Arch Otolaryngol
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Elective bedside pediatric tracheostomies in the intensive care unit have not been widely reported. Unlike in the adult population, this is not yet considered a safe or routine procedure in the pediatric population. We performed a preliminary study suggesting that bedside pediatric tracheostomies can be done safely and at reduced cost. ⋯ Historically, pediatric tracheostomy has been viewed as a technically demanding procedure with a high complication rate, thus encouraging routine operating room use. We found that pediatric tracheostomy performed in the intensive care unit, with attention to prudent patient selection and adherence to consistent, sound techniques, was as safe as operating room tracheostomy.
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To design a reliable and validated self-administered questionnaire whose purpose is to assess dysphagia's effects on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with head and neck cancer. ⋯ The MDADI is the first validated and reliable self-administered questionnaire designed specifically for evaluating the impact of dysphagia on the QOL of patients with head and neck cancer. Standardized questionnaires that measure patients' QOL offer a means for demonstrating treatment impact and improving medical care. The development and validation of the MDADI and its use in prospective clinical trials allow for better understanding of the impact of treatment of head and neck cancer on swallowing and of swallowing difficulty on patients' QOL.