Total Tonsillectomy

Total Tonsillectomy Sarah Maurrasse MD, Vikash Modi MD Weill Cornell Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in children. The two main indications for tonsillectomy are sleep disordered breathing and recurrent infections, both of which are common in the pediatric population. This video includes 1) a detailed introduction including relevant anatomy 2) a discussion of the indications for total tonsillectomy 3) surgical videos and diagrams to explain the steps of the surgical procedure and 4) an explanation of possible post-operative complications.

Partial Tonsillectomy

Partial Tonsillectomy Sarah Maurrasse MD, Vikash Modi MD Weill Cornell Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in children. The main indication for partial tonsillectomy is sleep disordered breathing, which includes a spectrum of disorders from primary snoring to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This video includes 1) figures of the anatomy relevant to partial tonsillectomy 2) a discussion of the indications for partial tonsillectomy and 3) surgical videos and diagrams that explain the steps of the surgical procedure.

Transoral incision and drainage of retropharyngeal abscess.

Authors: Matthew Kim, Vikash Modi. This is a demonstration of transoral incision and drainage of retropharyngeal abscess in a 5-year-old male who presented with fever and neck stiffness. An initial CT scan with intravenous contrast showed retropharyngeal edema without organized abscess. A repeat scan 4 days later revealed a peripherally enhancing, multi-loculated hypodense collection centered in the left retropharyngeal space. After induction of general anesthesia and orotracheal intubation with a 4.5 cuffed oral RAE endotracheal tube, the patient is placed in suspension with a Crowe-Davis mouth gag. The abscess forms a noticeable bulge in the posterior pharyngeal wall. A flexible suction catheter is passed through the right nasal cavity and used to retract the soft palate and uvula to maximize exposure. After retracting the tonsillar pillars laterally with a Hurd elevator, a Beaver 6400 mini blade is used to make a vertical incision in the pharyngeal mucosa centered over the abscess. There is immediate return of purulence – a culture swab is used to obtain a sample for microbiological testing. A Yankauer suction bluntly enlarges the opening while simultaneously suctioning out purulent debris. The incision is widened superiorly and inferiorly with curved Metzenbaum scissors. Spreading the instrument vertically minimizes risk of vascular injury. An Adson clamp is then used to bluntly explore the abscess cavity laterally and superiorly. Further purulent drainage is expressed. The abscess cavity is further explored and widened with digital dissection. The abscess cavity is copiously irrigated with saline. After confirming hemostasis, the patient was extubated uneventfully. He was started on an oral diet immediately after surgery and discharged the following day.

Saccular Cyst Marsupialization and Ventriculotomy

We present a case of a saccular cyst managed initially with marsupialization followed by ventriculotomy for recurrence.

Inderpal S. Sarkaria, MD, FACS

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

• Vice Chairman for Clinical Affairs
• Director of Thoracic Robotic Surgery
• Co-Director of the Esophageal and Lung Surgery Institute
• Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery  

Dr. Sarkaria is an expert in minimally invasive approaches to benign and neoplastic diseases of the esophagus, mediastinum, and lung. He is a recognized leader in robotic assisted approaches to these operations, and developed the minimally invasive esophageal program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center prior to moving to UPMC. Dr. Sarkaria has one of the largest international experiences with robotic assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) and other esophageal operations. Dr. Sarkaria has lectured, published, and presented his research and experience nationally and internationally and is a member of the major national and international thoracic surgical societies.

Board-certified in general surgery and thoracic surgery, Dr. Sarkaria earned his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark. He completed a residency in general surgery and cardiac surgery fellowship at New York Presbyterian Hospital – Weill Cornell Medical Center. He also completed fellowships in thoracic surgical oncology and cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and in minimally invasive thoracic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Pediatric Endoscopic Airway Surgery

This webinar will address common and advanced pediatric airway pathology. There will be a focus on video demonstration of advanced surgical endoscopic management of pediatric airway pathology ranging from laryngomalacia to type 3 laryngeal clefts.

Vikash K. Modi, MD, is an Associate Professor and the Chief of Pediatric Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital- Weill Cornell Medical Center. After receiving his medical degree from the Rutgers Medical School, Dr. Modi completed his residency in Otolaryngology at the University of Southern California - Keck School of Medicine. Following residency, Dr. Modi completed a Pediatric Otolaryngology fellowship at Northwestern University - Children's Memorial Hospital. He founded the Cornell Aerodigestive Center and has one of the largest series of endoscopic posterior cricoid split with rib grafting (presented at ESPO). He also has presented his work on endoscopic repair of laryngeal clefts at ASPO and CEORL. He has been inducted as a Fellow, into the prestigious Triological Society for his thesis paper on airway balloon dilation and currently serves as a Section Editor-Video Editor of The Laryngoscope and is known for his surgical endoscopic airway videos.