Learning Objectives
Otolaryngology Service Elective
The student will work with two of the five Otolaryngology services including general otolaryngology, head & neck oncology, otology/rhinology, facial plastics/laryngology, and pediatric otolaryngology in the diagnosis & treatment of head and neck disease. Patients include those with head and neck cancer, otologic disease, speech and hearing disorders, facial trauma, facial reconstruction, skull base tumors and sinus disease, congenital head and neck anomalies, and infections of the head & neck. The student will become familiar with head and neck anatomy as it applies to each disease process. In addition to standard open surgical procedures, the student will be introduced to the surgical techniques of endoscopic surgery, microvascular surgery, and microscopic surgery (otologic surgery). Students will participate in weekly Grand Rounds on Wednesdays and otology conference on Thursdays. The student will choose two of the five services to work with, spending a week on each.
Learning Objective #1: The student will be able to describe in detail the components of a complete head and neck exam as well as defect/tumor/disease in precise anatomic and physiologic terms.
Learning Objective #2: The student will correlate anatomic findings with head and neck imaging including CT, MRI, and Ultrasound.
Learning Objective #3: The student will differentiate among surgical vs. non-surgical techniques for managing new patients with head and neck disease.
Learning Objective #1: In the evaluation of a patient with a thyroid mass, the student will be able to perform a differential diagnosis, discuss a diagnostic workup plan, and describe complications associated with a thyroidectomy.
Learning Objective #2: The student will be able to characterize cervical lymph node levels I-VI and their anatomic borders as well as distinguish among radical, modified radical, and selective neck dissections.
Learning Objective #3: The student will explain the differences between a pedicled and a free flap and describe a clinical situation in which one is more appropriate than the other for reconstruction.
Learning Objective #1: The student will distinguish between conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss findings both on tuning fork exam and on an audiogram. In the evaluation of a patient with hearing loss, the student will be able to perform a proper otoscopic exam as well as the Weber and Rinne tests and identify the gold standard imaging study for ruling out acoustic neuroma.
Learning Objective #2: In the evaluation of a dizziness patient, the student will be able to perform a differential diagnosis and describe a workup plan. The student will identify and differentiate among the clinical presentations and treatment options for vestibular neuritis, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere’s Disease, and migraine-associated vertigo.
Learning Objective #3: The student will be able to define acute versus chronic rhinosinusitis and explain the three most common causative organisms and standard treatment for acute rhinosinusitis. In the evaluation of a patient with chronic sinusitis, the student will pinpoint the imaging study of choice and identify all of the sinuses as well as evidence of sinus disease on imaging.
Learning Objective #1: The student will explain the differences between a full thickness skin graft and a composite graft, and describe a clinical situation in which one is more appropriate than the other for reconstruction. The student will also be able to discuss the various reconstructive skin flaps using the vascular supply classification, the configuration classification (e.g. rhombic, bilobe, etc.), and the method of transfer classification (pivotal, advancement, hinge).
Learning Objective #2: In the evaluation of a maxillofacial trauma patient, the student will be able to identify associated findings on imaging in anatomic terms, characterize the vertical and horizontal buttresses of the face, explain the different types of Lefort fractures (I-III), and describe when urgent surgical intervention is necessary.
Learning Objective #3: When presented with a patient with hoarseness, the student will be able to perform a differential diagnosis and discuss a diagnostic workup plan. On laryngoscopic exam, the student will distinguish between normal and pathologic laryngeal anatomy.
Learning Objective #1: When presented with a patient with epistaxis, the student will be able to perform a differential diagnosis and describe the medical and surgical treatment options for recurrent epistaxis.
Learning Objective #2: The student will identify the indications for a tonsillectomy as well as the classic presentation and treatment for a peritonsillar abscess.
Learning Objective #3: In the evaluation of a pediatric patient with stridor, the student will be able to perform a differential diagnosis and discuss a workup plan and possible medical and surgical treatment options.
Learning Objective #4: The student will be able to explain the typical progression of acute otitis media at the anatomic level, the three most common causative organisms of otitis media, standard medical and surgical treatments for otitis media, and possible complications of acute otitis media.