Bipedicled Vocal Fold Mucosal Flap: An Experimental Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the dimensions of mucosal defects that can be covered by a bipedicled vocal fold mucosal flap. METHODS: We used 20 adults human larynges (10 of each gender) excised from cadavers, divided into 2 groups of 10 larynges (5 of each gender) each. In one group (the normal flap group), we created the largest possible bipedicled vocal fold mucosal flap and then quantified the dimensions of the largest defect that could be covered by displacing the flap medially. In the other group (the augmented flap group), the flap was augmented laterally with mucosa from the laryngeal ventricle and we determined whether the larger flap would effectively cover larger defects. RESULTS: The mean width of mucosal defect capable of being covered was 1.51 mm when the normal bipedicled flap was employed and was 1.67 mm when the augmented flap was applied. However, the difference was not statistically significant. We found that defect size correlated with vocal fold length, width and flap size in the normal flap group, whereas it correlated only with vocal fold length in the augmented flap group. The bipedicled flap is capable of covering larger defects in males. CONCLUSION: Enlargement of a bipedicled vocal fold mucosal flap with laryngeal ventricular mucosa does not necessarily translate to an increase in the size of defect that can be covered. On average, the flap should be 30% larger than the width of the defect. The statistical model for predicting the defect size based on the vocal fold length, vocal fold width, and flap size has excellent predictive quality when a normal flap is employed.

Bipedicled Vocal Fold Mucosal Flap Use in Phonomicrosurgery: Case Series.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to present a novel surgical technique involving the use of a "bipedicled vocal fold mucosal flap" to repair a mucosal defect and to evaluate the outcomes of patients in whom it was used. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 6 clinical cases. All patients underwent surgery between November 2000 and July 2018, and all procedures were performed by the same surgeon. For the auditory-perceptual assessment, the Grade-Roughness-Breathiness-Asthenia-Strain hoarseness scale was used. We based the stroboscopic evaluation on the European Laryngological Society protocol, analyzing the parameters glottal closure, mucosal wave, and phase symmetry. RESULTS: Ages at the time of surgery ranged from 10 to 52 years, and all of the patients were male. Preexisting vocal fold lesions included polyps, cysts, a sulcus, and mucosal bridges. Among the stroboscopic parameters, only the mucosal wave differed significantly between the preoperative and postoperative periods (P = 0.046). There were also significant postoperative improvements in the overall grade of dysphonia (P = 0.025) and in the degree of breathiness (P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: The use of a bipedicled vocal fold mucosal flap appears to promote significant improvements in the mucosal wave and in voice quality. In the patients evaluated here, the technique was used without preoperative planning. However, it proved to be a safe and appropriate means of repairing mucosal defects in the vocal folds, with the potential to preserve rheological properties and promote healing with less chance of fibrosis.

Fatores associados ao controle da asma em pacientes pediátricos em centro de referência / Factors associated with asthma control in a pediatric reference center

OBJETIVO:Descrever os dados epidemiológicos, clínicos e os fatores associados ao controle da asma em pacientes asmáticos seguidos em um ambulatório pediátrico especializado. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal de pacientes asmáticos ambulatoriais, para os quais eram fornecidas medicações profiláticas. A classificação da asma, as etapa de tratamento e a avaliação do controle seguiram a IV Diretrizes Brasileiras para o Manejo da Asma, de 2006. Os fatores avaliados foram: outras alergias, obesidade, imunodeficiências, refluxo gastresofágico e sensibilização alérgica, sendo comparados pacientes com asma controlada ou não com relação à etapa do tratamento, à obesidade e à sensibilização alérgica. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados 300 pacientes com asma (1,38M:1F), com mediana de idade de 10,8 anos, e de início dos sintomas de 1,0 ano. A atopia estava presente em 78 por cento dos pais e/ou irmãos. Antecedentes pessoais de doenças alérgicas ocorreram em 292 pacientes (96 por cento rinite, 27 por cento dermatite atópica, 18 por cento conjuntivite alérgica, 6 por cento alergia alimentar). Foram diagnosticados sete casos de deficiência de IgA (DIgA) e quatro de IgG2; obesidade em 37/253 (15 por cento), sendo que sobrepeso e obesidade estiveram associados à falta de controle (p=0,023). Em 118 pacientes com multissensibilização, predominaram casos não controlados (22 (19 por cento) casos; p=0,049; OR 1,9; IC95 por cento 1,03-3,50). Entre os 180 casos (60 por cento) em tratamento nas etapas 3 e 4, 122 (45 por cento) estavam controlados e 112 (41 por cento) parcialmente controlados. CONCLUSÕES: A rinite foi a alergia mais associada à asma e a prevalência de DIgA foi 20 vezes maior do que na população geral. O controle parcial ou total dos sintomas da asma foi obtido em 85 por cento dos casos. Obesidade/sobrepeso e multissensibilização foram associadas à falta de controle da asma.

OBJECTIVE:To describe the epidemiological and clinical data and factors associated with asthma control of asthmatic patients followed at a pediatric reference center. METHODS: Cross-sectional study including asthmatic outpatients receiving prophylactic medications from the institution. For classification of asthma, steps of treatment and control evaluation, the IV Brazilian Guidelines for the Management of Asthma (2006) were adopted. The presence of other allergies, obesity, immunodeficiency, gastroesophageal reflux and allergic sensitization were evaluated and compared between patients with or without asthma control according to the treatment step, obesity and allergic sensitization. RESULTS: 300 patients with asthma (1.38M:1F) were included; median age=10.8 years; median age at onset of symptoms=1.0 year. Among parents and/or siblings, 78 percent reported atopy. Personal history showed other allergic diseases in 292 patients (96 percent rhinitis, 27 percent atopic dermatitis, 18 percent allergic conjunctivitis, 6 percent food allergy). IgA deficiency was diagnosed in seven cases and IgG2 deficiency in four. Obesity was noted in 34/233 patients (15 percent) and overweight/obesity were associated with asthma poor control (p<0.023). Among 118 patients multisensitizated, the frequency of poor asthma control was greater (22 (19 percent) cases; p=0.049, OR 1.9; 95 percentCI 1.03-3.50). Among the patients, 180 (60 percent) were treated according steps 3 and 4; 122 children (45 percent) were considered controlled and 112 (41 percent) were partially controlled. CONCLUSIONS: Allergic rhinitis was the allergic disease more associated with asthma. The prevalence of IgA deficiency was 20 times higher than in the general population. Total or partial control of asthma symptoms was obtained in 85 percent of the cases. Overweight/obesity and multisensitization were associated to poor asthma control.