San Francisco, CA – The 2011 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF), the largest meeting of ear, nose, and throat doctors in the world, will convene September 11-14, 2011, in San Francisco, CA.
Featuring more than 386 scientific research sessions, 468 posters, and several hundred instruction course hours for attendees, the annual meeting is a unique opportunity for journalists from around the world to cover breaking science and medical news. Reporters will have access to the latest research and clinical advances in the field of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery.
Information for the Media
The AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO Newsroom will be located in the Moscone Convention Center, Room 250. Hours of operation: Saturday, September 10, 12pm to 5pm; Sunday – Tuesday, September 11 – 13, 7:30 am to 5 pm; and Wednesday, September 14, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm. There will also be a Meet & Greet for all press with Richard Rosenfeld, MD, MPH, Editor-in-Chief of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, on Sunday, September 11, 2011, from 12:30pm – 1:15pm in the newsroom.
The newsroom serves as a work space for credentialed members of the news media. The newsroom is managed and staffed by the AAO-HNS Communications Unit. Please see the AAO-HNS website for media credentialing requirements for the event.
To register and view advance press releases, log onto the AAO-HNS website at http://tinyurl.com/657a292.
Business of Medicine
Health Care for All? Economics, Politics and Delivery Systems
Presenters: Mimi S. Kokoska, MD (Moderator); Joy L.Trimmer, JD; Lee D. Eisenberg, MD; Brendan C. Stack, Jr, MD; Martin J. Burton, DM, FRCS; Mark Taylor, MD
Date/Time: Monday, September 12, 2011; 10:30am – 11:50am
San Francisco, CA – Discussions regarding health care legislation, reform, and costs continue to be in the public conscience.
In a discussion at the 2011 American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSFF) Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in San Francisco, the panel presented evidence for what systems could succeed in the US and provided participants with an analysis of the political environment surrounding the health care debate.
In conclusion, the panelists moderated a question and answer session, covering questions such as, what is the preferred model for delivering health care for all in the US and how would you fund it? The audience also learned about global models of health care delivery from panelists with experience in varied health care systems.
Hot Topics in Otolaryngology: 2011
Presenters: Peter Abramson, MD (moderator); Raymond King, JD, MD; Michael J. Koriwchak, MD; Lawrence Geller, MBA; Rick G. Love, MD
Date/Time: Tuesday, September 13, 2011; 8:00am – 9:20am
San Francisco, CA – The executive committee of the Board of Governors presented its annual miniseminar on several topics that are at the forefront of the practice of otolaryngology.
The miniseminar presented three topics that are exceptionally important to otolaryngologists at this time; Reimbursement for emergency department coverage, hospital/physician joint ventures, and an update on payments for EHR and meaningful use. Attendees were updated on electronic health care record keeping and EHR and physician practices.
General Otolaryngology
Device Complications: What Does the Surgeon Do?
Presenters: Albert H. Park, MD (moderator); Riccardo D'Eredita, MD; Gina A. Maisto Smith
Date/Time: Tuesday, September 13, 2011; 8:00am – 9:20am
San Francisco, CA – Medical device failures are commonly associated with surgical complications.
In late 1997, the US Food and Drug Administration reported that it receives approximately 100,000 medical device reports a year, and the agency considers this number just the tip of the medical device problem iceberg. Any surgeon is very likely to experience this complication in his or her operative career.
The Pediatric Otolaryngology and the Medical Devices and Drugs Committee decided to organize a miniseminar to provide guidelines to surgeons experiencing this complication and for surgeons wishing to be informed to device failures. The symposium was divided into two major parts.
In the first part, clinical cases associated with medical device failures were presented. The impacts of these cases based on a national survey of pediatric otolaryngologists were highlighted. The second part was highlighted and included the medicolegal ramifications, disclosure to patients and families, and resources available for the surgeon to report and receive updates on device failures.
Innovations in Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery
Presenters: Ronald B. Kuppersmith, MD, MBA (moderator);Phillip K. Pellitteri, DO; Gregory W. Randolph, MD; David L. Steward, MD; David J. Terris, MD
Date/Time: Tuesday, September 13, 2011; 10:30 – 11:50am
San Francisco, CA – Over the past several years new technologies, potentially offering safer or less invasive techniques, have been applied to surgery of the thyroid and parathyroid glands. While these technologies may offer benefits to surgeons and patients, each has an associated learning curve and incremental costs compared to the standard techniques.
The purpose of the seminar was to examine some of these "advances" (in-office ultrasound, laryngeal nerve monitoring, intra-operative parathyroid hormone measurement, minimally invasive and alternate surgical approaches) and to evaluate the benefits and costs and provide guidance for when these technologies should properly be used. Additionally, guidance for how general otolaryngologists can learn these techniques and how these technologies relate to the concept of "standard-of care" was addressed at the meeting.
Misdiagnosis of Aging
Presenters: Karen M. Kost, MD, FRCSC (moderator); Kelly Michele Malloy, MD; Karen H. Calhoun, MD; Robert T. Sataloff, MD, DMA; Brian J. McKinnon, MD, MBA
Date/Time: Monday, September 12, 2011; 9:30am – 10:20am
San Francisco, CA – This miniseminar illustrated the potential "misdiagnoses" of aging and highlighted the management of common geriatric symptoms. The presentation format emphasized key points through illustrative cases.
The population demographics of North America are changing rapidly, with an increasing number of elderly individuals. In otolaryngology, age-related changes in hearing, vestibular function, smell, and phonation are recognized, as are changes in the soft tissues of the head and neck.
Some of these changes are compounded by co-morbidities in other organ systems. It is tempting to dismiss a geriatric patient's complaints as part of "normal aging." In doing so there is a risk of missing the same correctable pathology we see in younger patients.
The presentation in elderly patients may be subtle and/or atypical, resulting in failure to order appropriate diagnostic tests. Symptoms commonly misdiagnosed as "normal" aging include dizziness, dysphonia, and rhinorrhea. Such assumptions may "blind" the otolaryngologist to treatable etiologies, such as benign positional vertigo, polypharmacy, or allergic rhinitis. The consequences of these potential misdiagnoses directly impact both the level of functioning and quality of life of the geriatric patient.
Head and Neck Surgery
The Otolaryngologist's Role in Management of Aspiration: A Practical Review
Presenters: Sid Khosla, MD (moderator); Albert L. Merati, MD; Michael J. Pitman, MD; Lisa Kelchner, PhD; Gregory N. Postma, MD
Date/Time: Monday, September 12, 2011: 8:00am – 9:20am
San Francisco, CA – Aspiration pneumonia is a major problem in the geriatric population, in patients who are hospitalized long term, and for people with head and neck cancer. It is the second most common type of nosocomial infection, resulting in massive mortality and morbidity; in the elderly, the mortality rates range from 20% to 50%, with a rate as high as 80% in some studies.
The health care costs associated with aspiration pneumonia are staggering. While aspiration pneumonia is often due to oropharyngeal or laryngeal disorders, the role of the otolaryngologist in diagnosing and managing aspiration can vary significantly; this purely clinical miniseminar focused on how the general otolaryngologist can maximally contribute to the care of patients with aspiration.
Otology/Neurotology
Clinical Practice Guideline: Sudden Hearing Loss
Presenters: Robert J. Stachler, MD (moderator); Sujana S. Chandrasekhar, MD; Sanford M. Archer, MD; Richard M. Rosenfeld, MD, MPH; Seth R. Schwartz, MD, MPH
Date/Time: Wednesday, September 14, 2011; 9:30am – 10:20am
San Francisco, CA – The Clinical Practice Guideline: Sudden Hearing Loss consisted of a lively panel discussion on the evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of sudden hearing loss.
The panel discussed the newly developed AAO-HNS clinical practice guideline. The primary purpose of the guideline is to improve the diagnosis and management of sudden hearing loss in adults aged 18 years and older.
In creating the guideline the AAO-HNSF selected a panel representing the fields of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, audiology, otology, neurology, neurotology, family medicine, emergency medicine, and consumers.
Pediatric Otolaryngology
From Bench to Bedside: Updates in Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Presenters: Stacey L. Ishman, MD, MPH (moderator); Rakesh Bhattacharjee, MD; Susan L. Garetz, MD
Date/Time: Monday, September 12, 2011: 10:00 – 10:55am
San Francisco, CA – Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been identified in 2% to 4% of children in the United States.
While adenotonsillectomy is widely regarded as the primary therapy for pediatric OSA, evidence suggests that anatomy alone is not enough to explain the presence of OSA. With this in mind, evaluation of other factors contributing to OSA has revealed that inflammation, and specifically leukotrienes, may contribute to airway obstruction and that medical treatment of airway inflammation may be effective to treat sleep disordered breathing (SDB).
In addition, the evidence regarding accurate diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing in children is still subject to debate. While sleep studies are unquestionably the gold standard for diagnosis, the use of criteria adapted from adult studies has led to some controversy regarding the correct parameters to use for diagnosis. Additional investigations have found that respiratory patterns in children differ from those in adults and standard sleep study parameters may not be very specific or sensitive.
Understanding the role of inflammation and the potential for flow-based respiratory measures is critical in advancing the treatment of pediatric OSA.
Rhinology/Allergy
Food Allergy 2011: State of the Science
Presenters: William R. Reisacher, MD (moderator);Karen H. Calhoun, MD; Maria C. Veling, MD; Cecelia Damask, DO
Date/Time: Monday, September 12, 2011; 10:30am – 11:50am
San Francisco, CA – Food allergies are difficult for the patient to understand and challenging for the clinician to treat.
The CDC has recently reported that the prevalence of reported food allergies increased 18% over the past 10 years in children under 18. In addition, children with food allergies are 2 to 4 times more likely to suffer from asthma and other common problems.
In the process of dissecting surgical situations that require revision, the panelists will discuss strategies to avoid recurrent disease and maximize the success of primary FESS. The panelists were able to draw from years of revision FESS experience, as well as multiple publications. All clinical cases will be accompanied by endoscopic pictures and videos, as well as a complete complement of appropriate radiologic images.
Special highlights of the seminar included an emphasis on frontal and sphenoid sinus disease, as well as methods of perioperative medical treatment to achieve long term surgical success and improvement of outcomes.
About the AAO-HNS
The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (www.entnet.org), one of the oldest medical associations in the nation, represents more than 11,000 physicians and allied health professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. The Academy serves its members by facilitating the advancement of the science and art of medicine related to otolaryngology and by representing the specialty in governmental and socioeconomic issues. The organization's vision: "Empowering otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons to deliver the best patient care."