COVID-19 in otolaryngologists: a cross-sectional multicenter study

Abstract Introduction: The nose and throat are areas of high viral load, which could place otolaryngologists at an even higher risk for COVID-19 than other health-care workers. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in otorhinolaryngologists in southern Brazil, its relationship to demographic data, professional practice and reported symptoms of COVID-19, and compare it with official data on other health-care workers of the state and the general population in the same period. Methods: In this cross-sectional multicenter study, otolaryngologists actively practicing officially registered in Rio Grande do Sul were screened for IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 from August 1 to September 15, 2020. A questionnaire was also applied. Results: We screened 358 (80.1%) of 447 actively practicing otolaryngologists (195 [54.5%] male; mean [SD] age, 47.77 [13.57] years; range, 26-84 years). Twenty-three were positive for IgM and/or IgG (6.4%). This result was significantly associated with reports of infected household contacts (19/315 negatives and 8/23 positives; p<0.001). From 23 seropositive participants, 14 were asymptomatic (60.9%; p< 0.001). There were no significant associations between seroconversion and age, sex, number of patient appointments and surgical procedures, workplace (hospital or private practice), patients with or without respiratory symptoms, or level of personal protective equipment used. The rate of COVID-19 in all health-care workers in the state was 7.69% at the end of the same period. Data from state government seroprevalence was 5.26 (risk ratio [RR]; 95% CI 3.27-8.45) and 4.66 (RR; 95% CI 2.93-7.43) times higher in otolaryngologists than in the general population in August and September, respectively. Conclusion: Otolaryngologists had a higher seroconversion rate than the general population. Using personal protective equipment, the level of occupational exposure did not result in higher rates of infection than other health-care workers, but the presence of infected household contacts was associated with higher rates of seroconversion.

Tratamento cirúrgico de laringomalácia: casuística de hospital pediátrico terciário / Laryngomalacia surgery: a series from a tertiary pediatric hospital

Laringomalácia é o colapso supraglótico durante a inspiração; é responsável por até 75% dos casos de estridor em crianças de até 30 meses. O achado característico é estridor inspiratório; até 20% dos pacientes apresentam quadros graves, sendo necessária intervenção cirúrgica. A supraglotoplastia é o procedimento de escolha e se considera a presença de comorbidades como o maior fator prognóstico para o sucesso da cirurgia. OBJETIVOS: Descrever a casuística de hospital pediátrico terciário, índices de sucesso e analisando fatores prognósticos cirúrgicos. MÉTODO: Estudo de coorte retrospectivo. Incluídos 20 pacientes submetidos à supraglotoplastia no período de julho de 2007 a maio de 2011. RESULTADOS: Dos 20 pacientes, 13 (65%) eram do sexo masculino; a média de idade no procedimento foi de 6,32 meses. Na endoscopia, 12 apresentavam associações de tipos de laringomalácia, 40% apresentavam faringomalácia associada e três apresentavam também traqueomalácia. Treze crianças apresentavam laringomalácia isolada e sete pacientes apresentavam doença do refluxo gastroesofágico. Quinze (75%) pacientes foram submetidos à ressecção de pregas ariepiglóticas. Após o procedimento, 11 pacientes ficaram assintomáticos e dois necessitaram traqueostomia. A presença de comorbidades foi a variável preditora de desfecho desfavorável pós-operatório (p = 0,034). CONCLUSÃO: A supraglotoplastia é um procedimento seguro para tratamento de laringomalácia em casos selecionados.

Laryngomalacia is the condition responsible for 75% of the cases of stridor in children aged up to 30 months, in which there is supraglottic collapse during inhalation. Inspiratory stridor is a characteristic telltale. As many as 20% of the patients are severely affected and require surgery. Supraglottoplasty is the procedure of choice and the presence of comorbidities is the most relevant prognostic factor for surgery success. OBJECTIVE: To describe a series in a tertiary pediatric hospital, its success rates, and surgery prognostic factors. METHOD: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 20 patients submitted to supraglottoplasty between July 2007 and May 2011. RESULTS: Thirteen (65%) patients were males; mean age at the time of the procedure was 6.32 months. Endoscopic examination showed that 12 subjects had combined forms of laryngomalacia, 40% had associated pharyngomalacia, and three also had tracheomalacia. Thirteen subjects had isolated laryngomalacia and seven had gastroesophageal reflux disease. Fifteen (75%) patients underwent aryepiglottic fold resection. After the procedure, eleven patients were asymptomatic and two required tracheostomy. Presence of comorbidities was the strongest predictor of unfavorable postoperative outcome (p = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Supraglottoplasty is a safe therapeutical procedure for select patients with laryngomalacia.

Sinusite odontogênica / Odontogenic sinusitis

A sinusite maxilar de origem odontogênica pode muitas vezes levar os profissionais da saúde a tratamentos equivocados, pois sua prevalência é muitas vezes subestimada. Ao depararmos com uma sinusite crônica, devemos sempre levantar a possibilidade desta ser odontogênica. O presente trabalho tem a finalidade de apresentar um relato de caso de sinusite odontogênica e fazer uma revisão bibliográfica sobre sua fisiopatogenia, sintomatologia, diagnóstico e tratamento.

Hipocondria: características e manejo. Uma revisäo / Hypochondriasis: clinical features and treatment. A review

A hipocondria é uma doença de difícil diagnóstico, principalmente pelo pouco conhecimento que se tem a seu respito. O artigo discute suas carcterísticas a partir de uma revisäo da literatura, buscando abranger seus aspectos clínicos, epidemiológicos e seu manejo