Rebecca Maunsell

Correlação da qualidade de vida e voz com atividade profissional

As disfonias podem comprometer a qualidade da comunicacao e, por consequencia, a relacao social do individuo e assim afetar sua qualidade de vida. Existe hoje necessidade de protocolos objetivos para avaliacao da qualidade vocal que mensurem suas implicacoes na qualidade de vida do paciente. OBJETIVOS: Relacionar qualidade de vida e voz com o grau de disfonia e o uso profissional da voz em um grupo de pacientes disfonicos. MATERIAL E METODO: Realizou-se estudo clinico prospectivo aplicando-se protocolo internacional para avaliar a qualidade de vida e voz em um grupo de pacientes disfonicos. Realizou-se tratamento estatistico dos resultados considerando-se nao-distincao entre profissionais da voz e nao-profissionais da voz e, em seguida, considerando-se esta distincao profissional. RESULTADOS: A disfonia afetou a qualidade de vida em todos os individuos. Nao houve diferenca estatistica entre os grupos, profissionais da voz e nao-profissionais da voz, quanto ao grau de disfonia. Houve correlacao entre qualidade de vida e grau de disfonia, no entanto, considerando-se os grupos separadamente, esta correlacao foi significativa apenas no grupo de sujeitos nao-profissionais da voz. CONCLUSAO: A disfonia afetou a qualidade de vida em todos os sujeitos independente do uso profissional da voz.

Vibratory pattern of vocal folds under tension asymmetry

Objective The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the vibratory pattern of vocal folds in an asymmetric situation. Study Design and Setting Cricothyroid muscle unilateral action was simulated on excised larynges on an experimental bench. Increasing airflow rates were applied to achieve vocal fold vibration. Electroglottography and an optoreflectometer device allowed analysis of separate and simultaneous vocal fold vibration. Spectra of the signals were obtained for each level of airflow variation. Results All experiments showed periodic vibration. A phase shift was noted between the two vocal folds. Subharmonics and biphonation were identified in all the experiments. Conclusion Lax vocal folds were more susceptible to spectral changes with increasing airflow. Significance Knowledge of the consequences of mass, tension, and position asymmetries of the vocal folds is crucial for diagnosis making and defining therapeutic strategies in dysphonic patients. This study may contribute to the understanding of physiology of vocal fold interaction and its compensatory mechanisms.

Schwannoma of the nasal septum: evaluation of unilateral nasal mass

1 Medico (Medico residente de Otorrinolaringologia da UNICAMP). 2 Mestre em medicina (Medico Otorrinolaringologista (fellow em otologia na UNICAMP)). 3 Mestre em ciencias medicas (Medica otorrinolaringologista do Servico de Otorrinolaringologia do Hospital Estadual de Sumare, Disciplina de Otorrinolaringologia, Cabeca e Pescoco, UNICAMP). 4 Doutora em ciencias medicas (Medica otorrinolaringologista, Chefe do Servico de Rinologia, Disciplina de Otorrinolaringologia, Cabeca e Pescoco, UNICAMP). Disciplina de Otorrinolaringologia, Cabeca e Pescoco. Hospital das Clinicas (HC) Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas (FCM) Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brasil. Endereco para correspondencia: Henrique Furlan Pauna. Rua Aldo de Oliveira Barbosa, no 170. Parque das Universidades. Campinas SP. Brasil. CEP: 13086-030. E-mail: h_pauna@hotmail.com Este artigo foi submetido no SGP (Sistema de Gestao de Publicacoes) do BJORL em 21 de abril de 2012. cod. 9165. Artigo aceito em 20 de outubro de 2012. CASE REPORT Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2013;79(3):403.

Predicting outcomes of balloon laryngoplasty in children with subglottic stenosis

UNLABELLED The treatment of subglottic stenosis in children remains a challenge for the otolaryngologist and may involve procedures such as endoscopy, open surgery, and often both. In the recent past, high-pressure balloons have been used in endoscopic treatment due to their relative facility and high success rates. OBJECTIVE To report success rates in the treatment of acquired subglottic stenosis with balloon laryngoplasty in children and identify predictive factors for the success of the technique and its complications. METHODS Descriptive, prospective study of children who were diagnosed with acquired subglottic stenosis and underwent balloon laryngoplasty as the primary treatment. RESULTS Balloon laryngoplasty was performed in 48 children with an average age of 20.7 months: 31 presented with chronic subglottic stenosis and 17 with acute stenosis. Success rate was 100% for acute and 39% for chronic subglottic stenosis. Success was significantly associated with several factors, including recently acquired stenosis, initial grade of stenosis, younger patient age, and the absence of tracheotomy. Complications were transitory dysphagia observed in three children and a submucosal cyst in one of the patients. CONCLUSIONS Balloon laryngoplasty may be considered as a first line of treatment for acquired subglottic stenosis. In acute cases, the success rate was 100%, and even though results are less promising in chronic cases, complications were not significant and the patients can undergo open surgery without contraindications. Predictive factors of success were acute stenosis, less severe grades of stenosis, younger patient age, and the absence of tracheotomy.

Balloon laryngoplasty for acquired subglottic stenosis in children: predictive factors for success

INTRODUCTION The treatment of subglottic stenosis in children remains a challenge for the otorhinolaryngologist, and may involve both endoscopic and open surgery. OBJECTIVE To report the experience of two tertiary facilities in the treatment of acquired subglottic stenosis in children with balloon laryngoplasty, and to identify predictive factors for success of the technique and its complications. METHODS Descriptive, prospective study of children diagnosed with acquired subglottic stenosis and submitted to balloon laryngoplasty as primary treatment. RESULTS Balloon laryngoplasty was performed in 37 children with an average age of 22.5 months; 24 presented chronic subglottic stenosis and 13 acute subglottic stenosis. Success rates were 100% for acute subglottic stenosis and 32% for chronic subglottic stenosis. Success was significantly associated with acute stenosis, initial grade of stenosis, children of a smaller age, and the absence of tracheostomy. Transitory dysphagia was the only complication observed in three children. CONCLUSION Balloon laryngoplasty may be considered the first line of treatment for acquired subglottic stenosis. In acute cases, the success rate is 100%, and although the results are less promising in chronic cases, complications are not significant and the possibility of open surgery remains without prejudice.

Histologic comparison of vocal fold microflap healing with sutures and glue.

Improved voice quality is the expected outcome of microphonosurgery. To this end, the complex vibratory movement of the vocal folds must be preserved. Scarring of the vocal folds may compromise vocal outcome and is one of the most difficult to treat conditions. To minimize scar formation, a consensus exists on the need for maximum preservation of the epithelium and superficial lamina propria, and minimal exposure of vocal ligament. However, the need to cover the microflap defect is controversial. The aim of this study was to compare healing characteristics of microflap technique when the microflap is left to heal by second intention, when the defect is closed with sutures, and when it is covered with glue.

Newborn nasal obstruction due to congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis.

Introduction Nasal obstruction is an important condition that can lead to severe respiratory distress in newborns. There are several differential diagnoses, and one of them is congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis (CNPAS). CNPAS is a rare case of respiratory distress caused by excessive growth of the nasal process of the maxilla and leads to narrowing of the anterior third of the nasal cavity. Diagnosis, associated anomalies, and treatment strategies are reviewed by the following presentation of two cases. Case Presentation We report two cases of infants diagnosed with CNPAS. The patients in the first case had no concomitant comorbidities, and the outcome was successful after surgical correction of stenosis. The patient in the second case had an associated holoprosencephaly, and although surgical correction and nasal cavity patency, the patient remains dependent on tracheostomy due to dysphagia and neurologic impairment. Discussion Airway obstruction affects 1 in 5000 children, and CNPAS is a diagnosis frequently forgotten and even unknown to neonatal and pediatric intensivists. Newborns are obligate nasal breathers, and, nasal obstruction, therefore, can lead to severe respiratory distress. CNPAS is not only rare but, many times, is not easily recognized. It is important to bear in mind the diagnostic criteria when evaluating infants with nasal obstruction. Conservative treatment should be prioritized, but surgical treatment is required in severe cases with failure to thrive and persistent respiratory distress. Respiratory distress and dysphagia may persist to some degree despite correction of the stenotic pyriform aperture due to associated narrowing of the entire nasal cavity and association with other anomalies. Final Comments CNPAS is a rare condition and may be lethal in newborns. Differential diagnosis of nasal obstruction must be remembered to recognize this anomaly, and the otolaryngologist must be familiarized with this condition and its diagnosis. Precise surgical treatment in severe cases have high rates of success in children without other comorbidities.

Revealing the needs of children with tracheostomies

INTRODUCTION Small children with tracheostomy are at potential risk and have very specific needs. International literature describes the need for tracheostomy in 0.5% to 2% of children following intubation. Reports of children submitted to tracheostomy, their characteristics and needs are limited in developing countries and therefore there is a lack of health programs and government investment directed to medical and non-medical care of these patients. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of these children and identify problems related to or caused by the tracheostomy. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed based on a common database applied in four high complexity healthcare facilities to children submitted to tracheostomy from January 2013 to December 2015. Data concerning childrens demographics, indication for tracheostomy, early and late complications related to tracheostomy, airway diagnosis, comorbidities and decannulation rates are reported. Patients who did not present a complete database or had a follow-up of less than six months were excluded. RESULTS A total of 160 children submitted to tracheostomy during the three-year period met the criteria and were enrolled in this study. Median age at tracheostomy was 6.9 months (ranging from 1 month to 16 years, interquartile range of 26 months). Post-intubation laryngitis was the most frequent indication (48.8%). Comorbidities were frequent: neurologic disorders were reported in 40%, pulmonary pathologies in 26.9% and 20% were premature infants. Syndromic children were 23.1% and the most frequent was Downs syndrome. The most common early complication was infection that occurred in 8.1%. Stomal granulomas were the most frequent late complication and occurred in 16.9%. Airway anomalies were frequently diagnosed in follow-up endoscopic evaluations. Subglottic stenosis was the most frequent airway diagnosis and occurred in 29.4% of the cases followed by laryngomalacia, suprastomal collapse and vocal cord paralysis. Decannulation was achieved in 22.5% of the cases in the three-year period. The main cause for persistent tracheostomy was the need for further treatment of airway pathology. Mortality rate was 18.1% during this period but only 1.3% were directly related to the tracheostomy, the other deaths were a consequence of other comorbidities. CONCLUSION Tracheostomies were performed mostly in very small children and comorbidities were very common. Once a tracheostomy was performed in a child in most cases it was not removed before a year. The most common early complication was stoma infection followed by accidental decannulation. The most frequent late complication was granuloma and suprastomal collapse. Airway abnormalities were very frequent in this population and therefore need to be assessed before attempting decannulation.

Pegylated interferon for treating severe recurrent respiratory papillomatosis in a child: case report

CONTEXT Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is the most common laryngeal tumor. During childhood, it may present in extremely severe forms defined by the need for frequent surgical procedures to relieve respiratory distress and/or involvement of extralaryngeal sites such as lung involvement. Adjuvant therapies are indicated in these cases and interferon is one of the options. Pegylated interferon is more effective than conventional alpha interferon and, given its reported results in relation to treating hepatitis C over the past decade, we hypothesized that this might be more effective than conventional interferon also for treating respiratory papillomatosis. Use of a treatment strategy that eliminates the need for general anesthesia is particularly appealing, yet obtaining approval for use of medications that are not currently used for this purpose is challenging. CASE REPORT We report the case of a child with severe RRP that had been followed for the preceding six years, who was treated with pegylated interferon after failure of other adjuvant therapies. There was noticeable improvement in the frequency of surgical procedures, which was regarded very receptively, considering the childs history and previous response to other therapies. CONCLUSION Pegylated interferon may be a good option for diminishing the need for surgical intervention in severe cases of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

First Clinical Consensus and National Recommendations on Tracheostomized Children of the Brazilian Academy of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology (ABOPe) and Brazilian Society of Pediatrics (SBP)

INTRODUCTION Tracheostomy is a procedure that can be performed in any age group, including children under 1year of age. Unfortunately health professionals in Brazil have great difficulty dealing with this condition due to the lack of standard care orientation. OBJECTIVE This clinical consensus by Academia Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia Pediátrica (ABOPe) and Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria (SBP) aims to generate national recommendations on the care concerning tracheostomized children. METHODS A group of experts experienced in pediatric tracheostomy (otorhinolaryngologists, intensive care pediatricians, endoscopists, and pediatric pulmonologists) were selected, taking into account the different regions of Brazil and following inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS The results generated from this document were based on the agreement of the majority of participants regarding the indications, type of cannula, surgical techniques, care, and general guidelines and decannulation. CONCLUSION These guidelines can be used as directives for a wide range of health professionals across the country that deal with tracheostomized children.