Gilson Barreto

Management of salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma: institutional experience of a case series

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Salivary gland tumor management requires long-term follow-up because of tumor indolence and possible late recurrence and distant metastasis. Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) accounts for 10-15% of such tumors. The aim here was to evaluate surgical and clinical management, staging and follow-up of ACC patients in one academic institution. DESIGN AND SETTING Retrospective study at Head and Neck Service, Universidade Estadual de Campinas. METHODS Data on 21 patients treated between 1993 and 2003 were reviewed. Management utilized clinical staging, histology and imaging. Major salivary gland tumor extent was routinely assessed by preoperative ultrasonography. Diagnosis, surgery type, margin type (negative/positive), postoperative radiotherapy and recurrence (presence/absence) were evaluated. RESULTS There were eleven major salivary gland tumors (52.3%), seven submandibular and four parotid. Ten patients (47.7%) had minor salivary gland ACC (all in palate), while the submandibular was the most frequently affected major one. Diagnoses were mostly via fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and incision biopsy. Frozen sections were used for six patients. There was good ultrasound/FNA correlation. Sixteen (76%) had postoperative radiotherapy. One (4.7%) died from ACC and five now have recurrent disease: three (14.2%) locoregional and two (9.5%) distant metastases. CONCLUSION Adenoid cystic carcinoma has locally aggressive behavior. In 21 cases, of ACC, the facial nerve was preserved in all except in the few with gross tumor involvement. Treatment was defined from physical examination, imaging, staging and histology.

Parapharyngeal space tumors: considerations in 26 cases

CONTEXT Parapharyngeal space tumors comprise less than 0.5% of all head and neck neoplasms. The majority of these tumors are benign, but surgery is usually required to establish the diagnosis and treat the patients. We present 26 patients treated surgically for tumors arising in the parapharyngeal space (PPS) at the State University of Campinas Hospital--UNICAMP. CASES SERIES Of these, 17 (65.5%) had benign and 9 (34.6%) malignant neoplasms. The surgical and pathological data relevant to these cases are highlighted, observing any local recurrence, surgical complications and the five-year survival. Neurogenic tumors and soft tissue sarcomas were, respectively, the most frequent benign (35.3%) and malignant neoplasms (44.5%). Benign tumors accounted for the majority of the cases and involved minimal surgical morbidity with no recurrence during a median follow-up of five years. Malignant tumors had a high rate of recurrence and mortality. Surgery is the treatment of choice for PPS tumors. A knowledge of the anatomy of this site is essential for the safe performance of surgical procedures. Malignant neoplasms have a poor prognosis. Fine needle aspiration was helpful in diagnosis of all tumors.

Atraumatic endotracheal tube for mechanical ventilation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Patients who need to stay under endotracheal intubation for long periods or when undergoing general anesthesia may develop tracheal lumen injuries due to pressure from distal cuff. In some cases, these injuries may evolve to stenosis or, occasionally, necrosis. The objective of this study was to present a modified endotracheal tube (METT) in which the cuff pressure is variable according to the cycle of mechanical ventilation (MV), which was tested on a lung simulator and animal model. METHODS Two models of endotracheal tubes, a modified (METT) and a conventional (CETT), number 7.5 mm and 8.0 mm, were connected to a lung simulator in a mechanical ventilator adjusted with two tidal volumes (TV) of 10 and 15 mL.kg(-1) and a compliance of 60 mL.cmH(2)O to evaluate the ventilatory efficiency of METT. Both models were also compared in Large-White pigs under general anesthesia and MV for 48 consecutive hours. Subsequently, animals were sacrificed for histopathological analysis of their tracheas. RESULTS Both METTs (#7.5 and 8.0) presented air leaks in lung simulator. The smallest air leak (13%) was observed in METT #7.5 with TV = 15 mL.kg(-1), while the largest air leak (32%) was observed in METT #8.0 with TV = 10 mL.kg(-1). Nevertheless, both METTs showed good efficiency on the lung simulator. In animals, on histopathological analysis of their tracheas, it was found that METT caused less trauma to the epithelium when compared to CETT. CONCLUSION The use of a new model of ETT may decrease the risks of tracheal injury without hindering respiratory mechanics.

A drenagem pleural pré-hospitalar: apresentação de mecanismo de válvula unidirecional

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to present an one-way valve mechanism to replace the underwater seal for pleural drainage, currently used in the prehospital attendance, as well as document preliminary results of its initial use at SAMUCampinas/ SP/Brasil. METHODS: Twenty two pleural drains with the valve were carried out, all of these in prehospital environment, in patients who suffered thoracic trauma or spontaneous pneumothorax, in a prospective not randomized trial. RESULTS: The total volume output drained through the valve ranged from 0 to 1500 ml, mean 700 ± 87,4 ml, in an average time lag of 18 minutes (± 1,1 minutes - ranging from 8 to 26 minutes). The initial and final cardiac frequency was 120 ± 2,7 bpm and 100 ± 2 bpm (p 0,00), respectively , whereas the initial respiratory frequency was 24 ± 0,8 ipm and the final was 15 ± 0,3 ipm (p 0,03). Only two mechanical failures were registered, one of which was corrected by the substitution of the defective valve, showing a 95,4% success ratio. CONCLUSION: Taking into account the initial and final physical examination, as well as the output quantification, it can be concluded that the valve is efficient and functional, and safe in the pre-hospital emergencies.

Effectiveness of the endotracheal tube cuff on the trachea: physical and mechanical aspects.

Introduction The inflation pressure of the endotracheal tube cuff can cause ischemia of the tracheal mucosa at high pressures; thus, it can cause important tracheal morbidity and tracheal microaspiration of the oropharyngeal secretion, or it can even cause pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation if the pressure of the cuff is insufficient. Objective In order to investigate the effectiveness of the RUSCH® 7.5 mm endotracheal tube cuff, this study was designed to investigate the physical and mechanical aspects of the cuff in contact with the trachea. Methods For this end, we developed an in vitro experimental model to assess the flow of dye (methylene blue) by the inflated cuff on the wall of the artificial material. We also designed an in vivo study with 12 Large White pigs under endotracheal intubation. We instilled the same dye in the oral cavity of the animals, and we analyzed the presence or not of leakage in the trachea after the region of the cuff after their deaths (animal sacrifice). All cuffs were inflated at the pressure of 30 cmH2O. Results We observed the passage of fluids through the cuff in all in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Conclusion We conclude that, as well as several other cuff models in the literature, the RUSCH® 7.5 mm tube cuffs are also not able to completely seal the trachea and thus prevent aspiration of oropharyngeal secretions. Other prevention measures should be taken.

Tubo endotraqueal atraumático para ventilação mecânica

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: Pacientes que necesitan permanecer bajo intubacion endotraqueal (IOT), durante largos periodos o que tienen que ser sometidos a la anestesia general, podran tener lesiones en la luz de la traquea debido a presiones ejercidas por el balon terminal. En algunos casos, esas lesiones podran evolucionar para una estenosis o a veces necrosis. El presente trabajo quiso presentar un tubo endotraqueal modificado (TETM), en que la presion del balon varia de acuerdo con el ciclo de la ventilacion mecanica (VM), siendo el mismo testado en un simulador pulmonar y modelo animal. METODO: En un simulador pulmonar acoplado a un ventilador mecanico y ajustado con dos volumenes corrientes (VC) de 10 y 15 mL.kg-1 y complacencia de 60 mL.cmH2O-1, fueron utilizados dos modelos de tubos endotraqueales: uno modificado (TETM), y el otro convencional (TETC), numeros (#) 7,5 mm y 8,0 mm, para evaluar la eficiencia de la ventilacion con el TETM. Tambien se hizo la comparacion entre los dos modelos, en cerdos de la raza Large-White, bajo anestesia general y VM por 48 horas consecutivas. Posteriormente, los animales se sacrificaron para el analisis histopatologico de las traqueas. RESULTADOS: Los dos TETMs (#7,5 y 8,0) presentaron un escape de aire en el simulador pulmonar. El menor de los escapes de aire (13%), fue visto en el TETM #7,5 mm, con VC = 15 mL.kg-1, y el mayor (32%) en el TETM #8,0 mm, con VC = 10 mL.kg-1. A pesar de eso, los dos TETMs presentaron una buena eficacia en el simulador pulmonar. En la evaluacion del uso de los TETs en animales, analizando la histopatologia de sus traqueas, verificamos que el TETM causo menos areas traumaticas en su epitelio en comparacion con el TETC. CONCLUSIONES: El uso de un nuevo modelo de TET podra disminuir los riesgos de lesion traqueal sin prejudicar la mecanica respiratoria.