To describe a method of reducing the risk of sternal wound infection after sternotomy in children with a pre-existing tracheostomy. To report our outcomes using this method from 1 January, 2013 to 31 August, 2023.

We describe a method for temporarily occluding the tracheal stoma with a removable implant with the primary goal of reducing the risk of sternotomy wound infection by preventing soilage due to tracheostomal secretions. We then performed a retrospective review of all children who underwent temporary tracheostomal occlusion between 1 January, 2013 and 31 August, 2023 at our quaternary care children’s hospital. Clinical variables were extracted from the hospital medical records. The rates of antibiotic use and minor and major complications during the period when the stoma plug was in place were recorded.

Totally, 19 patients underwent tracheal stoma plugging prior to sternotomy and were included in our analysis. There were two cases of sternal wound infection; one case occurred while the stoma plug was in place, and one developed four days following plug removal. There was one minor complication, with one patient requiring stoma revision via serial dilation at bedside at the time of recannulation. There were no deaths.

Temporary occlusion of the tracheal stoma with an impermeable plug is a viable option for reducing the risk of sternal wound infection in children with a pre-existing tracheostomy who are undergoing sternotomy.

COVID-19 has significantly impacted society for over 2.5 years, and Long COVID is concerning for its long-term impact on the healthcare system. Further, cognitive and emotional functioning in Long COVID has limited research, but 2 recent studies (Whiteside et al., 2022a, Whiteside et al., 2022b) examined cognitive and emotional functioning in Long COVID patients approximately 6 months post-diagnosis. The studies found limited cognitive deficits, but significant depression and anxiety, which in turn were the best predictors of low average cognitive scores. Further, the mean Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) profile included highest mean elevations on somatic preoccupation (SOM) and depression (DEP) subscales. To further explore personality functioning in Long COVID, this study compared PAI profiles of Long COVID patients with a potentially similar group with post-concussion syndrome (PCS) which has been shown to have a strong psychological component.

Participants included 44 consecutive outpatients (Mean age = 47.89, SD = 13.05, 84% Female, 75% Caucasian) referred from a Long COVID clinic with cognitive complaints related to COVID, while the comparison group of PCS patients included 50 consecutive referrals (Mean age = 38.82, SD = 16.24, 52% Female, 90% Caucasian) related to cognitive complaints attributed to PCS. A series of t-tests between the 2 groups was conducted on the PAI validity, clinical, interpersonal, and treatment consideration scales. PAI clinical subscales were also compared. To control for multiple comparisons, p < .01 was utilized and effect sizes were compared.

The results demonstrated that both Long COVID (SOM M = 68.66, SD = 12.56; DEP M = 63.39, SD = 12.70) and PCS groups (SOM M = 65.28, SD = 12.06; DEP M = 70.32, SD = 16.15) displayed the highest mean elevations on PAI SOM and DEP scales but no statistically significant differences in mean scale elevations between Long COVID and PCS groups on SOM (t [92] = 1.33, p = .80) and DEP (t [92] = -2.11, p = .097). However, results demonstrated statistically significant differences on the paranoia subscale (PAR; t [92] = -3.27, p = .009), antisocial features subscale (ANT; t [92] = -2.22, p = .01), stress subscale (STR; t [90] = -3.51, p = .006) and suicidal ideation subscale (SUI; t [92] = -2.73, p = .000) of the PAI. Specifically, the mean scores for the PCS group were higher across the paranoia (M = 57.30), antisocial features (M= 52.24), stress (M = 58.44), and suicidal ideation subscales (M = 57.82) of the PAI than the Long COVID group. While these patterns of reporting differed between groups, mean scores for both groups were in the normal range.

Results support the similarities in emotional/personality functioning across Long COVID and PCS patients and the importance of evaluating psychological functioning in these samples as a standard part of neuropsychological evaluations. Further, the results suggest that psychological treatment strategies utilized with PCS patients may be helpful for Long COVID patients, but more research is needed.

We conducted a population-based study using Ontario health administrative data to describe trends in healthcare utilization and mortality in adults with epilepsy during the first pandemic year (March 2020–March 2021) compared to historical data (2016–2019). We also investigated if changes in outpatient visits and diagnostic testing during the first pandemic year were associated with increased risk for hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits, or death.

Projected monthly visit rates (per 100,000 people) for outpatient visits, electroencephalography, magnetic resonance, computed tomography, all-cause ED visits, hospitalizations, and mortality were calculated based on historical data by fitting monthly time series autoregressive integrated moving-average models. Two-way interactions were calculated using Quasi-Poisson models.

In adults with epilepsy during the first quarter of the pandemic, we demonstrated a reduction in all-cause outpatient visits, diagnostic testing, ED visits and hospitalizations, and a temporary increase in mortality (observed rates of 355.8 vs projected 308.8, 95% CI: 276.3–345.1). By the end of the year, outpatient visits increased (85,535.4 vs 76,620.6, 95% CI: 71,546.9–82,059.4), and most of the diagnostic test rates returned to the projected. The increase in the rate of all-cause mortality during the pandemic, compared to pre-pandemic, was greater during months with the lower frequency of diagnostic tests than months with higher frequency (interaction p-values <.0001).

We described the impact of the pandemic on healthcare utilization and mortality in adults with epilepsy during the first year. We demonstrated that access to relevant diagnostic testing is likely important for this population while planning restrictions on non-urgent health services.