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Otolaryngologists May Contract COVID-19 During Surgery

Physicians at the Stanford University School of Medicine and the Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery are warning otolaryngologists that they may be at high risk for contracting COVID-19. In separate statements, both organizations have noted that otolaryngologists may become infected with the new coronavirus through droplet spread that occurs during nose and […]

Marijuana Aids Progression of HPV-Positive Head and Neck Cancers by Activating Pathway, Study Reports

Cannabinoids activate a major cancer-causing pathway, p38 MAPK, in patients with human papillomavirus-positive head and neck cancers, according to a study published in Clinical Cancer Research in January. When turned on, the pathway prevents apoptosis, which allows increased growth and invasion of cancer cells, the researchers reported. “I am cautioning patients with HPV-related head and […]

New Guideline Aims to Promote Consistent Nosebleed Care

The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Foundation recently published a multidisciplinary clinical practice guideline on best practices in the diagnosis and treatment of nosebleeds. Nosebleeds affect up to 60% of people in the United States, accounting for o.5% of all ED visits and up to one-third of all otolaryngology-related ED visits, the […]

Many Aspects of the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak Still Unknown

On February 1, the United States declared the novel coronavirus outbreak, first identified in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, a public health emergency and began mandating a number of containment measures. These include travel advisories, airport screenings, and quarantine requirements that reflect both the rapid spread of the virus and the uncertainties about its evolution. […]

Audiologists Miss Many Candidates for Cochlear Implants

Many adult patients who are good candidates for cochlear implants are missed because of significant variation among audiologists in how patients are preoperatively assessed and unfamiliarity with the most current criteria for identifying patients, a new survey reports. The survey included responses from 92 US audiologists and the results show a wide variability in their […]

ACA Increased Insurance Coverage for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

The number of head and neck cancer patients covered by insurance grew significantly following implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a new study. “Overall, this study demonstrates an association between the ACA and increased insurance coverage for populations of head and neck cancer patients with historically limited access to care,” said the […]

General Surgery Residents Frequently Mistreated

General surgery residents encounter frequent mistreatment by patients as well as attending physicians that leads to burnout and suicidal thoughts. This is the finding of a cross-sectional national survey of general surgery residents, which found that more than 50% of general surgery residents report some form of mistreatment (N Engl J Med. 2019;381:1741-1752). Mistreatment included […]

California Seeks More Sleep for Students with Delayed School Start Times

In October, California passed the first law in the nation mandating later school start times for middle and high school students. Scheduled to be phased in over time, the law requires public middle schools to begin classes at 8 a.m. or later and high schools to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The later start […]

Pathology of Lung Disease Linked to Vaping

New research is homing in on what may underlie the vaping-linked lung disease that, as of December 4, 2019, has caused 2,291 hospitalizations and 48 deaths. When researchers at the Mayo Clinic reviewed lung biopsies of 17 patients with clinically suspected vaping-associated lung injury, they found that all suffered from an acute injury suggestive of […]