Diagnosis and treatment of 18 cases of Chiari malformation with hoarseness / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective: To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of Chiari malformation patients with hoarseness and other otorhinolaryngological symptoms. Methods: The clinical data of 18 patients of Chiari malformation with hoarseness were retrospectively collected, which was composed of 5 men and 13 women, aged 3-71 with median age of 52. All the patients were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 1989 to January 2020. All patients underwent brain MRI and laryngoscopy. The patient's symptoms and first diagnosis department, diagnosis time, total course of disease, hoarseness course, diagnosis and treatment, and postoperative recovery time were summarized. Follow-up time was 3-16 years, with median follow-up time of 6.5 years. Descriptive methods were used for analysis. Results: The first visit departments of 18 patients included neurology (9 cases), otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery (5 cases), pediatrics (2 cases), orthopedics (1 case) and respiratory department (1 case). Except for the 7 cases in neurology department, the other 11 patients were not diagnosed in time. The disease duration of 18 patients with Chiari malformation ranged from 2 months to 5 years, and hoarseness was present from 20 days to 5 years. After diagnosis, 9 patients underwent posterior fossa decompression surgery, and 1 of them underwent syrinx drainage at the same time. The symptoms of 8 cases improved significantly after operation, with the improvement time from 1 to 30 days. In addition, 9 patients chose conservative treatment, among whom 8 had no improvement in symptoms and 6 progressed. Conclusions: Posterior fossa decompression is an effective treatment for Chiari malformation, and the prognosis is good. Timely diagnosis and treatment can improve the prognosis of patients.

Hoarseness due to aortic arch aneurysms

Abstract Objective: To give an overview of the Ortner's syndrome caused by an aortic arch aneurysm. Methods: By comprehensive retrieval of the pertinent literature published in the past two decades, 75 reports including 86 patients were collected and recruited into this study along with a recent case of our own. Results: The aortic arch aneurysms causing hoarseness were most commonly mycotic aneurysms. In this patient setting, in addition to the left recurrent laryngeal nerve, trachea was the most commonly affected structure by the aortic arch aneurysm. Surgical/interventional/hybrid treatments led to a hoarseness-relieving rate of 64.3%, much higher than that of patients receiving conservative treatment. However, hoarseness recovery took longer time in the surgically treated patients than in the interventionally treated patients. Conclusion: The surgical and interventional treatments offered similar hoarseness-relieving effects. Surgical or interventional treatment is warranted in such patients for both treatment of arch aneurysms and relief of hoarseness.

Clinical outcomes of vocal fold immobility after tracheal intubation / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the incidence of postoperative vocal cord immobility in patients following endotracheal intubation underwent general anesthesia.@*METHODS@#We retrospectively enrolled patients who underwent surgical procedures with endotracheal intubation under general anesthesia from January 2014 to December 2018 in Peking University First Hospital. Demographic and treatment data were obtained for patients with hoarseness and vocal cord fixation. The incidence of postoperative hoarseness and vocal cord fixation were presented and clinical outcomes were further analyzed.@*RESULTS@#A total of 85 998 patients following tracheal intubation and general anesthesia were enrolled in this study. Hoarseness was observed in 222 (0.26%) patients postoperatively. Sixteen patients (73%) were accomplished with symptoms of choking on water, dysphonia and sore throat. Twenty-nine patients with persistent hoarseness on the third postoperative day needed further treatment by otolaryngologists. Among them, seven patients had pharyngolaryngitis and twenty-two patients (0.026%) were demonstrated postoperative vocal cord immobility. There were seventeen patients (77%) with left-side vocal cord fixation and five patients (23%) with right-side vocal cord fixation. Nine patients were identified with arytenoid dislocation. Seven patients had left vocal cord fixation and two patients had right-side vocal cord fixation. Seven patients were intubated under the guidance of visual laryngoscope. One patient was confirmed difficult airway and intubated with light wand. One patient was inserted with laryngeal mask airway. One patient was suspected to have hoarseness caused by gastric tube before anesthesia. One patient showed simultaneously left recurrent laryngeal nerve abnormality on laryngeal electromyography result. The symptom of hoarseness ranged between 6 and 31 days. Three patients underwent closed reduction under local anesthesia and one patient demonstrated spontaneous recovery. Among the remaining thirteen patients with vocal cord immobility, two patients were demonstrated vocal cord paralysis. Eleven patients underwent neck surgery, thyroid surgery and cardiothoracic surgery and further examinations including laryn-geal electromyography and computed tomography help to determine the diagnosis were not performed. All patients were treated with inhaled corticosteroid conservatively. Five patients had significant improvement of symptom and almost regained normal voice. One patient had slight improvement and sixteen patients were not relieved before discharge.@*CONCLUSION@#Patients with hoarseness and vocal fold immobility after endotracheal intubation should be treated properly and immediately.

Leg ulcer in lepromatous leprosy - Case report

Abstract: In Brazil, leprosy is a widespread infectious and contagious disease. Clinicians and specialists view leprosy broadly as a systemic infection, since, in its manifestations, it mimics many conditions, such as rheumatic, vascular, ENT, neurological and dermatological diseases. There are few studies that characterize the factors associated with ulcers in leprosy. These injuries should be prevented and treated promptly to avoid serious problems like secondary infections, sepsis, carcinomatous degeneration and amputations. We describe a patient with ulcers on his legs, involving late diagnosis of lepromatous leprosy.

Relação entre a presença de sinais videolaringoscópicos sugestivos de refluxo laringofaríngeo e distúrbio de voz em professoras / Relationship between the presence of videolaryngoscopic signs suggestive of laryngopharyngeal reflux and voice disorders in teachers

RESUMO Objetivo Analisar a relação entre a presença de sinais videolaringoscópicos sugestivos de refluxo laringofaríngeo (RLF) e distúrbio de voz (DV) em professoras. Métodos Pesquisa de natureza transversal, com amostra por conveniência que teve, como critérios de inclusão, ter mais de 18 anos, ser professor do sexo feminino, procurar atendimento com queixa de DV e/ou de RLF. Os fatores de exclusão foram: ser fumante e apresentar alterações respiratórias. Todos os sujeitos preencheram os seguintes instrumentos: Condição de Produção Vocal – Professor (CPV-P), inclusive o Índice de Triagem para Distúrbio de Voz (ITDV), e o Índice de Desvantagem Vocal (IDV). Fez-se coleta de amostra de fala para avaliação perceptivo-auditiva da voz e todas foram submetidas à avaliação otorrinolaringológica. Resultados Foram avaliadas 121 professoras, com média de idade de 43 anos e de 7,8 horas-aula por dia. Somente 24% das professoras não apresentaram lesões em pregas vocais e 42,1% apresentaram sinais videolaringoscópicos sugestivos de RLF. No grupo de professoras com presença de sinais de RLF, os sintomas do ITDV mais relatados foram garganta seca, rouquidão, pigarro, e a média do IDV foi de 17,9 pontos. Não houve associação entre distúrbio de voz e presença de sinais videolaringoscópicos sugestivos de RLF. Na análise de regressão logística binária múltipla, os fatores independentes para o RLF foram idade e escore (tercil: 13-20) do IDV. Conclusão Não houve associação entre o DV e o RLF e sim entre idade e escore IDV.

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the relationship between the presence of videolaryngoscopic signs suggestive of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and voice disorder (VD) in teachers. Methods this is a cross-sectional study with convenience sample and inclusion criteria as subjects 18 years or older, be a teacher female, seek care with complaint of VD and/or LPR. The exclusion criteria included smoking and presence of respiratory changes. All subjects concluded the following instruments: Vocal Production Condition - Teacher (VPC-T), including the Screening Index for Voice Disorder (SIVD); and Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Speech samples were collected for voice perceptual assessment and all of them were submitted to otorhinolaryngology review. Results We evaluated 121 teachers, with a mean age of 43 years and 7.8 class hours per day. Only 24.0% of the teachers did not have vocal cord lesions and 42.1% had videolaryngoscopic signs suggestive of LPR. In the group of teachers with presence of Signs suggestive of LPR, the most common symptoms of SIVD were dry throat, hoarseness, throat clearing; the average VHI was 17.9 points. There was no association between voice disorder and presence of videolaryngoscopic signs suggestive of LPR. The independent factors for the LPR in the multiple binary logistic regression analysis were age and VHI score (tertile: 13-20). Conclusion There was no association between VD and LPR, but between age and VHI score.

Reoperaciones posadenoidectomía por hiperplasia adenoidea obstructiva / Post-adenoidectomy reoperations due to obstructive adenoid hyperplasia

Introducción: La incidencia de reoperación posadenoidectomía, ya sea una segunda adenoidectomía o una amigdalectomía, no es conocida en nuestro medio. Publicaciones extranjeras muestran 2% de readenoidectomías y 8% de amigdalectomías posteriores. Objetivo: Describir las adenoidectomías efectuadas en nuestro centro, evaluar la prevalencia de reoperaciones y buscar posibles factores asociados a éstas. Material y método: Estudio retrospectivo descriptivo y analítico. Se revisaron fichas de pacientes adenoidectomizados por roncopatía con pausas respiratorias entre enero de 1999 y diciembre 2010. Se registraron datos demográficos, controles y nasofaringolaringoscopías (NFL). Se consignaron las reoperaciones (readenoidectomías y amigdalectomías). Resultados: Se revisaron 106 fichas. Un 55,7% de los pacientes eran hombres. A la NFL, 42% de los pacientes tenían adenoides grado 3y 58% grado 4 de Parikh. Un 5,6% de los pacientes fueron reoperados (1 adenoidectomía y 5 adenoamigdalectomías). Se observó diferencia significativa en edad (p =0,04) y tamaño amigdalino (p =0,004) entre los reoperados y lo no reoperados. No hubo asociación por sexo (p =0,45), asma (p =0,31) ni rinitis (p =0,18). Sin embargo, a la regresión logística multivariada, ninguna variable se asoció significativamente de manera independiente con la necesidad de reoperación. Conclusión: La prevalencia de reoperaciones fue similar a la publicada, no encontrándose asociación con otros factores.

Introduction: The incidence of post-adenoidectomy reoperation, be it a second adenoidectomy or a tonsillectomy, is unknown within our environment. Foreign publications show a 2% of re-adenoidectomies and an 8% of ulterior tonsillectomies. Aim: To describe the adenoidectomies performed at our center, to assess the prevalence of reoperations, and to seek possible associated factors to the latter. Material y method: Descriptive and analytical retrospective assessment. A review was performed of records for patients that between January of 1999 and December of 2010 underwent adenoidectomy on account of snoring pathology. Demographics, controls, nasopharyngolaryngoscopies and reoperations (re-adenoidectomies and tonsillectomies) were recorded. Results: The review entailed checking 106 records. 55,7% of patients were men. 42% of patients had Parikh?s Grade III adenoids and 58% showed Grade IV ones. 5,6% of patients underwent reoperation. A significant difference could be observed in age (p=0,04) and tonsillar size (p=0,004) between those that had and had not undergone reoperation. There was no gender association (p=0,45), neither for asthma (p=0,31) or rhinitis (p=0,18). Yet, by multivariate logistic regression, no variable was significantly associated by itself to the need for reoperation. Conclusion: Reoperation prevalence was similar to that published, and no association to other factors was discovered.

The effect of intracuff alkalinized 2% lidocaine on emergence coughing, sore throat, and hoarseness in smokers

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated whether endotracheal tube (ETT) intracuff alkalinized lidocaine was superior to saline in blunting emergence coughing, postoperative sore throat, and hoarseness in smokers. METHODS: In our prospective, double-blind trial, we enrolled 50 smoking patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia including nitrous oxide (N2O). Patients were randomly allocated to receive either ETT intracuff 2% lidocaine plus 8.4% sodium bicarbonate (L group), or ETT intracuff 0.9% saline (S group). The ETT cuff was inflated to achieve a cuff pressure that prevented air leak during positive pressure ventilation. Incidence of emergence coughing, sore throat, and hoarseness were analyzed. The volume of inflation solution, the intracuff pressure, the duration of anesthesia, the time elapsed to extubation after discontinuation of anesthesia, and the volume of the inflation solution and the air withdrawn from the ETT cuff were also recorded. RESULTS: Intracuff alkalinized 2% lidocaine was superior to saline in blunting emergence coughing (p < 0.001). The incidence of sore throat was significantly lower in the L group at the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) (p = 0.02). However, at 24 hours after extubation, sore throat incidence was similar in both groups (p = 0.07). Incidence of hoarseness was similar in both groups. Intracuff pressure in the saline group increased with time while the intracuff pressure in the lidocaine group remained constant. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that the intracuff alkalinized 2% lidocaine was superior to saline in decreasing the incidence of emergence coughing and sore throat during the postoperative period in smokers.

Ortner's syndrome: case series and literature review / Síndrome de Ortner: série de casos e revisão da literatura

More than a century ago, Ortner described a case of cardiovocal syndrome wherein he attributed a case of left vocal fold immobility to compression of the recurrent laryngeal nerve by a dilated left atrium in a patient with mitral valve stenosis. Since then, the term Ortner's syndrome has come to encompass any nonmalignant, cardiac, intrathoracic process that results in embarrassment of either recurrent laryngeal nerve-usually by stretching, pulling, or compression; and causes vocal fold paralysis. Not surprisingly, the left recurrent laryngeal nerve, with its longer course around the aortic arch, is more frequently involved than the right nerve, which passes around the subclavian artery. OBJECTIVES: To discuss the pathogenesis of hoarseness resulting from cardiovascular disorders involving the recurrent laryngeal nerve along with the findings of literature review. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This paper reports a series of four cases of Ortner's syndrome occurring due to different causes. DESIGN: Case study. RESULT: Ortner's syndrome could be a cause of hoarseness of voice in patients with cardiovascular diseases. CONCLUSION: Although hoarseness of voice is frequently encountered in the Otolaryngology outpatient department, cardiovascular- related hoarseness is an unusual presentation. Indirect laryngoscopy should be routinely performed in all cases of heart disease.

Há mais de um século, Ortner descreveu um caso de síndrome cardiovocal, no qual ele atribuiu um caso de imobilidade da prega vocal esquerda à compressão do nervo laríngeo recorrente causada por dilatação do átrio esquerdo em um paciente com estenose valvar mitral. Desde então, o termo Síndrome de Ortner tem sido usado para descrever qualquer condição cardíaca intratorácica não maligna que resulte no envolvimento do nervo laríngeo recorrente - geralmente por estiramento, contração ou compressão, causando paralisia vocal. Não é surpreendente que o nervo laríngeo recorrente esquerdo, com seu curso mais longo, contornando o arco aórtico, seja mais frequentemente afetado que o direito - que cursa ao redor da artéria subclávia. OBJETIVOS: Discutir a patogênese da rouquidão resultante de lesão cardiovascular que envolve o nervo laríngeo recorrente, juntamente com uma revisão da literatura. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Este trabalho relata uma série de quatro casos de Síndrome de Ortner resultantes de diferentes causas. Tipo de estudo: Estudo de Casos. RESULTADO: A Síndrome de Ortner pode representar uma causa de rouquidão em pacientes com doenças cardiovasculares. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar de rouquidão ser frequentemente encontrada em ambulatórios de otorrinolaringologia, sua etiologia associada ao aparelho cardiovascular é pouco frequente. Laringoscopia indireta dever ser empregada rotineiramente em todos os casos de doenças cardíacas.

Análise do grau global e tensão da voz em cantores de roque / Overall voice and strain level analysis in rock singers

TEMA: análise do grau global e tensão na voz de cantores de roque. OBJETIVO: analisar a voz de cantores de roque em dois parâmetros específicos: grau global de desvio vocal (GGDV) e grau de tensão (GT), comparando esses parâmetros em três trechos de músicas. MÉTODOS: participaram 26 cantores de roque com idade entre 17 e 46 anos (média = 29:08 anos). Todos responderam a um questionário para caracterização da amostra e realizaram a gravação dos trechos selecionados: Hino Nacional Brasileiro (HNB), Satisfaction e música do repertório auto-selecionada (MR). As amostras foram avaliadas por cinco fonoaudiólogas nos parâmetros GGDV e GT. A análise estatística foi realizada pelo programa SPSS versão 13.0. RESULTADOS: foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significantes para os valores médios de GGDV e GT na música Satisfaction (GGDV = 32,8 e GT = 45,8 / p = 0,024) e na MR (GGDV = 38,4 e GT = 55,8 / p = 0,010). Os valores de GGDV e GT possuem relação diretamente proporcional nos trechos HNB* e MR**, sendo que quanto maior a tensão maior o GGDV( p = < 0,001*, p = 0,010**). Quando se analisa individualmente os três trechos, encontra-se que o GGDV não varia de forma significante para as músicas, porém seus valores médios apresentam uma tendência crescente do não roque para o roque (24,0 HNB / 32,8 Satisfaction / 38,4 MR), porém a tensão encontrada no HNB apresenta diferença estatisticamente significante da tensão encontrada nas músicas de roque (Satisfaction e MR, p = 0,008 e p = 0,001). CONCLUSÕES: os dados observados sugerem que o estilo roque está relacionado com maior utilização de tensão na voz e que essa tensão não necessariamente impõe uma impressão negativa à voz, mas corresponde a um fator interpretativo comum ao estilo musical.

BACKGROUND: overall voice and strain level analysis in rock singers. AIM: to analyze the voice o rock singers according to two specific parameters: overall level of vocal deviation (OLVD) and strain level (SL); to compare these parameters in three different music samples. METHOD: participants were 26 male rock singers, ranging in age from 17 to 46 years (mean = 29.8 years). All of the participants answered a questionnaire for sample characterization and were submitted to the recording of three voice samples: Brazilian National Anthem (BNA), Satisfaction and self-selected repertoire song (RS). Voice samples were analyzed by five speech-language pathologists according to OLVD and SL. Statistical analysis was done using the software SPSS, version 13.0. RESULTS: statistically significant differences were observed for the mean values of OLVD and SL during the performance of Satisfaction (OLVD = 32.8 and SL = 0.024 / p=0.024) and during the RS performance (OLVD = 38.4 and SL = 55.8 / p=0.010). The values of OLVD and SL are directly proportional to the samples of the BNA* and RS**, i.e. the higher the strain the higher the OLVD (p,0.001*; p=0.010**). When individually analyzing the three song samples, it is observed that the OLVD does not vary significantly among them. However, the mean values present a trend to increase from non-rock to rock performances (24.0 BNA / 32.8 Satisfaction / 38.4 RS). The level of strain found during the BNA performance presents statistically significant difference when compared to the rock performances (Satisfaction and RS, p=0.008 and p=0.001). CONCLUSION: the obtained data suggest that rock style is related to the greater use of vocal strain and that this strain does not necessarily impose a negative impression to the voice, but corresponds to a common interpretative factor related to this style of music.

Afonia com etiologia desconhecida: relato de caso / Aphonia with unknown etiology: a case report

Introdução: A afonia de conversão é definida como a perda total da voz, é uma doença rara que acomete frequentemente as mulheres. O diagnóstico é clínico, pois não há alterações nas estruturas laríngeas. Objetivo: Descrever um caso de afonia de conversão, atendida em um hospital público no Centro-Oeste do Brasil. Relato do Caso: Paciente de 32 anos, sexo feminino, com queixa de afonia há dois dias, sem outros sintomas aparentes. Os exames não revelaram alterações nas estruturas laríngeas e/ou extralaríngeas. As etapas do atendimento foram descritas desde a consulta inicial até a recuperação da paciente. Comentários Finais: É importante considerar os aspectos psicoemocionais que envolvem os pacientes com alterações vocais, uma vez que os mesmos podem originar ou alterar os sintomas e comprometer o prognóstico da doença.

Introduction: The conversion aphonia is defined as the total loss of voice, is a rare disease that often affects women. The diagnosis is clinical, because there are no changes in the laryngeal structures. Objective: To describe a case of conversion aphonia, seen in a public hospital in the Midwest of Brazil. Case Report: Patient 32 years old female, complaining of hoarseness for two days without other apparent symptoms. The examinations revealed no changes in the laryngeal structures and / or extra laryngeal. Stages of care have been described since the initial consultation to the recovery of the patient. Final Comments: It is important to consider the psycho-emotional aspects involving patients with voice disorders since they may cause or modify the symptoms and affect the prognosis.

Principais queixas vocais de pacientes idosos pós-tratamento para hanseníase / Main vocal complaints of elderly patients after leprosy treatment

A hanseníase é uma doença infecto-contagiosa, cujo comprometimento vocal manifesta-se desde rouquidão à dificuldade respiratória. OBJETIVO: Comparar as principais queixas vocais entre pacientes idosos pós-tratamento para hanseníase e um grupo controle. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Descritivo prospectivo. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Foram incluídos 50 pacientes com idade superior a 60 anos; 32 haviam sido tratados para hanseníase e os demais constituíram o grupo-controle. Houve aplicação de questionário próprio, sendo analisados os sintomas vocais apresentados pelos dois grupos,assim como sexo, faixa etária, hábitos de vida e comorbidades. RESULTADOS: Dentro do grupo pós-tratamento, os sintomas mais frequentes foram pigarro (34,4 por cento) e rouquidão (28,1 por cento), enquanto que no grupo controle os sintomas mais prevalentes foram pigarro (77,8 por cento) e sensação de corpo estranho (55,6 por cento). CONCLUSÃO: Os sintomas vocais mais prevalentes em pacientes pós-tratamento para hanseníase são o pigarro e a rouquidão e sua evolução é influenciada pelos hábitos de vida e por doenças associadas.

Leprosy is an infectious disease, with vocal involvement varying between hoarseness and difficult breathing. AIM: compare the main vocal complaints among elderly patients after treatment for leprosy and a control group. STUDY DESIGN: descriptive prospective. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 50 patients aged over 60 years, 32 had been treated for leprosy, and the others formed the control group. We used our own questionnaire to analyze the vocal symptoms presented by the two groups, as well as gender, age, life style and comorbidities. RESULTS: among the treated group, the most frequent symptoms were hawk (34.4 percent) and hoarseness (28.1 percent), while in the control group the most prevalent symptoms were hoarseness (77.8 percent) and a foreign body sensation (55.6 percent). CONCLUSION: the most prevalent voice complaints in patients treated for leprosy are hawking and hoarseness, and that its development is influenced by life style and associated diseases.

Voice in chronic hemodialyzed individuals.

Objective: Chronic hemodialysis affects various body systems, one of which is the respiratory system. Since respiration is the prime source for speech, vocal dysfunctions are expected to be present in patients with chronic hemodialysis. The present study attempts to shed light on the changes in acoustic and aerodynamic characteristics of voice, if any, in patients with chronic hemodialysis. Materials and Methods: Phonation of sustained vowel/a/sample was subjected to acoustic analysis using VAGHMI software. Sustained duration of/a/,/s/, and/z/ was recorded for the purpose of aerodynamic analysis. The independent t test was employed to find the significant difference between the two groups. Results: Chronic hemodialyzed subjects showed significant deviation in frequency, perturbation, and aerodynamic measures when compared to normal subjects. These results are discussed with respect to the underlying pathophysiology. Conclusion: The results of the present study revealed that subjects with chronic hemodialysis exhibit clinical evidence of voice disorders. Vocal deviations in chronic hemodialyzed subjects are explained due to the influence of the renal system on the respiratory and the phonatory system and the negative fluid balance effect of hemodialysis.

Laryngeal amyloidosis: a rare cause of hoarseness

To evaluate the presentation and management of laryngeal amyloidosis, a cause of hoarseness. This descriptive study was conducted at Postgraduate Medical Institute Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar over a period of 12 years from Jan, 1996 till Dec 2007 During this period 292 patients admitted with hoarseness at ENT Department HMC, Peshawar were managed. Out of these 21 patients suspicious of laryngeal amyloidosis were included in the study. The presenting complaints were hoarsensess, sorethroat and dyspnea on exertion. All patients were of male sex with age ranged from 45-65. Surgical treatment was given to all cases. Amyloidosis can involve the larynx presenting with hoarseness. Patient should be evaluated for systemic diseases. Site, size and extent of disease can be evaluated with axial C.T scan and the different treatment option decided accordingly

Rare causes of voice hoarseness: a case report.

We report two contrasting and rare cases of voice hoarseness in young patients of tubercular aetiology. First case report is of isolated tubercular recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in a patient who presented with hoarseness of voice. Chest radiograph showed a left hilar prominence and bronchial washings isolated acid-fast bacilli. Hoarseness of voice as an initial symptom due to isolated vocal cord palsy with no morphological lesions in the larynx and without obvious parenchymal infiltration often poses a diagnostic dilemma. Second case report highlights the possibilities of tuberculosis of the vocal cords mimicking tumour of the larynx. This patient had an ulcerative growth involving the vocal cord which was initially mistaken for malignancy. Patient also had concomitant miliary shadowing in the lungs and laryngoscopic biopsy revealed the growth to be tuberculosis. Early diagnosis and intervention with antitubercular treatment is vital as it results in complete recovery with reversal of vocal hoarseness.

Pattern of laryngeal tumor in Jordan

To describe the clinical, histological, and epidemiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with Laryngeal tumor in our hospital over a period of 5 years. A descriptive retrospective study was conducted on all cases of laryngeal neoplasm diagnosed at Department of Otolaryngology, King Abdullah University Hospital, Irbid, Jordan. Cases were studied regarding the variables of sex, age, alcohol use, smoking, presenting symptoms, location and stage. There were 21 cases, 19 males and 2 females, with the mean age of 66 [range from 46-104], 90% of them were smokers and none were alcoholic. Hoarseness of voice was the most common presenting symptom. In 62% of patients, the supraglottic area was the primary site and in 38% of them it was the glottic area. 17 patients presented as late stage with 3 patients who had distant metastasis. Squamous cell carcinoma was the predominant identified histolopathology type and reported in 95% of cases. Laryngeal tumor is uncommon in our area, with most of the cases being elderly males presenting at advanced stage. Primary prevention of this tumor must be addressed through the control of tobacco smoking and early detection and evaluation

Effectiveness and safety of endotracheal tube cuffs filled with air versus filled with alkalinized lidocaine: a randomized clinical trial

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: High intracuff pressure in endotracheal tubes (ETs) may cause tracheal lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endotracheal tube cuffs filled with air or with alkalinized lidocaine. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a prospective clinical study at the Department of Anesthesiology, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista. METHODS: Among 50 patients, ET cuff pressures were recorded before, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after starting and upon ending nitrous oxide anesthesia. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups: Air, with ET cuff inflated with air to attain a cuff pressure of 20 cmH2O; and Lido, with ET cuff filled with 2 percent lidocaine plus 8.4 percent sodium bicarbonate to attain the same pressure. ET discomfort before tracheal extubation, and sore throat, hoarseness and coughing incidence were studied at the time of discharge from the post-anesthesia care unit, and sore throat and hoarseness were studied 24 hours after anesthesia. RESULTS: Pressures in Lido cuffs were significantly lower than in Air cuffs (p < 0.05). Tracheal complaints were similar for the two groups, except for lower ET discomfort and sore throat incidence after 24 hours and lower systolic arterial pressure at the time of extubation in the Lido group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: ET cuffs filled with alkalinized lidocaine prevented the occurrence of high cuff pressures during N2O anesthesia and reduced ET discomfort and postoperative sore throat incidence. Thus, alkalinized lidocaine-filled ET cuffs seem to be safer than conventional air-filled ET cuffs.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Os tubos traqueais são dispositivos utilizados para manutenção da ventilação. A hiperinsuflação do balonete do tubo traqueal, causada pela difusão do óxido nitroso (N2O), pode determinar lesões traqueais, que se manifestam clinicamente como odinofagia, rouquidão e tosse. A lidocaína, quando injetada no balonete do tubo traqueal, difunde-se através de sua parede, determinando ação anestésica local na traquéia. O objetivo foi avaliar a efetividade e a segurança do balonete do tubo traqueal preenchido com ar comparado com o balonete preenchido com lidocaína, considerando os desfechos: sintomas cardiovasculatórios (HAS, taquicardia); odinofagia, tosse, rouquidão e tolerância ao tubo traqueal. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo clínico prospectivo, realizado no Departamento de Anestesiologia da Faculdade de Medicina da Unesp, campus de Botucatu. MÉTODOS: A pressão do balonete do tubo traqueal foi medida, entre 50 pacientes, antes, 30, 60, 90 e 120 minutos após o início da inalação de N2O anestésico. As pacientes foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em dois grupos: Air, em que o balonete foi inflado com ar para obtenção de pressão de 20 cm H2O, e Lido, em que o balonete foi preenchido com lidocaína a 2 por cento mais bicarbonato de sódio a 8,4 por cento para obtenção da mesma pressão. O desconforto antes da extubação, e manifestações clínicas como dor de garganta, rouquidão e tosse foram registrados no momento da alta da unidade de cuidados pós-anestésicos, e dor de garganta e rouquidão foram avaliadas também 24 horas após a anestesia. RESULTADOS: Os valores da pressão no balonete em G2 foram significativamente menores do que os de Air em todos os tempos de estudo, a partir de 30 minutos (p < 0,001). A proporção de pacientes que reagiu ao tubo traqueal no momento da desintubação foi significantemente menor em Lido (p < 0,005). A incidência de odinofagia foi significantemente menor em Lido no primeiro dia de pós-operatório...

Rouquidão após intubação traqueal / Hoarseness after tracheal intubation

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Descrever as principais causas de rouquidão após intubação traqueal. CONTEUDO: A rouquidão após intubação traqueal é um dos sintomas mais freqüentes no pós-operatório, podendo apresentar durações variáveis, dependendo dos fatores causais e da gravidade do comprometimento das estruturas da laringe. Foi realizada uma breve revisão das estruturas anatômicas da laringe, em que foram descritas as principais lesões traumáticas desse órgão, decorrentes da intubação traqueal e salientou-se a importância dos seus cuidados, bem como do diagnóstico e tratamento precoces. CONCLUSÕES: As lesões traumáticas das estruturas da laringe durante a intubação são causas freqüentes de rouquidão, sendo importante o diagnóstico precoce e a adoção de medidas preventivas.