Negative pressure wound therapy is useful for the management of head and neck wounds and should be considered for patients in whom wound healing is progressing insufficiently, including those with a history of head and neck cancer, oro-/pharyngocutaenous fistula, and trauma. Randomized controlled trials further comparing NPWT versus other modalities may be invaluable in further delineating its appropriate role. Laryngoscope, 2018.

Objectives To perform a systematic review examining experiences with endoscopic resection of skull base lesions in the pediatric population, with a focus on outcomes, recurrence, and surgical morbidities. Methods PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases were evaluated. Studies were assessed for level of evidence. Bias risk was evaluated using the Cochrane Bias tool, Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), and Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) criteria. Patient characteristics, pathology, site of primary disease, presenting symptoms, stage, procedure specific details, and complications were evaluated. Results were reported using the Preferred Reporting Systems for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Results Ninety-three studies met criteria for inclusion, encompassing 574 patients with skull base tumors. The GRADE and MINORS criteria determined the overall evidence to be moderate quality. The most common benign and malignant pathologies included juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas (n = 239) and chondrosarcomas (n = 11) at 41.6 and 1.9%, respectively. Of all juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma tumors, most presented at stage IIIa and IIIb (25.8 and 27.3%, respectively). Nasal obstruction (16.5%) and headache (16.0%) were common symptoms at initial presentation. Surgical approaches included endoscopic endonasal (n = 193, 41.2%) and endoscopic extended transsphenoidal (n = 155, 33.1%). Early (< 6 weeks) and late (>6 weeks) complications included cerebrospinal fluid leak (n = 36, 17.3%) and endocrinopathy (n = 43, 20.7%). Mean follow-up time was 37 months (0.5–180 months), with 86.5% showing no evidence of disease and 2.1% having died from disease at last follow-up. Conclusion Endoscopic skull base surgery has been shown to be a safe and effective method of treating a variety of pediatric skull base tumors. If appropriately employed, the minimally invasive approach can provide optimal results in the pediatric population.

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The number of CI procedures performed in the elderly population has increased markedly over the past 10 years, far outpacing growth in other hearing surgeries. Potential reasons may relate to changes in criteria for CI candidacy over the past decade, although significant regional variability demonstrated suggests a lack of consensus. Further studies would be necessary to ascertain the true reason for geographic disparities.