ENTtoday: February 2015

Disclosure of Adverse Outcomes Brings Ethical Challenges for Otolaryngologists

Considerations, responsibilities physicians face when informing patients, families of surgical complications, mishaps

Medicare Approves New Measure Groups in PQRS for Otolaryngology

Individual measures added for adult sinusitis, acute otitis externa will help otolaryngologists participate in Physician Quality Reporting System

Patients Demand Greater Access to Their Medical Information

Software developers of smartphone apps scramble to enhance patient access without sacrificing functionality, data security

Rise of Personal Health Records Stresses Need for Access to Complete Patient Information

Online portals, Apple’s HealthKit, other systems being developed to sync multiple electronic health records into a comprehensive patient profile

Tattoo Removal Can Extend Otolaryngologists’ Practice

Steep start-up costs, time-consuming marketing efforts should be considered before adding procedure to your practice

Is Nasopharyngoscopy Necessary in Adult-Onset Otitis Media with Effusion?

Nasopharyngoscopy is recommended for patients with otitis media with effusion and other signs, symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Are Antibiotics Indicated for Acute Sinusitis?

Routine antibiotic treatment in primary care setting offers little clinical benefit, and is associated with adverse effects including antibiotic resistance

Utility Measure Choice Affects Cost-Effectiveness Perception for Second Cochlear Implants

Does the choice of health utility measure affect the incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) when assessing the cost-effectiveness of bilateral cochlear implantation (CI)?

Intraoperative Nerve Latency Measurements Can Indicate Post-Op Neural Function

What is the normative amplitude and latency of the vagus, the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), and the external branch of superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN), and how do they indicate post-operative neural function?

Revisit Diagnoses, Rates Similar for Ambulatory and Children’s Hospital Tonsillectomies

How frequent are revisits following ambulatory pediatric tonsillectomy/adenotonsillectomy, and what are their characteristics?

Chemoprophylaxis for VTE following Head and Neck Surgery

Does venous thromboembolism prophylaxis reduce the incidence of venous thromboembolism after head and neck surgery?

Perioperative PPI Therapy Reduces Incidence of Pharyngocutaneous Fistula

Does perioperative proton pump inhibitor therapy reduce the incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistula?