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The value of a collaborative course for advanced head and neck surgery in E ast A frica
Author(s) -
Chambers Kyle J.,
Aswani Joyce,
Patel Asmeeta,
Fundakowski Christopher,
Mannion Kyle,
Lin Derrick T.,
Netterville James
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.25028
Subject(s) - laryngectomy , medicine , parapharyngeal space , neck dissection , parotidectomy , surgery , head and neck , dissection (medical) , head and neck surgery , general surgery , larynx , otorhinolaryngology , facial nerve , carcinoma
Objectives/Hypothesis To determine the value of a collaborative course for advanced head and neck surgery in East Africa. Study Design Survey of participants. Methods A 3‐day course in head and neck surgery was designed for otolaryngologists and trainees from Kenya and surrounding countries through a collaborative effort between Kenyatta National Hospital, the University of Nairobi, and the Head and Neck Divisions from the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Topics included neck dissection, parotidectomy, total laryngectomy, parapharyngeal space tumors excision, and pectoralis myocutaneous flaps. A pre‐ and postcourse self‐evaluation survey was administered to measure course impact. Results Eighteen otolaryngologists and trainees participated in the course, with 17 completing course surveys. The majority of participants (72%) were from Kenya. Prior to the start of the course, 41%, 71%, 23%, 12%, and 0% of participants indicated they could complete a neck dissection, parotidectomy, parapharyngeal space mass excision, total laryngectomy, and pectoralis myocutaneous flap, respectively. Following the course, 50%, 94%, 69%, 25%, and 38% of participants indicated they could complete a neck dissection, parotidectomy, total laryngectomy, parapharyngeal space tumors excision, respectively, with a statistically significant increase identified for pectoralis myocutaneous flaps ( P < .001) and total laryngectomy ( P = .009). There was also a trend toward an increase in the number of participants indicating an ability to complete parotidectomy following the course ( P = .085). Conclusions This survey demonstrates the potential value of a collaborative course in advanced head and neck surgery as one useful model for increasing the number of well‐trained head and neck surgeons in East Africa. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope , 125:883–887, 2015