Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients With Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis

Volume and Practice-Setting Shift of Laryngology Procedures During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Reg-ENT Database Analysis

Objective

The onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic changed practice patterns throughout medicine. The purpose of this study is to evaluate changes in the volume and location setting of laryngology procedures after the onset of COVID-19.

Study Design

Retrospective database cohort study.

Setting

Reg-ENT registry.

Methods

Retrospective review from 2017 to 2022 of patients who underwent a laryngology procedure identified by procedure code categorized by site of service code-"ambulatory surgical" versus "office" setting. Based on March 2020 as the cutoff point, the procedures were designated as pre-COVID versus COVID time period.

Results

A total of 5989 patients underwent laryngology procedures. Forty-two percent more procedures were performed in the COVID period (n = 3780) versus pre-COVID (n = 2209). Pre-COVID, the procedure distribution between office and ambulatory surgical setting was 70% (n = 1546) compared with 30% (663). This shifted to 77% (n = 2920) and 23% (n = 860) during COVID, P = .9. The most common diagnoses associated with laryngology procedures during the study period were vocal fold paralysis 47% (n = 2831), dysphonia 33% (n = 1392), and laryngotracheal stenosis 14% (n = 838). These trends remained in both pre-COVID and COVID time periods. After the start of the pandemic, among patients undergoing laryngology procedures, there was a 93% increase (n = 284-549) in the diagnosis of laryngotracheal stenosis, 70% increase (n = 520-882 patients) in dysphonia and 69% increase (n = 1054-1777) in vocal fold paralysis.

Conclusion

An increase in laryngology procedures performed after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was identified with an overall procedural shift to the office-setting.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Neurosurgical Transfers: A Single Tertiary Center Study

OBJECTIVE

Interfacility transfers represent a large proportion of neurosurgical admissions to tertiary care centers each year. In this study, the authors examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of transfers, timing of transfers, demographic profile of transfer patients, and clinical outcomes including rates of surgical intervention.

METHODS

A retrospective review of neurosurgical transfer patients at a single tertiary center was performed. Patients transferred from April to November 2020 (the "COVID Era") were compared with an institutional database of transfer patients collected before the COVID-19 pandemic (the "Pre-COVID Era"). During the COVID Era, both emergent and nonemergent neurosurgical services had resumed. A comparison of demographic and clinical factors between the 2 cohorts was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 674 patients were included in the study (331 Pre-COVID and 343 COVID-Era patients). Overall, there was no change in the average monthly number of transfers (P = 0.66) or in the catchment area of referral hospitals. However, COVID-Era patients were more likely to be uninsured (1% vs. 4%), had longer transfer times (COVID vs. Pre-COVID Era: 18 vs. 9 hours; P < 0.001), required higher rates of surgical intervention (63% vs. 50%, P = 0.001), had higher rates of spine pathology (17% vs. 10%), and less frequently were admitted to the intensive care unit (34% vs. 52%, P < 0.001). Overall, COVID-Era patients did not experience delays to surgical intervention (3.1 days vs. 3.6 days, P = 0.2). When analyzing the subgroup of COVID-Era patients, COVID infection status did not impact the time of transfer or rates of operation, although COVID-infected patients experienced a longer time to surgery after admission (14 vs. 2.9 days, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 pandemic did not reduce the number of monthly transfers, operation rates, or catchment area for transfer patients. Transfer rates of uninsured patients increased during the COVID Era, potentially reflecting changes in access to community neurosurgery care. Shorter time to surgery seen in COVID-Era patients possibly reflects institutional policies that improved operating room efficiency to compensate for surgical backlogs. COVID status affeted time to surgery, reflecting the preoperative care that these patients require before intervention.

"A Major Quality of Life Issue": A Survey-Based Analysis of the Experiences of Adults With Laryngotracheal Stenosis with Mucus and Cough

Objectives:

To investigate how the symptoms of mucus and cough impact adults living with laryngotracheal stenosis, and to use this information to guide future research and treatment plans.

Methods:

A survey was developed with the support of patient advisors and distributed to people suffering with laryngotracheal stenosis. The survey comprised 15 closed and open questions relating to mucus and cough and included the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ). Descriptive statistics, X² and thematic analyses were completed.

Results:

In total, 641 participants completed the survey, with 83.62% (n = 536) reporting problems with mucus; 79% having daily issues of varying severity that led to difficulties with cough (46.18%) and breathing (20.90%). Mucus affected voice and swallowing to a lesser degree. Respondents described a range of triggers; they identified smoky air as the worst environmental trigger. Strategies to manage mucus varied widely with drinking water (72.26%), increasing liquid intake in general (49.35%) and avoiding or reducing dairy (45.32%) the most common approaches to control symptoms. The LCQ showed a median total score of 14 (interquartile range 11-17) indicative of cough negatively affecting quality of life. Thematic analysis of free text responses identified 4 key themes—the Mucus Cycle, Social impact, Psychological impact, and Physical impact.

Conclusion:

This study shows the relevance of research focusing on mucus and cough and its negative impact on quality of life, among adults with laryngotracheal stenosis. It demonstrates the inconsistent advice and management strategies provided by clinicians for this issue. Further research is required to identify clearer treatment options and pathways.