Effect of Adenotonsillectomy on Spectral and Acoustic Characteristics.

Acoustic analysis and perceptual analysis has been extensively used to assess the speech and voice among individual with voice disorders. These methods provide objective, quantitative and precise information on the speech and voice characteristics in any given disorder and help in monitoring any recovery, deterioration, or improvement in an individual's speech and also differentiate between normal and abnormal speech and voice characteristics. The present study was carried out to investigate the spectral characteristics (formant frequency parameters and formant centralization ratios) and voice characteristics (Acoustic parameters of voice) changes in individuals following adenotonsillectomy. A total of 34 participants participated in the study with a history of adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Spectral and acoustic voice parameters were analyzed across the three-time domains, before surgery (T0), 30 days (T1), and 90 days (T2) after surgery. Data was analyzed statistically using the SPSS software version-28.0.0.0. Descriptive statistics were used to find the mean and standard deviation. Repeated measures of ANOVA were used to compare the pre and post-experimental measures for spectral and acoustic, voice parameters. The derived parameter of acoustic vowel space (formant centralization ratio 3) was compared across three conditions timelines. The results revealed that acoustic vowel space measure and formant frequency measures were significantly increased in pre and post-operative conditions across the three timelines. A significant difference was obtained across the acoustic parameters across the time domains. Adenotonsillectomy has been proved to be an efficient surgical procedure in treating children with chronic adenotonsillitis. The results obtained have indicated an overall improvement in the spectral and acoustic voice parameters thereby highlighting the need for adenotonsillectomy at the right time and at the right age.

Vitamin D - An Elixir for Recurrent Upper Respiratory Tract Infection.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the level of serum vitamin-D in participants affected with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections and in healthy population and to know whether vitamin-D deficiency is factor contributing to recurrent upper respiratory tract infections (URTI). Materials and Methods: A case control study was conducted on 52 subjects with recurrent URTI and 52 controls. Frequency and severity of infections in the previous 6 months were assessed and documented among the case group. Vitamin D level was assessed in all the participants among case and control group and statistical analysis was done. Results: Mean serum vitamin D was 10.67 ± 3.58 ng/mL in the study group and 20.10 ± 7.73 ng/mL in the control group, the difference in value was statistically significant. None of the study group participants belonged to vitamin D sufficient group, and majority (98%) were in vitamin D deficient, except for 2% who were in insufficient group. In the control group, 10%,29%,61% were in sufficient, insufficient and deficient group respectively. Mean serum vitamin D was not significantly associated with severity and type of infection. Conclusion: Significant number of participants in both study and control had serum vitamin D deficiency. This study also observed that a significant number of participants with recurrent URTI had serum vitamin D deficiency than the control group which suggest that hypovitaminosis D is a factor contributing to recurrent URTI. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-022-03220-z.

Can Upper Airway Surgeries Improve Lower Airway Function ? A Prospective Study.

Deviated nasal septum and turbinate hypertrophy are the most common causes for nasal obstruction, which compromise nasal airflow and increases airway resistance. These conditions can further reduce the airflow to lung, which will affect the lung volume and function subsequently reduces the exercise tolerance. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of upper airway surgeries like septoplasty and turbinoplasty on lower airway functions using simple tests like spirometry and 6 min walking test (6mWt). This research was a prospective study. There were 88 subjects in the study who completed follow up. Spirometry and 6mWt was performed 1 day before and 1 month after surgery in all subjects. Mean preoperative and postoperative values of spirometry (forced vital capacity (FVC),forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced expiratory volume in 1 s/ forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and 6mWt (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation) parameters were compared and analyzed. Percentage of improvement of each parameter was compared with the type of surgery, side of obstruction, age of the patient and duration of symptom. Spirometry showed statistically significant improvement in all 4 parameters after surgery in 86 subjects. 6mWt showed statistically significant improvement in SBP and SpO2 and there was no significant improvement in DBP and HR. We also observed that improvement in parameters was irrespective of age and duration of symptoms. So this study concludes that airway narrowing nasal diseases can compromise lower airway function.

Clinico-radiological Co-relation of Carcinoma Larynx and Hypopharynx: A Prospective Study.

The successful management of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers requires accurate diagnosis, staging, assessment of patient wishes, and the selection of the most appropriate treatment for the individual patient. Imaging plays an important complementary role to clinical examination and endoscopy in the evaluation of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. The combined information allows the disease to be staged accurately. To correlate carcinoma larynx and hypopharynx clinically and radiologically and to know the accurate pre-therapeutic stage of the disease. A total of 50 cases were included in this study. After clinical TNM staging, CT scan was done to know the real extent of tumor, volume and nodal status. After that, TNM staging was revised based on radiological findings. The number of people who had been upstaged and downstaged after CT evaluation was measured. There were total of 50 cases of carcinoma larynx and hypopharynx in this study. There were 26 (52%) cases of carcinoma larynx and 24 (48%) cases of carcinoma hypopharynx. There were significant changes in T stage after radiological evaluation. Major changes were observed in T2 and T3 stages. Majority of cases (17) were having N1 disease after radiological evaluation. On comparing clinical and radiological staging of neck nodes, it was observed that upstaging occurred mainly in N0. Overall after radiological evaluation, 48% of our cases were upstaged, 48% remained in same stage and 4% were downstaged. By combining both clinical and radiological evaluation in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers, a correct pre therapeutic staging can be obtained and thereby prompt treatment can be given.