Videofluoroscopia na avaliação da deglutição (en la evaluación de la deglución) / Videofluoroscopy in swallowing evaluation

Videofluoroscopy (VFS) is considered the best resource to evaluate swallowing disorders in their oral, pharyngeal and esophageal phases. Its introduction allowed a better understanding of the physiology of the different phases of swallowing and the changes caused by the diseases that compromise them. Take the test requires proper training, experience, and equipment. The main advantages of videofluoroscopy are: the results that can be analyzed later and repeated, the measurement of the coordination and duration of swallowing events, and the possibility of evaluation in different positions and with boluses of different volumes, consistencies and temperatures. Among the disadvantages are: exposure to radiation, the use of barium contrast (which modifies the characteristics of food and, when aspirated, can cause lung inflammation depending on the concentration and volume, and the possibility of subjectivity in the analysis ). The advancement of technology has progressively diminished these disadvantages. It is an essential examination in clinical practice that investigates, diagnoses and treats patients with dysphagia, which can cause deterioration of the phases of swallowing.

O exame videofluoroscópico (VFS) é considerado o melhor recurso para avaliação dos distúrbios da deglutição em suas (el mejor recurso para la evaluación de los problemas de deglución en sus) fases oral, faríngea e esofágica. A sua introdução permitiu o melhor conhecimento da fisiologia das diferentes fases da deglutição e das alterações provocadas por doenças que as comprometem (y de las alteraciones producidas por enfermedades que las comprometen). A realização do exame requer treinamento, experiência e equipamento adequado (La realización de este examen requiere entrenamiento, experiencia y el equipo adecuado). As principais vantagens da videofluoroscopia são: resultados passíveis de análise posterior e repetidas, mensuração da coordenação e duração dos eventos da deglutição e a possibilidade de avaliação em diversas posições e com bolos de diferentes volumes, consistências e temperatura (resultados sujetos a análisis posteriores y repeticiones, medición de la coordinación y duración de los eventos de deglución y la posibilidad de evaluación en diferentes posiciones y con bolos de diferentes volúmenes, consistencias y temperaturas). Dentre as desvantagens estão: exposição à radiação, utilização do contraste de bário, que modifica as características dos alimentos e, quando aspirado, pode causar inflamação pulmonar (Entre las desventajas están: la exposición a radicación, la utilización del contraste con bario -que modifica las características de los alimentos y que si se aspira puede causar inflamación pulmonar-) na dependência da concentração e volume, e a possibilidade de subjetividade na análise. O avanço da tecnologia tem diminuído progressivamente estas desvantagens. É um exame essencial em uma clínica que investiga, diagnostica e trata pacientes com disfagia, caracterizando o comprometimento das fases da deglutição.

Isosorbide and nifedipine for Chagas' megaesophagus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease. About 6 to 8 million people are chronically infected and 10% to 15% develop irreversible gastrointestinal disorders, including megaesophagus. Treatment focuses on improving symptoms, and isosorbide and nifedipine may be used for this purpose. METHODOLOGY: We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment for Chagas' megaesophagus. We searched MEDLINE, Embase and LILACS databases up to January 2018. We included both observational studies and RCTs evaluating the effects of isosorbide or nifedipine in adult patients with Chagas' megaesophagus. Two reviewers screened titles and abstracts, selected eligible studies and extracted data. We assessed the risk of bias using NIH 'Quality Assessment Tool for Before-After (Pre-Post) Studies with No Control Group' and RoB 2.0 tool. Overall quality of evidence was assessed using GRADE. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We included eight studies (four crossover RCTs, four before-after studies). Three studies evaluated the effect of isosorbide on lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP), showing a significant reduction (mean difference -10.52mmHg, 95%CI -13.57 to-7.47, very low quality of evidence). Three studies reported the effect of isosorbide on esophageal emptying, showing a decrease in esophageal retention rates (mean difference -22.16%, 95%CI -29.94 to -14.38, low quality of evidence). In one study, patients on isosorbide reported improvement in the frequency and severity of dysphagia (moderate quality of evidence). Studies evaluating nifedipine observed a decrease in LESP but no effect on esophageal emptying (very low and low quality of evidence, respectively). Isosorbide had a higher incidence of headache as a side effect than nifedipine. CONCLUSIONS: Although limited, available evidence shows that both isosorbide and nifedipine are effective in reducing esophageal symptoms. Isosorbide appears to be more effective, and its use is supported by a larger number of studies; nifedipine, however, appears to have a better tolerability profile. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42017055143. ClinicalTrials.gov CRD42017055143.

Acute alterations in anorectal manometry induced by proximal and distal sphincterotomy. Experimental studies on piglets.

Anal incontinence causes psychological, social and adaptive troubles prejudicial to the quality of life both in children and adults. Therefore, the detailed knowledge of its causes and the improvement of diagnostic and therapeutic methods increase the possibilities of a more adequate social life to patients with congenital anomalies or sphincteric lesions or degenerations. In this work, a manometric study was developed through an experimental model so as to analyze alterations in behavior of muscle groups responsible for the anorectal sphincteric mechanism, previous to and after proximal and distal lesions. Twenty-two pigs aged between 25 and 30 days, weighing 5-7 kg, were randomly divided into two groups. They were submitted to lesions of different levels in the anorectal muscle. The animals were studied by anorectal manometry (rectoanal inhibitory reflex and vector volume) before and after the lesions. The Student t test and the Wilcoxon test were applied for the statistical analyses, considered p

Reactivation of Chagas' disease in a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: gastric, oesophageal and laryngeal involvement.

Changes in the natural course of Trypanosoma cruzi infection have been associated with immunosuppression. We report here a case of the reactivation of Chagas' disease in a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with gastric, oesophageal and laryngeal involvement. This is the first report describing the involvement of the larynx by T. cruzi.