cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants: Five patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (AHNSCC) invading one side of the carotid artery were retrospectively enrolled. The contrast-enhanced computed Tomography (CT) and angiography were performed to assess the severity of extrinsic tumor compression to the carotid artery. Covered stent was placed intra-arterially at least 1 cm proximal and distal beyond the area of tumor involvement. The tumor and the involved carotid artery were resected, and pectoralis major flap transfer was utilized for coverage of the great vessels supported with intra-arterial covered stent. Main Outcomes and Measures: Efficacy of oncologic complete tumor resection combined with endovascular stent placement. Results: The post-stenting demonstrated an improvement in the appearance and caliber of the affected carotid artery. Four patients experienced transient bradycardia and hypotension. All five patients underwent R0 resection. Postoperatively, the flap all had rich vascularity and healing. Three patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiation. With median follow-up 6.5 months, one patient died of multiple organ failures at 6.5 months after surgery; one patient developed tracheal stoma recurrence and treated with salvaged surgery; the three other patients had no disease recurrence in their last follow-ups. Conclusions and Relevance: Surgical resection with intravascular covered stent placement could potentially achieve the maximal oncological resection without compromise carotid artery blood flow in patients with carotid artery encased head and neck cancer.

Abstract： Background: Baha Attract System was designed as non-skin penetrating bone conduction implant to minimize skin complication. However, there were insufficient studies on its long-time acoustic outcome and safety in microtia patients with auricle reconstruction surgeries, who have thinner retroauricular subcutaneous layer and theoretically vulnerable skin at the implant side. Objectives: To analysis the long-term hearing performance and soft tissue complications of Baha@ Attract System in microtia population. Study Design & setting: A prospective cohort study at single tertiary referral center. Patients: Twenty Mandarin-speaking patients with congenital bilateral microtia who were underwent Baha@ Attract implantation with or without auricle reconstruction surgeries simultaneously. Main Outcome Measure(s): Comparative analysis of audiological test results including hearing thresholds and speech recognition in quiet and in noise were pre- and post-operatively performed. subjective benefit as measured with the SSQ Scale. Soft tissue outcomes were monitored and documented. Results: The mean follow-up time was 36.11±3.30 months. Significant and stable improvements in hearing threshold and speech understanding in noise and quiet were demonstrated with aided condition. Subject evaluation revealed high level of patients’ satisfaction with the amplification in all the subscales. Adverse events including skin necrosis increased after one year post-operatively. Soft tissue evolution including sin thinning, erythema, epidermis atrophy, soft tissue atrophy, skin necrosis was seen or once developed in most of the participants. However, prevalence of severe soft tissue complication was not higher to non-microtia population. Conclusions: Baha@ Attract System provides favorable and stable hearing improvements for microtia patients. Combining plastic surgeries with implantation will not increase the prevalence of soft tissue complication. However, long-term soft tissue problems should be highly aware of even after one year post implantation. Key words: Baha Attract, microtia, hearing, soft tissue, skin necrosis

Key points - 3D exoscopy is an emerging visualisation technique designed to improve ergonomics and image quality during surgeries. - We present a novel application of the VITOM® 3D exoscope in cochlear implantation (IDEAL Stage 2a prospective case series). - The system enabled high-quality visualisation during both posterior tympanotomy and electrode insertion. - Both the chief surgeon and the staff members rated the ergonomics of the system highly. - 3D exoscopy is a useful alternative to conventional microscopy, but the two techniques remain to be directly compared in larger studies.

Five Key Points • Subglottic stenosis (SGS) is the commonest tracheobronchial manifestation of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), with early recognition and treatment key to preventing its vasculitic progression and fibrosis. • Previous studies have shown SGS to be the first feature of GPA in 4% of cases. It is not uncommon to see negative biochemical (10% ANCA negative) and negative histological biopsies (77% of head and neck specimens are negative). • Our management strategy emphasized rapid SGS-GPA treatment with limited surgical manipulation of the airway and systemic immunosuppression (IS) to prevent evolution of SGS & concurrent systemic vasculitic relapse. • In our study early multi-disciplinary team involvement to deliver induction IS in the presence of active SGS-GPA led to a procedure free interval (PFI) of 31.3 months. This is a significant increase compared to other published studies. • Nineteen percent (4/21) of the cohort did not require any surgical input following induction IS.

Objectives The aim of this study was to compare patient reported pain scores and analgesia requirements between endoscopic and microscopic ear surgery. Design Prospective cohort study Setting Secondary care setting from June 2017 to December 2020. Participants Patients undergoing ear surgery performed by a single surgeon. Main outcome measures The primary outcome measure was patient reported pain as recorded by a visual analogue scale (VAS) at days 1,2,3 and 7 post-operatively. Secondary outcome measure was post-operative analgesia requirement. Results Overall, forty-nine patients encompassing 65.3 % (32/49) endoscopic and 34.7% (17/49) microscopic procedures were audited. Endoscopic procedures have statistically significant lower VAS pain threshold outcomes when compared against the microscopic procedures on post- operative day one (endoscopic group median VAS 1.5 [0.00;11.5] mm versus microscopic group median VAS 27.0 [15.0;65.0] mm); to day seven (endoscopic group median VAS 0.5 [0.00;2.75] mm versus microscopic group median VAS 9.00 [2.00;52.0] mm).  Requirement for analgesia was greater in the microscopic group at day one compared to the endoscopic group (64.5 %, 20/31 endoscopic group vs. 100 %, 17/17 microscopic; p= 0.004). Conclusion Endoscopic ear surgery is less painful and requires less analgesia in the initial post-operative period than microscopic surgery in this cohort. The overall results of this study are useful for pre-operative patient counselling and pain management in the clinical setting. Given the differing applications of microscopic and endoscopic ear surgery, further research is required to study the influence of bone removal, type of operation, and incision type on pain after ear surgery.

Objectives: We aimed to characterise the use of tracheostomy procedures for all COVID-19 critical care patients in England and to understand how patient factors and timing of tracheostomy affected outcomes. Design: A retrospective observational study using exploratory analysis of hospital administrative data. Setting: All 500 National Health Service hospitals in England. Participants: All hospitalised COVID-19 patients aged ≥ 18 years in England between March 1st and October 31st, 2020 were included. Main outcomes and measures: This was a retrospective exploratory analysis using the Hospital Episode Statistics administrative dataset. Multilevel modelling was used to explore the relationship between demographic factors, comorbidity and use of tracheostomy and the association between tracheostomy use, tracheostomy timing and the outcomes. Results: In total, 2,200 hospitalised COVID-19 patients had a tracheostomy. Tracheostomy utilisation varied substantially across the study period, peaking in April-June 2020. In multivariable modelling, for those admitted to critical care, tracheostomy was most common in those aged 40-79 years, in males and in people of Black and Asian ethnic groups and those with a history of cerebrovascular disease. In critical care patients, tracheostomy was associated with lower odds of mortality (OR: 0.514 (95% CI 0.443 to 0.596), but greater length of stay (OR: 41.143 (95% CI 30.979 to 54.642). In patients that survived, earlier timing of tracheostomy (≤ 14 days post admission to critical care) was significantly associated with shorter length of stay. Conclusions: Tracheostomy is safe and advantageous for critical care COVID-19 patients. Early tracheostomy may be associated with better outcomes, such as shorter length of stay, compared to late tracheostomy.

Introduction: Necrotising otitis externa (NOE) is a serious, progressive infection of the external ear canal. If untreated, it can invade into temporal bone, skull-base and surrounding tissue resulting in cranial nerve palsies, neurological infections and death. Patients present with unremitting, severe otalgia, otorrhoea and oedematous ear canals containing granulation. Surgery has a limited role; the mainstay of treatment involves a long course of intravenous antibiotics. Currently, there is no data on the complications of antibiotic treatment for NOE. This project aims to provide evidence on the nature/frequency of severe treatment-related complications requiring a change in antibiotic regime. Methods: A retrospective 5-year cohort analysis was performed on 64 patients who were treated for confirmed NOE with intravenous antibiotic therapy. Clinical notes, blood results and antibiotic prescriptions were documented and analysed. Results: Average duration of treatment was 11 weeks (range=38 weeks). There was an average of 2.1 antibiotic regimes per patient with 10 cases requiring inpatient admission due to treatment-related complications. 63% of treatment changes were directly related to adverse effects of intravenous antibiotics. Drug allergy/intolerance (n=18) and clinical deterioration i.e. Lack of symptomatic improvement and/or worsening inflammatory markers (n=18), were the most common reasons for antibiotic change. Neutropenia, deranged liver function tests and acute kidney injury were also recognised adverse effects of treatment. Conclusion: This study provides the first evidence on the notable frequency of antibiotic-related complications in NOE patients. Larger, multicentre studies are required in the future to validate our findings and will better inform both clinicians and patients of the risks of treatment.

Objective To determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute admissions and inpatient activity at a tertiary referral centre. Design Retrospective review of coding-based inpatient electronic records. Setting An otolaryngology and head and neck surgery department at a UK major trauma and tertiary referral centre. Participants Otolaryngology patients admitted as an emergency over a period of 12 months pre-COVID19 (01/04/2019-31/03/2020) and 10 months post-COVID19 (01/04/2020-23/01/2021). Main outcome measures Baseline characteristics, admission rates, length of stay (LoS), overall mortality and 30-day mortality. Results 1844 records were reviewed; (1293 pre-COVID19, 551 post-COVID19). Admissions across all age groups were reduced, with an increase in mean age from 40.4 to 47.4 years (p=0.001). LoS remained unchanged (3.74 vs 3.82 days, p=0.251). Epistaxis remained the most common presentation, with an increased LoS compared to the pre-COVID19 cohort. GP referrals reduced from 18.0% to 4.2% (n=233 vs n=23, p<0.001) and ED referrals proportionally increased from 60.9% to 75.3%, n=787 vs n=417, p<0.001). Critical care admissions were higher in the post-COVID19 cohort (OR 1.82 (1.11-2.99) [95% CI], p=0.017). There was no significant difference in overall mortality between groups (n=74, 5.7% vs. n=33, 6.0%; p=0.844). Thirty-day mortality increased from 0.9% (n=12) pre-COVID19 to 2.3% (n=13) post-COVID19 (p=0.03). Conclusions This study demonstrates significant changes and a reduction in acute otolaryngology presentations. Our findings suggest that sicker, frailer patients were admitted during the pandemic. This study highlights important considerations for acute otolaryngology care moving forward after the pandemic.