Are Histologic Studies of Adenotonsillectomy Really Necessary?

In most ear, nose, and throat services, it is routine to send the material extracted from tonsillectomy for histologic study to research malignancy, to analyze suspect material, or to provide medical-legal documentation. Recent studies have shown that this routine analysis is dispensable. Objective: To evaluate the actual need and perform a cost–benefit analysis of routine histopathologic examination in tonsillectomy with no signs or symptoms of malignancy. Methods: A retrospective observational study evaluated the charts of patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy, tonsillectomy, or adenoidectomy from January 2008 to September 2009 at the Institute of Otorhinolaryngology CEMA-SP. Costs of this test for the public health system were analyzed and the literature reviewed. Results  We studied 281 patients between 2 and 22 years of age; 142 (50.5%) were male and 139 (49.5%) were female. Of the surgeries, 201 were adenotonsillectomies (71.5%), 41 were tonsillectomies (14.5%), and 39 were adenoidectomies (14%). The most common indication for surgery was recurrent infection (63.3%). None of study patients had clinical suspicion of malignancy. The tests showed a cost of R$20.03 per tonsil analyzed. Conclusion: Routine histopathologic examination in patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy with no signs or symptoms of malignancy is dispensable and increases the cost of the surgeries...

Profilaxia para tromboembolismo venoso em um hospital de ensino / Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis at a teaching hospital

Objetivo: Verificar se a profilaxia da trombose venosa profunda está sendo utilizada de maneira correta e rotineira em um hospital de ensino. Métodos e casuísticas: Foi realizado um estudo transversal de pacientes internados em sete setores (enfermarias) do Conjunto Hospitalar de Sorocaba (Hospital de Ensino), no período de agosto de 2004 a agosto de 2005. Para estratificação do risco de trombose venosa profunda de cada paciente, foram pesquisados fatores clínicos e cirúrgicos, segundo o protocolo preconizado pela Sociedade Brasileira de Angiologia e de Cirurgia Vascular. No período estudado, foram analisados 216 prontuários, dos quais 30 eram da cirurgia abdominal, 30 da cirurgia vascular, 30 da urologia, 31 da clínica médica, 31 da unidade de terapia intensiva, 31 da ortopedia e 33 da ginecologia/obstetrícia...