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Ralli M, Colizza A, D’Aguanno V, Scarpa A, Russo G, Petrone P, Grassia R, Guarino P, Capasso P. Risk of SARS-CoV-2 contagion in otolaryngology specialists. ACTA OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGICA ITALICA : ORGANO UFFICIALE DELLA SOCIETA ITALIANA DI OTORINOLARINGOLOGIA E CHIRURGIA CERVICO-FACCIALE 2022; 42:S58-S67. [PMID: 35763275 PMCID: PMC9137374 DOI: 10.14639/0392-100x-suppl.1-42-2022-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 has rapidly spread in the past two years with a profound impact on otolaryngological activities, which has undergone radical transformation to guarantee diagnostic and therapeutic procedures mainly in oncology and urgent patients, while ensuring protection for healthcare personnel and patients. During the initial phases of the pandemic, scheduled visits and elective surgeries were postponed leading to a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of several diseases, including head and neck cancer, with a shift toward more advanced cancer stages and more aggressive treatments. Aerosol and droplets are the main routes of transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), thus leading to a high risk of contagion during otolaryngology visits and surgery. Therefore, the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and attention to procedure-specific risks and measures to avoid contagion are of utmost importance for healthcare professionals, and especially for those dealing with otolaryngology diseases. This narrative review highlights that otolaryngological activity implies a high risk of contagion during outpatient visit, surgery, or urgent conditions. The correct use of PPE, evaluation of procedure-specific risks and reduction of non-urgent procedures are considered the main strategies to limit contagion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Ralli
- Department of Sense Organs. Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Colizza
- Department of Sense Organs. Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Alfonso Scarpa
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry. University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Gennaro Russo
- Otolaryngology Unit, AORN dei Colli, V. Monaldi Hospital, Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Rosa Grassia
- Otolaryngology Unit, AORN dei Colli, V. Monaldi Hospital, Napoli, Italy
| | - Pierre Guarino
- Otolaryngology Unit, Santo Spirito Hospital, Pescara, Italy
| | - Pasquale Capasso
- Otolaryngology Unit, AORN dei Colli, V. Monaldi Hospital, Napoli, Italy
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Boonpiraks K, Nawachartkosit Y, Setabutr D. The impact of COVID-19 in the attendance of patients to the otolaryngology clinic: a retrospective review. THE EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY 2021. [PMCID: PMC8352143 DOI: 10.1186/s43163-021-00147-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Background To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on patient management at an Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department at a tertiary care center in Southeast Asia. This is a retrospective review. Patient load and diagnosis at the Outpatient Division of the Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department were reviewed at the height of the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient-specific data was then compared during the same timeframe one year prior. Patients were then grouped into an additional subspecialty subgroup based upon their diagnosis. Descriptive statistics were analyzed. Results A total of 819 cases were identified in 2019 during the study period. At the peak of the first wave, cases fell to 483, constituting a 41% decrease between the years (p value = 0.083). The largest decrease was in Otology cases with a drop by 53% (p value = 0.047), with the smallest decrease noted in General cases. Laryngology visits overall showed an increase in cases by 41.7%. Moreover, new visits decreased by 35.5%, with the largest decrease in new Laryngology visits and new Head and Neck Oncology cases. New visits for general issues had the smallest drop in patients, decreasing by only 21% (p value = 0.006) Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant decrease in overall cases in the Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery outpatient department. Thus, in anticipation of future outbreaks, interventions may be tailored according to these trends.
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Cecchetto C, Di Pizio A, Genovese F, Calcinoni O, Macchi A, Dunkel A, Ohla K, Spinelli S, Farruggia MC, Joseph PV, Menini A, Cantone E, Dinnella C, Cecchini MP, D’Errico A, Mucignat-Caretta C, Parma V, Dibattista M. Assessing the extent and timing of chemosensory impairments during COVID-19 pandemic. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17504. [PMID: 34471196 PMCID: PMC8410776 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96987-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemosensory impairments have been established as a specific indicator of COVID-19. They affect most patients and may persist long past the resolution of respiratory symptoms, representing an unprecedented medical challenge. Since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic started, we now know much more about smell, taste, and chemesthesis loss associated with COVID-19. However, the temporal dynamics and characteristics of recovery are still unknown. Here, capitalizing on data from the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research (GCCR) crowdsourced survey, we assessed chemosensory abilities after the resolution of respiratory symptoms in participants diagnosed with COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic in Italy. This analysis led to the identification of two patterns of chemosensory recovery, partial and substantial, which were found to be associated with differential age, degrees of chemosensory loss, and regional patterns. Uncovering the self-reported phenomenology of recovery from smell, taste, and chemesthetic disorders is the first, yet essential step, to provide healthcare professionals with the tools to take purposeful and targeted action to address chemosensory disorders and their severe discomfort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Cecchetto
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Antonella Di Pizio
- grid.506467.6Leibniz-Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Federica Genovese
- grid.250221.60000 0000 9142 2735Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, USA
| | | | - Alberto Macchi
- ENT Department, Italian Academy of Rhinology-ASST sette laghi, Varese, Italy
| | - Andreas Dunkel
- grid.506467.6Leibniz-Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kathrin Ohla
- grid.49096.320000 0001 2238 0831Experimental Psychology Unit, Helmut-Schmidt-University/University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sara Spinelli
- grid.8404.80000 0004 1757 2304Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Michael C. Farruggia
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Paule V. Joseph
- National Institutes of Nursing Research, Bethesda, USA ,grid.420085.b0000 0004 0481 4802National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, USA ,grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Anna Menini
- grid.5970.b0000 0004 1762 9868Neurobiology Section, SISSA, International School for Advanced Studies, Trieste, Italy
| | - Elena Cantone
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XDepartment of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Section, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Caterina Dinnella
- grid.8404.80000 0004 1757 2304Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Paola Cecchini
- grid.5611.30000 0004 1763 1124Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Anatomy and Histology Section, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Anna D’Errico
- grid.7839.50000 0004 1936 9721Department of Neurobiology, Goethe Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Carla Mucignat-Caretta
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Valentina Parma
- grid.250221.60000 0000 9142 2735Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, USA ,grid.264727.20000 0001 2248 3398Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Michele Dibattista
- grid.7644.10000 0001 0120 3326Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari A. Moro, Piazza Giulio Cesare n.11, 70124 Bari, Italy
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Trecca E, Marano PG, Gelardi M, Cassano L, Verzicco GF, D'Ecclesia A, Cassano M, Longo F. Is 2020 the golden year of Otolaryngology research? The impact of COVID-19 on the Italian academic production. ACTA BIO-MEDICA : ATENEI PARMENSIS 2021; 92:e2021207. [PMID: 33988134 PMCID: PMC8182618 DOI: 10.23750/abm.v92i2.11557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM The aim of this research was to review the articles published by the Otolaryngology (ORL) departments of the Italian University Hospitals in 2019 and in 2020 in order to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the academic production. METHODS PubMed and Scopus were searched for the articles published by the ORL departments of the Italian Universities in 2019 and in 2020. The main eligibility criteria were English-language articles, while there were no exclusion criteria related to topic. The articles were classified into seven domains corresponding to the main ORL subspecialties. RESULTS There was an overall increase in the number of articles by the 42.2% in 2020. Publications pertaining Rhinology and Laryngology increased more significantly in 2020, respectively by the 50.5% and 72.2%. Additionally, there was an increase in the number of articles concerning topics of general interest, by the 95.2% in 2020. Also, the citation trends of the articles published by the Italian University Hospitals increased remarkably in 2020. CONCLUSIONS These results evidenced an overall increase in the number of ORL articles. Although 2020 is going to be remembered as a year to forget, it should be acknowledged for being the "golden year of research".
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Cecchetto C, Di Pizio A, Genovese F, Calcinoni O, Macchi A, Dunkel A, Ohla K, Spinelli S, Farruggia MC, Joseph PV, Menini A, Cantone E, Dinnella C, Cecchini MP, D’Errico A, Mucignat-Caretta C, Parma V, Dibattista M. From loss to recovery: how to effectively assess chemosensory impairments during COVID-19 pandemic. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2021:2021.03.25.21254253. [PMID: 33791742 PMCID: PMC8010774 DOI: 10.1101/2021.03.25.21254253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Chemosensory impairments have been established as a specific indicator of COVID-19. They affect most patients and may persist long past the resolution of respiratory symptoms, representing an unprecedented medical challenge. Since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic started, we now know much more about smell, taste, and chemesthesis loss associated with COVID-19. However, the temporal dynamics and characteristics of recovery are still unknown. Here, capitalizing on data from the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research (GCCR) crowdsourced survey, we assessed chemosensory abilities after the resolution of respiratory symptoms in participants diagnosed with COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic in Italy. This analysis led to the identification of two patterns of chemosensory recovery, limited (partial) and substantial, which were found to be associated with differential age, degrees of chemosensory loss, and regional patterns. Uncovering the self-reported phenomenology of recovery from smell, taste, and chemesthetic disorders is the first, yet essential step, to provide healthcare professionals with the tools to take purposeful and targeted action to address chemosensory disorders and its severe discomfort.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antonella Di Pizio
- Leibniz-Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - Alberto Macchi
- ENT department, Italian Academy Of Rhinology - ASST sette laghi Varese
| | - Andreas Dunkel
- Leibniz-Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Germany
| | - Kathrin Ohla
- Institute of Psychology, University of Muenster, Germany
| | - Sara Spinelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Italy
| | | | - Paule V. Joseph
- National Institutes of Nursing Research
- National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- National Institutes of Health
| | - Anna Menini
- Neurobiology Section, SISSA, International School for Advanced Studies, Italy
| | - Elena Cantone
- Department of Neuroscience, ENT section, Federico II University of Naples, Italy
| | - Caterina Dinnella
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Paola Cecchini
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Anatomy and Histology Section, University of Verona, Italy
| | - Anna D’Errico
- Department of Neurobiology, Goethe Universität Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | - Valentina Parma
- Department of Physiology, Monell Chemical Senses Center, USA
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, USA
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