Perfil de usuários com necessidades de cuidados paliativos vinculados a uma Unidade Básica de Saúde no município de Porto Alegre/RS / User profiles with palliative care needs linked to a primary healthcare center in the city of Porto Alegre, RS

O fortalecimento em Cuidados Paliativos (CP) na Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) aumenta a qualidade do atendimento no fim de vida e possibilita redução de complicações por longas internações. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar dados sobre a mortalidade ocorrida em portadores de doenças crônicas avançadas não transmissíveis vinculados à Unidade Básica de Saúde Vila Floresta do Grupo Hospitalar Conceição (USVF-GHC) e verificar quantos destes seriam elegíveis aos CP. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de caráter transversal, descritiva e de abordagem quantitativa e retrospectiva. Os dados são provenientes de registros eletrônicos em saúde, do relatório de monitoramento gerencial, dos prontuários na USVF-GHC e da vigilância epidemiológica de Porto Alegre. Utilizou-se a escala Palliative Care Screening Tool (PCST) para critério de elegibilidade à CP. De um total de 155 pessoas que faleceram e moravam no território de atuação da USVF-GHC no ano de 2019, 55,2%(n=86) eram do sexo feminino, 54,2%(n=84) eram idosos com mais de 80 anos, 23,9%(n=37) tinham o tempo entre diagnóstico e óbito com mais de 5 anos, em 69,7%(n=108) dos casos o local de falecimento foi o hospital, 66,5%(n=103) não tinham prontuário, para 34,8%(n=54) foram as neoplasias as principais causas de óbito e 42,6%(n=66) foram considerados elegíveis aos CP segundo a PCST. Conclui-se que o perfil de pessoas com diagnóstico há mais de cinco anos da doença que resultou no óbito poderia ser observado com maior atenção pelas equipes da APS no que diz respeito aos CP, aumentando as buscas ativas e estabelecendo comunicação efetiva com os hospitais na transferência de cuidados.

Strengthening in Palliative Care (PC) in Primary Healthcare (PHC) increases the quality of care at the end of life and reduces complications from long hospitalizations. The objective of this work was to analyze data on mortality that occurred in patients with advanced chronic non-communicable diseases associated with the Vila Floresta Primary Healthcare Center of the Conceição Hospital Group (VFPHC-CHG) and to verify how many of these would be eligible to PC. It is a transverse, descriptive and quantitative and retrospective approach research. Data come from electronic health records, management monitoring report, VFPHC-CHG medical records and Porto Alegre Epidemiological Surveillance. The Palliative Care Screening Tool (PCST) scale for PC eligibility criterion. Out of a total of 155 people who died and lived in the VFPHC-CHG covered territory in 2019, 55.2% (n = 86) were female, 54.2% (n = 84) were elderly and more 80 years old, 23.9% (n = 37) had died within five years after diagnosis, in 69.7% (n = 108) of cases the place of death was the hospital, 66.5% (n = 103) had no medical record, were neoplasms the main causes of death in 34.8%(n = 54), and 42.6% (n = 66) were considered eligible for PC according to PCST. It is concluded that the profile of people with diagnosis for over five years of the disease that resulted in death could be observed more carefully by PHC teams regarding PC, increasing the search for those who are eligible and establishing effective communication with hospitals in care transfer.

Speech characteristics in individuals with myasthenia gravis: a case control study.

INTRODUCTION: Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease. The characteristic symptoms of the disease are muscle weakness and fatigue. These symptoms affect de oral muscles causing dysarthria, affecting about 60% of patients with disease progression. PURPOSE: Describe the speech pattern of patients with MG and comparing with healthy controls (HC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Case-control study. Participants were divided in MG group (MGG) with 38 patients MG diagnosed and HC with 18 individuals matched for age and sex. MGG was evaluated with clinical and motor scales and answered self-perceived questionnaires. Speech assessment of both groups included: recording of speech tasks, acoustic and auditory-perceptual analysis. RESULTS: In the MGG, 68.24% of the patients were female, with average age of 50.21 years old (±16.47), 14.18 years (±9.52) of disease duration and a motor scale of 11.19 points (±8.79). The auditory-perceptual analysis verified that 47.36% (n = 18) participants in MGG presented mild dysarthria, 10.52% (n = 4) moderate dysarthria, with a high percentage of alterations in phonation (95.2%) and breathing (52.63%). The acoustic analysis verified a change in phonation, with significantly higher shimmer values in the MGG compared to the HC and articulation with a significant difference between the groups for the first formant of the /iu/ (p = <.001). No correlation was found between the diagnosis of speech disorder and the dysarthria self-perception questionnaire. CONCLUSION: We found dysarthria mild in MG patients with changes in the motor bases phonation and breathing, with no correlation with severity and disease duration.

Image-guided Temporal Bone Dissection Course.

Introduction Temporal bone anatomy is complex and demands a profound anatomical knowledge. Association between surgery and imaging helps in the process of learning three-dimensional (3D) anatomy and surgical techniques. High definition temporal bone imaging can play an important role in dissection training. Objective To describe a computed tomography (CT) image-guided temporal bone dissection course for surgical training in otolaryngology and to verify the satisfaction level of the students with the course. Methods Descriptive research. The course took place at a research laboratory, with three experienced temporal bone surgeons. The participants were 12 otolaryngology residents. The laboratory has 7 modern workstations with microscope and monitors linked with a computerized video system. Cadaveric temporal bones were donated to the university. Imaging acquisition of the cadaveric temporal bones used in the course was performed in a multislice CT scanner. The CT images of cadaveric temporal bones were available with real-time access on the laboratory monitor's screens during dissections. Results A total of 13 temporal bones were included for dissection. Students had the opportunity to view on the same screen, simultaneously, both the dissection video and the respective CT images of their temporal bone anatomical specimens. This allowed correlating surgical and imaging aspects of temporal bone anatomy. At the end of the course, participants answered a satisfaction survey. Conclusion Considering imaging methods are routinely used during most otologic surgeries, detailed knowledge of CT imaging should be explored in conjunction with the temporal bone anatomical dissection.

Análise dos fatores associados à decisão familiar sobre a doação de córneas / Analysis of factors associated with family decision on corneal donation

Resumo Objetivo: analisar a influência da escolaridade e do grau de parentesco na decisão familiar pela doação de córneas para transplantes. Método: desenho quantitativo, transversal e retrospectivo com amostra composta por 291 fichas das entrevistas realizadas com familiares de potenciais doadores de córneas de janeiro de 2015 a dezembro de 2017 de um hospital público, geral e de grande porte localizado no município de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Resultados: entre os potenciais doadores deste tecido, 53,3% são do sexo masculino com idade média de 57 anos (57±11); 55,7% são casados e o turno mais frequente da ocorrência do óbito é o noturno com 29,6% dos casos. Em relação à decisão familiar, 60,8% dos entrevistados decidiram favoravelmente à doação. Existe associação entre doação e turno da entrevista, sendo a madrugada o menos favorável (p=0,04). O tempo médio entre o óbito e a realização da entrevista é de 1:39 (±1:20) e não influenciou na decisão familiar (p=0,63). Dos familiares entrevistados, 58,8% são do sexo feminino e 53,3% são descendentes do potencial doador. O parentesco descendente decide sobre a doação com maior frequência do que ascendentes, laterais ou cônjuges. A faixa etária do familiar entrevistado (41±13) tem diferença estatística em relação a do potencial doador. Há diferença entre decisão de doação e nível de escolaridade (p=0,03) sendo que familiares com maior escolaridade decidem com maior frequência favoravelmente a doação. Conclusões: escolaridade do familiar, grau de parentesco e turno da entrevista influenciam na decisão positiva para a doação de córneas para transplantes.

Abstract Objective: analyzing the influence of schooling and kinship on families' decision to donate corneas for transplants. Method: quantitative, cross-sectional and retrospective study whose sample comprised 291 records of interviews conducted with family members of potential corneal donors from January 2015 to December 2017, who were treated in a public, general and large-sized hospital in Porto Alegre City, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Results: 53.3% of the potential corneal donors were male at mean age of 57 years (57 ± 11); 55.7% were married and 29.6% of them died during the night shift, which was the shift when death took place more often. With respect to families' decision, 60.8% of interviewees decided for donation. There was association between donation and interview shift; dawn was the least favorable time (p = 0.04). The mean time between patients' death and the interview with family members was 1:39 (± 1: 20) and it did not influence families' decision (p = 0.63). Among the interviewed family members, 58.8% were women and 53.3% were descendants of the potential donor. Descendants decide about the donation more often than ascendants, siblings or spouses. The age group of the interviewed family members (41 ± 13) was statistically different from that of potential donors. There was association between schooling and decision to donate (p = 0.03); family members with higher schooling were more often favorable towards donation. Conclusions: Family members' schooling, degree of kinship and interview shift had positive influence on individuals' decision to donate corneal tissue for transplants.

Cognitive performance in patients with Myasthenia Gravis: an association with glucocorticosteroid use and depression / Desempenho cognitivo em pacientes com Miastenia Gravis: uma associação com o uso de glucocorticoides e depressão

ABSTRACT. We investigated the cognitive performance of patients with Myasthenia Gravis (MG) through a cross-sectional study. A battery of cognitive assessments and self-report questionnaires regarding quality of life (QoL), sleep, and depression were applied. The sample consisted of 39 patients diagnosed with MG. The scores showed a predominance of cognitive impairment in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment screening test (MoCA) (66.7%) and in the immediate (59.0%) and recent memory (56.4%) tests. However, after the Poisson regression analysis with robust variance, it was found that patients diagnosed with depression had a prevalence ratio (PR) of 1,887 (CI 1,166‒3,054) for lower MoCA scores, PR=9,533 (CI 1,600‒56,788) for poorer phonemic verbal fluency scores, and PR=12,426 (CI 2,177‒70,931) for the Semantic Verbal Fluency test. Moreover, concerning a decline in short-term memory retention, patients using glucocorticosteroids (GC) and with Beck Depression Inventory scores indicating depression showed PR=11,227 (CI 1,736‒72,604) and PR=0.35 (CI 0.13‒0.904), respectively. No correlation was found between the QoL questionnaire and performance in cognitive tests. We found worse performance in tasks of memory and executive functions in MG patients. These are not associated with the length and severity of the disease. However, a significant prevalence ratio was found for poorer memory performance in patients diagnosed with depression and in those using GC.

RESUMO. Investigamos o desempenho cognitivo de pacientes com miastenia gravis (MG) por meio de um estudo transversal. Aplicou-se uma bateria de avaliações cognitivas e questionários de autopercepção sobre qualidade de vida (QV), sono e depressão. A amostra foi composta por 39 pacientes com diagnóstico de MG. Os escores mostraram predominância de comprometimento cognitivo no teste de rastreio Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (66,7%) e nas tarefas de memória imediata (59,0%) e recente (56,4%). Entretanto, após a análise de regressão de Poisson com variância robusta, verificou-se que os pacientes diagnosticados com depressão apresentaram uma razão de prevalência (RP)=1.887 (IC 1.166‒3.054) para escores mais baixos no MoCA, RP=9.533 (IC 1.600‒56.788) nos testes de fluência verbal fonêmica e RP=12.426 (IC 2.177‒70.931) no teste de fluência verbal semântica. Além disso, uma associação entre pior desempenho nas tarefas de memória de retenção de curto prazo nos pacientes em uso de glucocorticoides (GC) e com os escores do Beck Depression Inventory indicando depressão, com RP=11.227 (IC 1.736‒72.604) e RP=0.35 (IC 0.13‒0.904), respectivamente. Não foi encontrada correlação entre o questionário de QV e o desempenho em testes cognitivos. Sendo assim, conclui-se que foi observado pior desempenho em tarefas de memória e funções executivas em pacientes com MG. Estes não estão associados ao tempo e à gravidade da doença. No entanto, uma taxa de prevalência significativa foi encontrada para pior desempenho da memória em pacientes diagnosticados com depressão e naqueles em uso de glucocorticoides.

Efficacy of exercise therapy during radiotherapy to prevent reduction in mouth opening in patients with head and neck cancer: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of 2 protocols of exercise therapy to avoid reduction in mouth opening (MO) in patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. STUDY DESIGN: This was a randomized, controlled, double-blind, 3-arm, parallel-group, prevention clinical trial. Ninety patients were randomized into 3 groups to perform exercises during radiotherapy treatment: intervention group 1 (G1); intervention group 2 (G2); and control group (CG). Maximum MO was measured before (T0), immediately after (T1), and at 12 months (T2) after completion of radiotherapy treatment. Generalized estimating equations model complemented by the least significant difference test was applied to group comparisons. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in MO measure between the groups at the 3 assessment time points (P = .264). The difference in MO measure from baseline to 12 months after having completed radiotherapy was -1 mm in CG (95% confidence interval [CI] -4.0 to 2.0); 1.3 mm in G1 (95% CI -1.7 to 4.3); and 0.5 mm in G2 (95% CI -3.4 to 4.4). CONCLUSIONS: It was not possible to conclude that the exercise protocols performed in this study are more effective than the usual guidance to prevent reduction in MO in patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Bony Tunnel Formation Associated with the Distal Segment of the Frontal Branch of the Middle Meningeal Artery.

The knowledge of certain anatomical variations is fundamental and any surgeon who operates without that knowledge may encounter difficulty during surgery. In this context, there is the middle meningeal artery (MMA) which also engenders considerable clinical interest due to its location. The MMA is predominantly periosteal, irrigating the bone and dura mater. It enters the floor of the middle cranial fossa through the foramen spinosum, travels laterally through a middle fossa bony ridge, and curves anteriorly over the upper-greater wing of the sphenoid where it divides into parietal and frontal branches at a variable point. Occasionally, the distal segment of the frontal branch may pass through a bony tunnel of variable size. To the best of our knowledge, there is no evidence in the current literature on the incidence of this rare bony tunnel. Therefore, we decided to investigate the incidence of this bony tunnel in 85 dry skulls of adults (both genders) belonging to the didactic collection of the Human Anatomy Laboratory of the Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil. All the skulls were examined bilaterally for the presence or absence of the bony tunnel associated with the distal segment of the frontal branch of the MMA. Of the 85 skulls analyzed, the bony tunnel was present on the right side in 1.18% and on the left side in 5.88% ( p = 0 .045 ). Thus, in the studied sample, there was a significant tendency for this bony tunnel to be formed on the left side.