Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America

Children with tracheostomies have multiple challenges with respect to achieving normal deglutition. These children may have underlying neurologic or genetic conditions that can predispose to dysphagia, but even in children without underlying comorbidities, the presence of a tracheostomy tube impacts the mechanics of swallowing, leading to difficulty with different consistencies as well as management of normal oral secretions. Intubation prior to tracheostomy also impacts sensation in the upper aerodigestive tract increasing the risk of aspiration...

The upper aerodigestive system is closely intertwined from an embryologic and functional perspective. Laryngotracheal anatomic abnormalities, such as laryngomalacia, stenosis, vocal cord paralysis, and laryngeal clefts, affect not only the respiratory function but also the swallow function. Laryngotracheal pathology can interfere with the suck-swallow-breathe mechanism in infants. It can also exacerbate gastroesophageal reflux. Chronic aspiration secondary to laryngotracheal anomalies can result in respiratory and pulmonary complications...

Oral causes of dysphagia in infancy may involve the lips, the tongue, or the palate. Whereas ankyloglossia is commonly diagnosed in infants with dysphagia, assessment of the need for surgical intervention may be less straightforward. Tongue size (macroglossia) may be associated with dysphagia as it may cause limitation of movement of the food or milk bolus by the lips or cheeks. Congenital conditions such as cleft lip and palate, micrognathia, or craniofacial microsomia may also be associated with dysphagia...

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This article highlights the sex differences in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sheds light on the varying presentations, diagnostic challenges, as well as treatment responses observed in men and women. The disparities in prevalence, manifestations, and therapeutic outcomes underscore the need for a nuanced approach to OSA diagnosis and management that considers sex-specific factors. Furthermore, this article highlights the importance of recognizing and treating OSA during pregnancy, as it poses unique challenges and potential risks to both maternal and fetal health...

Swallowing problems in children can occur for a variety of reasons, and assessment varies based on the age of the child, underlying medical problems, and results of the clinical swallow evaluation. The need for interdisciplinary management with speech language pathologists skilled in the management of children with dysphagia is imperative to identify the components of swallowing that are impaired and provide specific recommendations for safe and adequate nutrition supporting growth, development, and oral feeding if possible...

Dysphagia is a common symptom in patients with head and neck cancer that can significantly impact health outcomes and quality of life. The origin of dysphagia in these patients is often multifactorial, making diagnosis and management especially complex. The evaluating otolaryngologist should be well versed with the patient's neoplasm, comorbidities, and treatment history alongside dysphagia-specific imaging modalities. Management is often dynamic, requiring frequent monitoring, interprofessional collaboration, and a variety of supportive and invasive measures to achieve optimal outcomes...

Optimal surgical and medical management of obstructive sleep apnea requires clinically reliable identification of patterns and sites of upper airway obstruction. A wide variety of modalities have been used to evaluate upper airway obstruction. Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) and cine MRI are increasingly used to identify upper airway obstruction sites, to characterize airway obstruction patterns, to determine optimum medical and surgical treatment, and to plan individualized surgical management. Here, we provide an overview of the applications of DISE and cine MRI in assessing upper airway obstruction in children and adults with obstructive sleep apnea...

Our understanding of the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the United States is confounded by significant inequalities in diagnosis and treatment based on gender, race and socioeconomic status. Health literacy and cultural norms contribute to these inequities. Large gaps in data exist, as certain populations like Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and sexual minorities have been sparsely studied, or not at all. Future research should aim to develop more inclusive diagnostic strategies to address OSA in diverse populations...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

This manuscript reviews and outlines the necessary tools to efficiently assess and manage an adult patient where an esophageal foreign body is suspected. It reviews the vulnerable populations and relevant diagnostics and provides a triage diagram to aid in timely intervention. Management with esophagoscopy is reviewed as well as potential complications that may arise. Lastly, to illustrate the concepts of this section, a case study is presented to highlight the salient points.

Positional sleep apnea (POSA), a distinctive subtype of obstructive sleep apnea, underscores the critical influence of a patient's sleeping position on the severity of their condition. In the management of POSA, compliance with positional therapy (PT) is paramount, as it wields a profound impact on the treatment's efficacy and the overall alleviation of the disease. The advent of new-generation PT devices offers a promising alternative to conventional methods like the tennis ball technique, boasting higher compliance rates and substantial disease alleviation...

Spirometry plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of asthma. The hallmark spirometry finding of expiratory airflow variability can be demonstrated in several ways including peak airflow and bronchodilator and bronchoprovocation testing. Challenges of overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis underscore the need to consider clinical context while interpreting these tests. A meticulous and multifaceted approach prioritizing objective testing is imperative while diagnosing asthma.

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a male-predominant disease with presentations ranging from nonspecific feeding issues to dysphagia and food impaction. The currently proposed pathophysiology is a combination of genetics, allergens, and epithelial barrier impairment. Diagnosis is reliant on history, endoscopic examination, and biopsy. Recent guidelines recognize the role of concurrent gastroesophageal reflux disease. Treatment is based on 3 paradigms: diet, drugs, and dilation. Drug therapy has historically focused on topical corticosteroids; as of 2022, dupilumab was approved for targeted biologic therapy...

The united airway refers to the combined upper and lower airways and their interconnected pathophysiologic relationships. Inflammatory airway diseases (chronic rhinosinusitis, asthma, and so forth) have been linked to fungal species through type 2 immune responses. These type 2 immune responses involve the cytokines interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13, and a myriad of other inflammatory processes that lead to a spectrum of diseases from allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis to chronic rhinosinusitis. Historically, these diseases have been managed primarily with corticosteroids but recent revelations in the molecular pathophysiology provide opportunities for more diverse treatment options for patients with uncontrolled disease...

Thyroidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove part or all of the thyroid gland. Although the general tenets of surgery have remained the same, improvements in techniques, diagnostics, understanding of anatomy, and technology have allowed thyroid surgery to become a standard, effective, and safe surgery. For surgeons undertaking this procedure, it is imperative to have an in-depth knowledge of critical anatomy and a comprehensive understanding of surgical techniques to perform safe and effective surgery. This article aims to provide an overview of surgical techniques that may be applied in both benign and malignant disease settings...

Both the superior and recurrent laryngeal nerves are at risk for injury during thyroid surgery. Comprehensive preoperative evaluation is key for surgical planning. Exposing nerves through careful dissection is the safest strategy to minimize injury risk. Intraoperative neural monitoring can be beneficial for both identifying and preserving the nerves.

This guide delineates a step-by-step approach to targeted parathyroidectomy and 4 gland exploration, with embedded clinical pearls regarding anatomy, approach, and considerations.

Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) of the laryngeal nerves has become an important tool for neck endocrine surgery. In this article, the authors review the current evidence behind its use in neck endocrine procedures. The subtypes of IONM, including intermittent IONM, continuous vagal IONM (vagal-CIONM), and laryngeal adductor reflex CIONM, will be discussed. Finally, the authors review recent advances in IONM, and how standardization of outcomes reporting will help minimise conjecture regarding the usefulness of IONM...