Fernando Laffitte Fernandes

Deep neck abscesses: study of 101 cases

INTRODUCTION Although the incidence of Deep Cervical Abscess (DCA) has decreased mainly for the availability of antibiotics, this infection still occurs with considerable frequency and can be associated with high morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to present our clinical-surgical experience with deep neck abscesses. METHODS A retrospective study analyzed 101 patients diagnosed with deep neck abscesses caused by multiple etiologies, assisted at a medical school hospital during 6 years. One hundred one patients were included and 27 (26.7%) were younger than 18 years old (the children group), 74 patients (73.3%) were older than 18 years old (the adults group). The following clinical features were analyzed and compared: age, gender, clinical symptoms, leukocyte count, the affected cervical area, lifestyle habits, antibiotic therapy, comorbidities, etiology, bacterial culture, time of hospitalization, the need of tracheostomy and complications. RESULTS There was predominance in the male gender (55.5%) and young people (mean age 28.1 years). All of the 51 patients with associated disease comorbidity were adults. The most frequent etiologies were bacterial tonsillitis (31.68%) and odontogenic infections (23.7%). The most common cervical areas affected were the peritonsillar (26.7%), submandibular/mouth floor (22.7%) and parapharyngeal spaces (18.8%). In children group, the site most commonly involved was the peritonsillar space (10 patients, 37%). In adults group, the site most commonly involved was multispace (31 patients, 41.8%). Streptococcus pyogenes (23.3%) was the most common microorganism present. Amoxicillin associated with clavulanate (82.1%) was the more used antibiotic. The main complications of abscesses were septic shock (16.8%), pneumonia (10.8%) and mediastinitis (1.98%). Tracheostomy was necessary in 16.8% of patients. The mortality rate was 1.98%. CONCLUSION The clinical features and severity of DCA varied according to different age groups, perhaps due to the location of the infection and a higher incidence of comorbidity in adults. Thus, DCA in adults is more facile to have multispace involvement and lead to complications and seems to be more serious than that in children.

Larynx cancer: quality of life and voice after treatment

INTRODUCTION Treatments for patients with laryngeal cancer often have an impact on physical, social, and psychological functions. OBJECTIVE To evaluate quality of life and voice in patients treated for advanced laryngeal cancer through surgery or exclusive chemoradiation. METHODS Retrospective cohort study with 30 patients free from disease: ten total laryngectomy patients without production of esophageal speech (ES); ten total laryngectomy patients with tracheoesophageal speech (TES), and ten with laryngeal speech. Quality of life was measured by SF-36, Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL), and Voice Handicap Index (VHI) protocols, applied on the same day. RESULTS The SF-36 showed that patients who received exclusive chemoradiotherapy had better quality of life than the TES and ES groups. The V-RQOL showed that the voice-related quality of life was lower in the ES group. In the VHI, the ES group showed higher scores for overall, emotional, functional, and organic VHI. DISCUSSION Quality of life and voice in patients treated with chemoradiotherapy was better than in patients treated surgically. CONCLUSION The type of medical treatment used in patients with laryngeal cancer can bring changes in quality of life and voice.

Digisonic SP® Binaural cochlear implant: the coronal tunneled approach.

UNLABELLED Cochlear implants represent a significant breakthrough in the treatment of hearing loss. Evidence indicates bilateral hearing brings significant benefits to patients, particularly when binaural hearing is offered. OBJECTIVE To describe the first case of implantation of a Digisonic SP® Binaural Neurelec device in Brazil (the third implant placed in the Americas, after Mexico and Colombia) and the chosen surgical approach. METHOD Description of a surgical approach. RESULTS The procedure was successfully completed. DISCUSSION The squelch effect, binaural summation, location of the sound source, and the shadow effect of the head are listed among the reasons to explain the superiority of binaural rehabilitation. Cost of treatment must be considered in the development of public health policies. CONCLUSION The cost of cochlear implants has been one of the main impediments to bilateral rehabilitation. The Digisonic SP® Binaural Neurelec device addresses this issue and exposes patients to less risk through a minimally invasive implantation procedure.

Stapedial reflex and recruitment: What is the relationship with tinnitus?

Tinnitus is characterized by an auditory perception of sound, with no stimuli from the external environment. Tinnitus is an increasingly significant complaint, affecting 10-17% of the world population. As a symptom, it should always be considered with pathology in the auditory system. Our study aims to assess the relationship of this symptom with the presence of a stapedial reflex and the phenomenon of recruitment. Medical records of patients complaining of subjective tinnitus during their first consultation in the Outpatient Clinic of the Unicamp Teaching Hospital, in Brazil, between 2011 and 2012 were analyzed. We carried out a study with 65 non-randomized tinnitus individuals using questionnaires, clinical and audiological evaluations. The visual analogue scale was used to characterize the degree of disturbance caused by tinnitus. Statistical tests were performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 19. No association was found between tinnitus and the presence of acoustic reflex or phenomenon of recruitment. We concluded that there is no relationship between tinnitus, the phenomenon of recruitment or the presence of an acoustic reflex.

Implante coclear Digisonic SP® Binaural: acesso coronal tunelizado

UNLABELLED Cochlear implants represent a significant breakthrough in the treatment of hearing loss. Evidence indicates bilateral hearing brings significant benefits to patients, particularly when binaural hearing is offered. OBJECTIVE To describe the first case of implantation of a Digisonic SP® Binaural Neurelec device in Brazil (the third implant placed in the Americas, after Mexico and Colombia) and the chosen surgical approach. METHOD Description of a surgical approach. RESULTS The procedure was successfully completed. DISCUSSION The squelch effect, binaural summation, location of the sound source, and the shadow effect of the head are listed among the reasons to explain the superiority of binaural rehabilitation. Cost of treatment must be considered in the development of public health policies. CONCLUSION The cost of cochlear implants has been one of the main impediments to bilateral rehabilitation. The Digisonic SP® Binaural Neurelec device addresses this issue and exposes patients to less risk through a minimally invasive implantation procedure.

Oral Focal Mucinosis: A Painful Lesion of the Palate

Abstract: Background: Oral focal mucinosis (OFM) is a rare disease of unknown etiology, in which the connective tissue undergoes a focal myxoid degeneration. It was first described in 1974 by Tomich. Its pathogenesis is related to overproduction of hyaluronic acid by fibroblasts during the collagen production, resulting in focal myxoid degeneration. It has no distinctive features and diagnosis depends on histological analysis. Case: This paper reports a case of a 30 years old female treated at the Ambulatory of Stomatology of the Clinical Hospital - CH/UNICAMP, with a lesion growth and progressive pain in the palate, after performing dental treatment and discusses the clinical characteristics and differential diagnosis of myxomatous lesions of the oral cavity. Discussion: Since oral focal mucinosis has no distinguishing clinical features and the diagnostic is based on a histopathological examination, we ratify the importance of this procedure to confirm the diagnosis. This article is based on literature review and reports a case of oral focal mucinosis, its clinical and surgical outcome and demonstrates the importance of biopsy and pathological examinations in differential diagnosis of nodular masses in the oral cavity.

Extensive Frontoparietal Abscess: Complication of Frontal Sinusitis (Pott's Puffy Tumor).

First described in 1768, the Potts puffy tumor is a subperiosteal abscess associated with frontal bone osteomyelitis, resulting from trauma or frontal sinusitis. The classic clinical presentation consists of purulent rhinorrhea, fever, headache, and frontal swelling. The diagnosis is confirmed by CT scan and treatment requires intravenous antibiotics, analgesia, and surgical intervention. Early diagnosis and aggressive medical and surgical approach are essential for a good outcome. It rare and the early diagnosis is important; we describe the case of a 14-year-old adolescent with Potts puffy tumor who was initially treated inadequately, evolving with extensive frontoparietal abscess. The patient underwent surgical treatment with endoscopic endonasal and external approaches combined. Intravenous antibiotics were prescribed for a prolonged time, with good outcome and remission of the complaints.