Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Otolaryngology for April 2017. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Meeting Organizers Overlooking Qualified Female Scientists
FRIDAY, April 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Invited speakers at medical conferences tend to be disproportionately male, a disparity that can be addressed by actively preparing lists of potential speakers, according to a study published online April 18 in Nature Immunology.
Single-Payer Health System Bill Moves Forward in California
THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A proposal to replace private insurance with government-funded health care for all moved forward in California on Wednesday as Democrats on the Senate Health Committee voted to advance the measure.
Risk Factors in Six Areas Tied to Physician Burnout
THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Physician burnout factors include control, whether there is time to deliver excellent care, and whether the workplace is fair, according to a presentation at the Medical Group Management Association/American Medical Association 2017 Collaborate in Practice Conference, held April 9 to 11 in Chicago.
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Pollution Linked to Destructive Effect on Upper Sinonasal Airway
WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Exposure of the sinonasal airway barrier to chronic airborne particulate matter has destructive effects, including release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, according to an experimental study published online Feb. 28 in the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology.
Post-Op hsTnT Linked to 30-Day Mortality After Noncardiac Sx
TUESDAY, April 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Peak postoperative high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) is associated with increased risk of 30-day mortality among patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, according to a study published online April 25 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Primary Care Pediatrician Vital for Cleft Lip/Palate Care
TUESDAY, April 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For children with cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P), the primary care pediatrician has an important role, according to a clinical report published online April 24 in Pediatrics.
Only Select Incidental Thyroid Nodules Need Further Evaluation
MONDAY, April 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Only a few select incidental thyroid nodules require further evaluation, according to a review published online April 20 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
FDA Warns Against Children Taking Codeine, Tramadol
FRIDAY, April 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Children should not be given any medications containing codeine or tramadol due to risk of life-threatening breathing difficulties, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Thursday.
Surgeon Volume Impacts Parathyroidectomy Outcomes
FRIDAY, April 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Patients undergoing parathyroidectomy by high-volume surgeons have a lower rate of vocal cord paralysis compared to patients of low-volume surgeons, according to a study published online April 20 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Potential Benefits, Risks of OpenNotes Discussed
WEDNESDAY, April 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The benefits of sharing notes with patients include improved patient engagement and empowerment, while potential risks may include more phone calls, questions, and increased documentation time, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Dexamethasone Found to Be of Little Benefit in Acute Sore Throat
WEDNESDAY, April 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A single dose of oral dexamethasone only offers modest benefit in the treatment of acute sore throat, according a study published in the April 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Doctors Need to Be Mindful of What They Post on Social Media
MONDAY, April 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Young doctors often have unprofessional or offensive content on their Facebook profiles, according to a study published online April 9 in BJU International.
One in Five Post-Op Patients Need Unscheduled Help
MONDAY, April 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A sizable minority of patients need to make contact with health services after outpatient surgery, most often due to inadequate pain management, according to a study published online April 10 in Anesthesiology.
Web-Based Platform Better for Delivering Pre-Op Information
FRIDAY, April 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Attaining preoperative information from an interactive web-based platform is better than conventional brochure material for children aged 3 to 12 years and their parents, according to a research report published online April 10 in Pediatric Anesthesia.
Work Impairment Common in Uncontrolled Allergic Rhinitis
FRIDAY, April 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Data collected from a mobile phone app show that many patients with uncontrolled allergic rhinitis have some work impairment, according to a study published online April 7 in Allergy.
Surgery Often the Starting Point for Opioid Addiction
THURSDAY, April 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Certain surgery patients prescribed opioids for postoperative pain relief may face a higher risk for developing a persistent opioid addiction, according to research published online April 12 in JAMA Surgery.
$16 Billion Spent on Cosmetic Surgery by Americans in 2016
WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Americans spent $16 billion on cosmetic plastic surgery and minimally invasive procedures in 2016, according to a new report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Botulinum Toxin Promising for Burning Mouth Syndrome
TUESDAY, April 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Botulinum toxin can provide benefit for patients with burning mouth syndrome, according to a research letter published online April 11 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Novel Laser Device Effective for Nasal Telangiectasia Treatment
TUESDAY, April 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The TRASER (Total Reflection Amplification of Spontaneous Emission Radiation) device is a safe and effective option for treatment of nasal telangiectasias, according to a small study published online April 6 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Integrated E-Prescribing Can Cut Prescribing, Dispensing Errors
MONDAY, April 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — An integrated electronic medication prescribing (e-prescribing) and dispensing system can reduce prescribing and dispensing errors, according to a study published online March 30 in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research.
Fungal Lesions Can Mimic Neoplastic Growths on Tongue
MONDAY, April 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Fungal lesions can mimic neoplastic growths on the tongue, according to a case report published online April 5 in Pediatrics.
MACRA Changes Government Approach to Doctor Payment
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Implementation of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) has made fundamental changes to the government’s approach to physician payment, according to a March 27 policy brief published in Health Affairs.
Risk Adjustment, Reinsurance Transfer Offer Financial Benefit
THURSDAY, April 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Risk adjustment and reinsurance transfer programs seem to have been effective for increasing revenues at the expense of claims costs, according to research published in the March issue of Health Affairs.
Second Opinion Yields Different Diagnosis for 1 in 5 Patients
WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — One-fifth of patients who sought a second opinion recently at a single academic medical center had received a different diagnosis from their primary care providers, according to a study published online April 4 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
Red Cell Distribution Width Predicts Surgical Complications
WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In children undergoing adenotonsillectomy for sleep-disordered breathing, preoperative elevated red cell distribution width is associated with an increased risk of respiratory adverse events, according to research published online March 27 in Pediatric Anesthesia.
Doctors Must Be Wary of HIPAA Violations With Online Reviews
TUESDAY, April 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Physicians should be aware that responding to a negative health care review could potentially expose personal medical information, resulting in a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) violation, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Variation in Occupational Influenza Vaccination Coverage
TUESDAY, April 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — There is variation in influenza vaccination coverage by industry and occupation, including among health care personnel and other occupational groups who may have first priority to receive influenza vaccination during a pandemic (tier 1), according to a study published in the April 1 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.
Use of Health Literacy Tools Can Promote Shared Decision Making
MONDAY, April 3, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Use of health literacy tools is encouraged for facilitating shared decision making (SDM), according to an article published in the March issue of the AMA Journal of Ethics.
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