A Year of OTO Journal Podcasts

The 2023 podcast series for the AAO-HNSF journal Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery covered topics spanning the otolaryngology-head and neck surgery spectrum. Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, convenes a panel for an in-depth discussion of each month’s selected article, including the lead or senior authors and the associate editor. Subscribe for free to receive immediate notification when new podcasts are published as the series continues in 2024!

Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc“The podcasts provide a wonderful opportunity to gain a brief overview of novel and timely research as seen through the eyes of both the authors and the Associate Editor who managed the manuscript review. The conversation often springboards into unique methodology as well as practical pearls to apply to your practice,” shared Dr. Schmalbach.         

Reimbursement Trends in Pediatric Otolaryngology From 2000 to 2020: A CMS Physician Fee Schedule Analysis
Dr. Schmalbach discusses the article “Reimbursement Trends in Pediatric Otolaryngology From 2000 to 2020: A CMS Physician Fee Schedule Analysis” with senior author Jay R. Shah, MD, and Associate Editor Thomas Q. Gallagher, DO. This engaging conversation touches on Common Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, relative value units, reevaluation of CPT codes, and trends in reimbursements.

Expert Consensus Statement: Management of Pediatric Persistent Obstructive Sleep Apnea After Adenotonsillectomy
Dr. Schmalbach hosts this podcast on “Expert Consensus Statement: Management of Pediatric Persistent Obstructive Sleep Apnea After Adenotonsillectomy,” which published in the February 2023 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Joining Dr. Schmalbach in conversation are lead author and chair of the expert panel, Stacey L. Ishman, MD, MPH, and coauthor Stephen C. Maturo, MD. This ECS focuses on pediatric patients (between ages 2 and 18) with persistent OSA and on those with recurrent OSA who underwent previous tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy, but OSA came back. Rich discussion occurs around how consensus statements concentrate on quality opportunities that exist and areas on which experts agree to put forth best practices.

Sponsorship and Negotiation for Women Otolaryngologists at Midcareer: A Content Analysis
Dr. Schmalbach hosts this podcast on the article “Sponsorship and Negotiation for Women Otolaryngologists at Midcareer: A Content Analysis,” which published in the March 2023 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Coauthors Janice L. Farlow, MD, PhD, and Sonya Malekzadeh, MD, along with Associate Editor Chau T. Nguyen, MD, join Dr. Schmalbach for a compelling discussion around the need for midcareer women otolaryngologists to gain knowledge about sponsorship and negotiation.

Expert Consensus Statement: Management of Dysphagia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Dr. Schmalbach hosts a discussion on “Expert Consensus Statement: Management of Dysphagia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients,” which published in the April 2023 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Joining the conversation are authors Maggie A. Kuhn MD, MAS, and M. Boyd Gillespie MD, MSc, and Associate Editor Lee M. Akst, MD. This ECS is the result of a multidisciplinary team comprising experts who reached consensus on recommendations that fill existing clinical practice knowledge gaps. Also discussed are the statements that did not reach consensus, particularly those around the use of reactive and prophylactic feeding tubes.

Current Management of Subcondylar Fractures: A Systematic Review
Dr. Schmalbach hosts a rich discussion of “Current Management of Subcondylar Fractures: A Systematic Review,” which published in the May 2023 issue of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Lead author Kalpesh Vakharia, MD, and Associate Editor Babak Givi, MD, join Dr. Schmalbach in a conversation that delves into the approaches used for subcondylar fractures when treating facial trauma. This systematic review provides a resource for surgeons and demonstrates a need for more research in this area.

Individuals Experiencing Homelessness: A Systematic Review of Otolaryngology-Related Health Needs and Community-Based Interventions
Join Dr. Schmalbach for a compelling discussion of “Individuals Experiencing Homelessness: A Systematic Review of Otolaryngology-Related Health Needs and Community-Based Interventions,” which published in the June 2023 issue of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Associate Editor Michael J. Brenner, MD; senior author Antoine Eskander MD, ScM, FRCSC; and lead author and recent graduate Dorsa Mavedatnia, MD, take part in the discussion of this literature review on otolaryngology health needs and interventions for populations, both adult and pediatric, experiencing homelessness.

The Evolution and Application of Artificial Intelligence in Rhinology: A State of the Art Review
Dr. Schmalbach, Associate Editor James “Whit” Mims, MD, and lead author Ameen Amanian, MD, MSE, discuss “The Evolution and Application of Artificial Intelligence in Rhinology: A State of the Art Review.” The article, published in the July 2023 issue of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, provides a good introduction to what AI can do within the context of rhinology. One podcast highlight fleshes out the AI nomenclature and provides examples within rhinology of machine learning and deep learning, both of which fall under the AI domain. AI for diagnosis and AI for treatment outcomes are explained as are the limits of AI within the high stakes of patient care, including how AI will never replace the personal touch only clinicians can provide.

Developing Consensus on Priority Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Conditions and Procedures
Dr. Schmalbach is joined by Associate Editor Thomas Q. Gallagher, DO, and lead author Sarah Nuss, BS, for a discussion of the article “Developing Consensus on Priority Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Conditions and Procedures,” which published in the August 2023 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. This study was done in collaboration with the Global OHNS Initiative and used the Delphi method to capture consensus lists through survey participants representative of the seven World Bank regions.

Recovery Benefit with Total Intravenous Anesthesia in Patients Receiving Rhinoplasty
Dr. Schmalbach hosts Associate Editor Michael J. Brenner, MD, and lead author Ryan N. Heffelfinger, MD, for a conversation about the article “Recovery Benefit with Total Intravenous Anesthesia in Patients Receiving Rhinoplasty,” which published in the September 2023 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. This wide-ranging discussion covers outcomes of less nausea and vomiting for patients receiving TIVA, cost of TIVA, and data related to the environmental impact of TIVA vs. inhalational agents.

Time-Driven Activity-Based Cost Comparison of Thyroid Lobectomy and Radiofrequency Ablation
Dr. Schmalbach is joined by Associate Editor Raymond L. Chai, MD, and lead author Julia E. Noel, MD, to discuss “Time-Driven Activity-Based Cost Comparison of Thyroid Lobectomy and Radiofrequency Ablation,” which published in the October 2023 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Noel and her coauthors used time-driven activity-based cost methodology to drill down the details that reveal radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a more cost-effective treatment modality. They looked at the entire treatment cycle for both lobectomy and RFA— from initial visit in clinic through the procedure and postoperative visit—to determine cost data for the hospital.

Gender Differences Among Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstructive Surgeons
Dr. Schmalbach is joined by Associate Editor Babak Givi, MD, and lead author Leila J. Mady MD, PhD, MPH, to discuss “Gender Differences Among Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstructive Surgeons,” which published in the November 2023 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. The research used a survey that was sent to facial plastic and maxillofacial surgeons, in addition to microvascular surgeons, to gain a comprehensive understanding of what causes gender differences in the subspecialty. One takeaway of note was that there were no gender differences when it came to training and practice patterns. Another revealed gender differences when explaining changes in practice—for men, the reasons related to career advancement; for women, the reasons related to burnout, usually related to work-life balance and especially if they have children.

The Association of Hearing Loss with Active Music Enjoyment in Hearing Aid Users
Dr. Schmalbach is joined by Associate Editor Jacob Hunter, MD, and co-author Anil K. Lalwani MD, for a discussion of the article, “The Association of Hearing Loss With Active Music Enjoyment in Hearing Aid Users,” which published in the December 2023 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Their conversation highlights the effect of hearing aids on active music enjoyment in individuals with varying levels of hearing loss.