Pediatric Dysphonia and the Access to Voice Therapy: A Study in Speech Therapy Services Available in a Capital City in the Northeast of Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: Defining the laryngeal and vocal alterations in the pediatric group studied in private speech therapy facilities; and estimating the time period between the problem being identified by the parents and the access to the proper provided services. METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical observational research with data collected from medical records by the speech therapist of each private facility. A written form was prepared and sent to the speech therapists of the 40 existing facilities. We received 124 of them from the pediatric group being assisted in 15 of the facilities. The form included questions about gender, age, vocal complaints; general degree of dysphonia; otorhinolaryngological diagnosis of vocal fold alterations; the age that the problem was identified by the parents and the beginning of speech therapy. The larynx was examined by videonasopharyngolaryngoscopy, and voice quality by auditory-perceptual assessment. RESULTS: The time period between the identification of the participant's dysphonia by the parents and the start of speech therapy was considered long (3.5years). The group showed variance in the proportion of nodule and cyst between genders. The highest prevalence of nodules occurred in boys; and the cyst in girls. Moderate general dysphonia occurred between 4 and 17years old, average age of 7years and 7months, with greater distribution between 5 and 10years of age. CONCLUSIONS: The average time delay until the start of speech therapy was 3.5years, more frequently in the 5-10years group and due to nodules in boys and cysts in girls.

Art and science: impact of semioccluded vocal tract exercises and choral singing on quality of life in subjects with congenital GH deficiency.

Objective: Currently, not much is known about the interactions between voice and growth hormone (GH). We have described large kindred with isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) due to a GHRH receptor mutation, resulting in severe short stature and high-pitched voice. These IGHD individuals have little interest in GH treatment, as they consider themselves "short long-lived people", rather than patients. Interestingly, they report normal general quality of life, but they rate their Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) as low. Here, we assessed the social and auditory-perceptual impacts of artistic-intervention voice therapy with semioccluded vocal tract exercises (SOVTE) and choral singing, on their voices. Methods: Seventeen GH-naïve adult IGHD individuals were enrolled in a single-arm interventional pre-post study with 13 weekly sessions of choir singing over 90 days. Outcome measures were V-RQOL scores, self-assessment of voice, and auditory-perceptual analysis (GRBAS scale, G: grade of the severity of dysphonia; R: roughness; B: breathiness; A: asthenia; and S: strain). Results: Marked improvements in total (p = 0.0001), physical (p = 0.0002), and socioemotional (p = 0.0001) V-RQOL scores and in self-assessment of voice (p = 0.004) were found. The general grades of vocal deviation (p = 0.0001), roughness (p = 0.0001), breathiness (p = 0.0001) and strain (p = 0.0001) exhibited accentuated reductions. Conclusion: Voice therapy with semioccluded vocal tract exercises and choral training improved social impact and perceptual voice assessments in IGHD subjects and markedly improved their voice-related quality of life. This is particularly important in a setting where GH replacement therapy is not widely accepted.

Variant of the Technique for Laryngeal Microsurgery in Cases of Difficult Laryngoscopy

Abstract Introduction Low exposure of the larynx can make laryngeal microsurgery difficult or even impossible. The application of rigid and contact endoscopy enabled oblique and retrograde angled visualization, allowing transoperative staging with greater reach of the anatomical areas. However, there is difficulty or even impossibility of performing the surgical act, due to the incompatibility of the angled path with the straight surgical tools. Objective To demonstrate the efficiency of the variant of the technique for laryngeal microsurgery in cases of difficult laryngoscopy and to analyze the new surgical instruments specific to the endoscopic procedure. Methods This is a cross-sectional retrospective study, based on the analysis of 30 medical records of patients treated surgically at a philanthropic hospital in the state of Sergipe, Brazil, between the years of 2014 and 2015. Results The technical variant used 30- and 70-degree endoscopes that provided complete oblique view of the endolarynx. The association of angled instruments (forceps, suction pumps, retractors and scissors) enabled the execution of the surgical procedures. Conclusion The association of rigid endoscopy with angled instruments promoted full visualization of the surgical lesion and operative resolution. (AU)

Variant of the Technique for Laryngeal Microsurgery in Cases of Difficult Laryngoscopy.

Introduction Low exposure of the larynx can make laryngeal microsurgery difficult or even impossible. The application of rigid and contact endoscopy enabled oblique and retrograde angled visualization, allowing transoperative staging with greater reach of the anatomical areas. However, there is difficulty or even impossibility of performing the surgical act, due to the incompatibility of the angled path with the straight surgical tools. Objective To demonstrate the efficiency of the variant of the technique for laryngeal microsurgery in cases of difficult laryngoscopy and to analyze the new surgical instruments specific to the endoscopic procedure. Methods This is a cross-sectional retrospective study, based on the analysis of 30 medical records of patients treated surgically at a philanthropic hospital in the state of Sergipe, Brazil, between the years of 2014 and 2015. Results The technical variant used 30- and 70-degree endoscopes that provided complete oblique view of the endolarynx. The association of angled instruments (forceps, suction pumps, retractors and scissors) enabled the execution of the surgical procedures. Conclusion The association of rigid endoscopy with angled instruments promoted full visualization of the surgical lesion and operative resolution.

Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy in Pre-School Children with Sickle Cell Disease and Diagnostic Accuracy of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children.

Introduction Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is more common in children with sickle cell disease, and can lead to sleep-disordered breathing. Objectives To determine the frequency of adenotonsillar hypertrophy in pre-school children with sickle cell disease and assess the diagnostic accuracy of the sleep-disordered breathing subscale in the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children. Method Observational study with a group of 48 children with sickle cell disease and a control group of 35 children without the disease. The children underwent oropharingoscopy and video nasal endoscopy. The parents and/or guardians answered the questions of the subscale. Results Adenotonsillar hypertrophy was observed in 25% of the children in the study group, and in 20% of the children in the control group, with no statistical difference between the groups. The subscale score ranged from 3 to 11 in both groups. There was a statistical significance in the study group. The average was 4.79 (standard deviation [SD] ± 2.50), with 4.19 (SD ± 1.72) among the children without adenotonsillar hypertrophy, and 6.5 (SD ± 3.40) among the children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. There was also a statistical significance in the control group. The average was 5.23 (SD ± 2.81), with 4.44 (SD ± 2.2) among the children without adenotonsillar hypertrophy, and 7.87 (SD ± 2.89) among the children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Conclusion Adenotonsillar hypertrophy was not associated with sickle cell disease in pre-school children. The subscale of sleep-disordered breathing in the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children was a useful tool for the diagnostic suspicion of adenotonsillar hypertrophy in children in this age group.

Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy in Pre-School Children with Sickle Cell Disease and Diagnostic Accuracy of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children

Abstract Introduction Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is more common in children with sickle cell disease, and can lead to sleep-disordered breathing. Objectives To determine the frequency of adenotonsillar hypertrophy in pre-school children with sickle cell disease and assess the diagnostic accuracy of the sleepdisordered breathing subscale in the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children. Method Observational study with a group of 48 children with sickle cell disease and a control group of 35 children without the disease. The children underwent oropharingoscopy and video nasal endoscopy. The parents and/or guardians answered the questions of the subscale. Results Adenotonsillar hypertrophy was observed in 25% of the children in the study group, and in 20% of the children in the control group, with no statistical difference between the groups. The subscale score ranged from 3 to 11 in both groups. There was a statistical significance in the study group. The average was 4.79 (standard deviation [SD] ± 2.50), with 4.19 (SD ± 1.72) among the children without adenotonsillar hypertrophy, and 6.5 (SD ± 3.40) among the children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. There was also a statistical significance in the control group. The average was 5.23 (SD ± 2.81), with 4.44 (SD ± 2.2) among the children without adenotonsillar hypertrophy, and 7.87 (SD ± 2.89) among the children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Conclusion Adenotonsillar hypertrophy was not associated with sickle cell disease in pre-school children. The subscale of sleep-disordered breathing in the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children was a useful tool for the diagnostic suspicion of adenotonsillar hypertrophy in children in this age group.

Comparison of two otologic suspensions of ciprofloxacin 2 mg/mL and hydrocortisone 10 mg/mL in the treatment of otitis externa: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized study / Comparação de duas suspensões otológicas de ciprofloxacino 2 mg/mL e hidrocortisona 10 mg/mL no tratamento da otite externa: um estudo multicêntrico, duplo-cego e randomizado

This was Phase III multicenter, double-blind, randomized, comparative safety and efficacy study in parallel groups of subjects, assessing non-inferiority between two commercially available otologic suspensions containing ciprofloxacin 2mg/mL and hydrocortisone 10mg/mL (Otociriax and Cipro HC®) in the treatment of acute diffuse otitis externa. Following screening and informed consent, subjects were randomly allocated into two treatment groups: Group A (treated with Otociriax) and Group B (treated with Cipro HC®). Treatment regimen in both groups was three drops, twice daily for seven days. The primary study endpoint was otitis cure, defined as elimination of pain, edema, and otorrhea. The secondary study endpoint was presence of side effects. Efficacy assessments included presence and intensity of otitis externa manifestations. Safety assessments included vital signs and physical examination, as well as adverse event monitoring. Study data analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 5.0...

Characteristics and professional use of voice in street children in Aracaju, Brazil.

The objective of the study was to evaluate voice characteristics of children engaged in street selling, which involves an essentially professional use of voice in this population. A controlled cross-sectional study was carried out. A randomly chosen sample of 200 school children with a history of street selling assisted by public social services and 400 school children without this experience was selected. Seven- to 10-year-old children of both sexes were studied. Both groups were interviewed and given vocal assessment (auditory-perceptual assessment and spectrographic acoustic measures) and otorhinolaryngological evaluation (physical and videonasolaryngoscopic examination). Children with abnormal results in both groups were compared using chi(2) (Chi-squared test). The significance level was established at 5% (P<0.05). Voice problems were detected more frequently in working children (106-53%) than in regular school children (90-22.5%). The control group achieved better school performance as more children in this group attend school regularly than street children, although age-for-grade deficit was similar. The control group had more access to medical visits (80-40%) and treatment with a doctor (34-17%). Language assessment has shown that the control group had more dysphonia (73-37%) and myofunctional orofacial disorders (20-10%). Street children had more normal voice but had more nasal disorders and greater glottal closure than the school control group. Voice disorders were present in both groups, but less frequently in street children. Although subject to inadequate living conditions, street children had better voice quality than the control group. An explanation could be that by adapting their voice professionally for selling goods in the streets, they developed adequate resilience to their difficult living conditions.

Study of weight and height development in children after adenotonsillectomy.

UNLABELLED: The daily clinical observation of weight-height growth delays in children with obstructive hypertrophy of the pharyngeal and palatine tonsils is a workaday practice in pediatric otorhinolaryngology, and the surgical correction of this condition, when properly done in time, through adenotonsillectomy, can lead to a "catch up growth". AIM: To investigate the real weight-height gain present in this population when they are surgically treated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Through a clinical prospective study, two groups of children carrying pharyngopalatine hypertrophy were followed up: group 1 was submitted to surgical intervention, and group 2 was not. All patients underwent standardization of anthropometrical measurements (weight and height), including their age-related percentiles, in the beginning and at the end of 06 (six) months. RESULTS: While group 1 increased its height average in relation to the initial average in 6.66 cm, the control group increased its average in 1.9 cm (p=0.0004). In relation to weight, group 1 increased 2150 g in average, while group 2 presented an average increase of 690 g (p=0.0010). CONCLUSIONS: The children that underwent adenotonsillectomy acquired a higher weight-height growth potential in relation to those children who were not operated.

Estudo das medidas pôndero-estaturais em crianças adenotonsilectomizadas / Study of weight and height development in children after adenotonsillectomy

A observação clínica diária do retardo de crescimento pôndero-estatural em crianças portadoras de hipertrofia obstrutiva das tonsilas faríngeas e palatinas é prática rotineira na otorrinolaringologia pediátrica e a correção cirúrgica dessa condição, em tempo hábil, através da adenotonsilectomia permite a retomada desse crescimento ("catch up growth"). OBJETIVO: Investigar o real ganho pôndero-estatural presente nessa população quando tratadas cirurgicamente. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Através de um estudo clínico prospectivo, acompanhou-se durante 6 (seis) meses dois grupos de crianças portadoras de hipertrofia tonsilar faringopalatina, sendo o grupo 1 submetido à intervenção cirúrgica e o grupo 2, não. Todos os pacientes passaram pela aferição das medidas antropométricas (peso e altura), incluindo seus percentis para idade, no início e ao fim dos 6 (seis) meses. RESULTADOS: Enquanto o grupo 1 aumentou sua média final de altura em relação à média inicial em 6,66cm, o grupo controle aumentou sua média em 1,9cm (p=0,0004). Em relação ao peso, o grupo 1 aumentou em média 2150g, sendo que o grupo 2 apresentou aumento médio de 690g (p=0,0010). CONCLUSÃO: As crianças submetidas à adenotonsilectomia adquirem um maior potencial de crescimento pôndero-estatural em relação às crianças que não foram tratadas cirurgicamente.

The daily clinical observation of weight-height growth delays in children with obstructive hypertrophy of the pharyngeal and palatine tonsils is a workaday practice in pediatric otorhinolaryngology, and the surgical correction of this condition, when properly done in time, through adenotonsillectomy, can lead to a "catch up growth". AIM: To investigate the real weight-height gain present in this population when they are surgically treated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Through a clinical prospective study, two groups of children carrying pharyngopalatine hypertrophy were followed up: group 1 was submitted to surgical intervention, and group 2 was not. All patients underwent standardization of anthropometrical measurements (weight and height), including their age-related percentiles, in the beginning and at the end of 06 (six) months. RESULTS: While group 1 increased its height average in relation to the initial average in 6.66cm, the control group increased its average in 1.9cm (p=0.0004). In relation to weight, group 1 increased 2150g in average, while group 2 presented an average increase of 690g (p=0.0010). CONCLUSIONS: The children that underwent adenotonsillectomy acquired a higher weight-height growth potential in relation to those children who were not operated.

Estudo comparativo da microvascularizaçäo das pregas vocais humanas acometidas por cisto e reaçäo nodular contra-lateral sob endoscopia rígida / Study on the microvascularization of the human vocal cord with cyst and contralateral nodule reaction by rigid laringeal endoscopy

OBJETIVO: O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar as alteraçöes microvasculares que ocorrem na prega vocal (PV) humana, quando acometida por cisto e reaçäo nodular contra-lateral. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Clínico prospectivo. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Através de laringoscopia de suspensäo as PVs foram analisadas sob endoscopia rígida em suas porçöes anterior, média, posterior e sub-glótica. As alteraçöes da microvascularizaçäo foram classificadas em quatro grandes grupos: Paralelo, Transversal, Ramificado e Puntiforme. Estas foram subdivididas em doze subtipos. RESULTADOS: Nas PVs acometidas por cisto as alteraçöes microvasculares foram mais freqüentes (93,1 por cento) do que nas PVs contra-laterais acometidas por reaçäo nodular (6,9 por cento). Na presença de cisto também foram observadas múltiplas alteraçöes microvasculares (10 subtipos), havendo predominância de microvasos tortuosos e ectásicos, enquanto nas acometidas por reaçäo nodular contra-lateral essas alteraçöes foram menos variadas (3 subtipos). Quando diretamente relacionadas à lesäo nodular, foram com exclusividade puntiformes. CONCLUSÄO: Nossos achados sugerem que a presença do cisto na lâmina própria interfere no arranjo dos microvasos das PVs, enquanto a reaçäo nodular, por acometer o epitélio, que é mais superficial aos vasos, interfere em menor grau em relaçäo à arquitetura vascular. Deste modo na presença de microvasos alterados devemos suspeitar mais do diagnóstico de cisto do que de reaçäo nodular

Associaçöes técnicas conjugadas para correçäo cirúrgica do ronco e SAOS (periférica) / Technical associations joined to snoring and SAOS (peripheral) surgical corrections

OBJETIVO: Com esta proposta de associaçäo conjunta de técnicas cirúrgicas clássicas objetivamos oferecer de forma mais segura aquilo que cada uma especificamente apresenta de melhor, com a introduçäo da Microscopia Optica em todos os procedimentos. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Realizamos com critérios bem definidos o topodiagnóstico prático periférico, isolando apenas os classificados como Nível I de Fujita. Associamos três grupos específicos de técnica. Grupo A: LAUP (Kamami) + U.P.F.P. Parcial (Fujita Modificado-FM). Grupo B: LAUP + Criptólise (Krespi) + U.P.F.P. Parcial (Fujita Modificado). Grupo C: LAUP + Microcirurgia Tonsilas (Andréa/Dias) + U.P.F.P. (FM). As indicaçöes cirúrgicas de cada grupo säo para: Grupo A: hipertrofia de úvula + rebaixamento de palato + ausência ou atrofia de tonsilas palatinas (TP). Grupo B: quadro anatômico semelhante ao Grupo A + hipertrofia de TP (grau I e II). Grupo C: hipertrofia de úvula e de TP (grau III)+ redundância faríngea. No período de 38 meses, estamos com 60 casos operados, na proporçäo de: Grupo A: 20, Grupo B: 12 e Grupo C: 28. RESULTADOS: Houve melhora clínica em 46 pacientes (76,67 por cento). Os melhores resultados foram detectados nos Grupos A e C. CONCLUSÄO: A seleçäo em grupos dos pacientes portadores de ronco e SAOS (periférica) do nível I de Fujita, considerando-se parâmetros anátomo-clínicos, oferece-nos mais segurança na escolha adequada dos métodos de abordagem cirúrgica. Portanto, com esta proposta de associaçäo de técnicas, estamos conseguindo melhorar nossos resultados e sugerimos que este esquema seja efetivado em outros serviços

Variacão técnica (microcirúrgica) para cisto fistulizado de prega vocal / Technical variation (microsurgery) for fistuleted vocal fold cyst

Apresentamos neste estudo uma opçäo técnica (variaçäo) de microcirurgia de laringe, para correçäo de "cisto fistulizado" de corda vocal. Nesta variaçäo, utilizamos dois princípios da cirurgia geral: a fistulectomia (via extra-cordal) e o flap (bipediculado) no nível das cordas vocais. O estudo é fundamentado em análise microvascular da laringe, o que justifica os bons resultados obtidos. Analisamos 67 casos, nos quais conseguimos, devido a preservaçäo das funçöes vibratórias, uma melhor qualidade vocal, assim como, devido a utilizaçäo de fundamentos cirúrgicos clássicos, o controle da lesäo

Granuloma letal da linha média / Lethal midline granuloma

Apresenta-se um caso de granuloma letal da linha média, denotando como maior importância o fato de sua raridade (em Sergipe somente dois casos diagnósticados) e a sobrevida de mais de um ano de nosso paciente, que mantém perfeito estado local e geral. O caso é enquadrado no tipo Stewart ou granuloma idiopático pleomórfico mediofacial, segundo classificaçäo de Mc Bride. É uma entidade caracterizada por lesöes destrutivas do trato respiratório superior, näo relacionada com tumores detectáveis e provavelmente causada por uma reaçäo inflamatória fulminante a um antígeno, cujo tipo é desconhecido. Sua incidência é maior em indivíduos de meia-idade (ñ 45 anos), tendo sido encontrados casos entre 15 e 80 anos, em ambos os sexos. Clinicamente inicia-se com uma induraçäo tumoral, geralmente nasal, que depois torna-se ulceraçäo, chegando até à exposiçäo de estruturas como os seios maxilares, por exemplo, e também à perda de dentes. Esta evoluçäo posiciona-se nas três fases seguintes: a. rinite ou sinusite purulenta; b. lesäo ulcerativa; c. descarga purulenta. Histologicamente encontra-se, infiltrado linfo-histiocitário denso, restos celulares, formaçöes glandulares etc. A sintomatologia nasal é basicamente constituída por rinorréia variável, a depender da fase da doença, epistaxe, dor nasal, cefaléia frontal e irradiaçäo para a regiäo corresponde aos seios da face, cacosmia subjetiva ou objetiva etc. Tudo isto associado ou näo, a depender da fase do processo. A patogenia é discutida, sendo apenas provável uma etiologia imunológica. O tratamento pode ser feito utilizando imunossupressores, esteróides, radioterapia, antibióticos, analgésicos etc., sendo básicos os três primeiros citados