Nasoendoscopic findings after primary palatal surgery: can the Furlow technique result in a smaller velopharyngeal gap? / Achados nasoendoscópicos após a cirurgia primária de palato: a técnica de Furlow pode resultar em menor gap velofaríngeo?

PURPOSE: To compare the nasoendoscopic findings related to the velopharyngeal gap among patients with cleft palate who underwent the Furlow (F) technique and those who underwent the von Langenbeck (vL) technique for primary palatal surgery, who remained with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI).METHODS: The analyzed data were retrieved from the institution's data of recordings of nasoendoscopic exams. The sample comprised 70 recorded nasoendoscopic exams obtained from 22 patients who underwent the F technique and from 48 who underwent the vL technique during primary palatoplasty, who remained with VPI after surgery and were submitted to nasoendoscopy, between the ages of 5 and 15 years (mean age: 8 years), for definition of the best treatment for VPI. The images were edited into a DVD in a randomized sequence to be assessed by three experienced speech language pathologists regarding displacement and excursion of the soft palate; displacement and excursion of lateral pharyngeal's walls; displacement and excursion of the posterior pharyngeal's wall; and presence of the Passavant ridge and size and type of velopharyngeal gap.RESULTS: The results of the comparison of measurements between F and vL groups were not statistically significant.CONCLUSION: The surgical technique used in primary palatoplasty was not relevant to determine the difference in the size of the velopharyngeal gap for patients who maintained VPI.

OBJETIVO: Comparar os achados nasoendoscópicos relacionados ao gapvelofaríngeo entre pacientes com fissura labiopalatina operados do palato pela técnica de Furlow (F) e aqueles operados pela de Von Langenbeck (vL) que permaneceram com insuficiência velofaríngea (IVF).MÉTODOS: Os dados analisados foram coletados do banco de gravações de exames de nasoendoscopia da instituição. A amostra foi constituída por 70 gravações de nasoendoscopia obtidas de 22 pacientes operados do palato pela técnica de F e de 48 pela de vL, que permaneceram com IVF e que foram submetidos à nasoendoscopia para definição de conduta para correção da IVF, entre as idades de 5e 15 anos (média: 8 anos). As imagens foram editadas em sequência aleatória em um DVD e julgadas por três fonoaudiólogas experientes quanto ao movimento e deslocamento do véu palatino; ao movimento e descolamento das paredes laterais da faringe; ao movimento e deslocamento da parede posterior da faringe; à ocorrência da prega de Passavant e ao tamanho e tipo do gapvelofaríngeo.RESULTADOS: Os resultados quanto à comparação das medidas entre as técnicas cirúrgicas (F versusvL) não foram estatisticamente significantes.CONCLUSÃO: A técnica cirúrgica utilizada na palatoplastia primária não foi relevante para determinar diferença no tamanho do gapvelofaríngeo para os pacientes que permaneceram com IVF.

Velar activity in individuals with velopharyngeal insufficiency assessed by acoustic rhinometry

Acoustic rhinometry is routinely used for the evaluation of nasal patency. Objective: To investigate whether the technique is able to identify the impairment of velopharyngeal (VP) activity in individuals with clinical diagnosis of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). Methods: Twenty subjects with repaired cleft palate and inadequate velopharyngeal function (IVF) and 18 non-cleft controls with adequate velopharyngeal function (AVF), adults, of both genders, were evaluated. Area-distance curves were obtained during VP rest and speech activity, using an Eccovision Acoustic Rhinometry system. Volume was determined by integrating the area under the curve at the segment corresponding to the nasopharynx. VP activity (ΔV) was estimated by the absolute and relative differences between nasopharyngeal volume at rest (Vr) and during an unreleased /k/ production (Vk). The efficiency of the technique to discriminate IVF and AVF was assessed by a ROC curve. Results: Mean Vk and Vr values (±SD) obtained were: 23.2±3.6 cm3 and 15.9±3.8 cm3 (AVF group), and 22.7±7.9 cm3 and 20.7±7.4 cm3 (IVF group), corresponding to a mean ΔV decay of 7.3 cm3 (31%) for the AVF group and a significantly smaller ΔV decay of 2.0 cm3 (9%) for the IVF group (p<0.05). Seventy percent of the IVF individuals showed a ΔV suggesting impaired VP function (below the cutoff score of 3.0 cm3 which maximized both sensitivity and specificity of the test), confirming clinical diagnosis. Conclusion: Acoustic rhinometry was able to identify, with a good discriminatory power, the impairment of VP activity which characterizes VPI. .

Morfología del velo palatino en individuos fisurados operados, y su relación con el grado de insuficiencia velo faríngea / Palate velum morphology on operated cleft palate patients and its relation with the degree of pharyngeal velum insufficiency

La fisura labio palatina corresponde a una malformación congénita, caracterizada por la interrupción en la continuidad de los tejidos. La cirugía primaria del velo del paladar permite reconstituir la morfología perdida del velo palatino, sin embargo ésta no siempre considera la devolución de la anatomía del músculo de la úvula, por lo cual, el velo operado adquiere una anatomía anómala impidiendo el cierre óptimo entre cavidad oral y nasal; esta condición se conoce con el nombre de insuficiencia velo faríngea. El objetivo de este trabajo fue asociar la morfología del velo palatino con la insuficiencia velo faríngea en individuos fisurados operados. Se realizó un estudio analítico, teniendo como unidad de muestra al velo del paladar; La muestra se seleccionó entre aquellos pacientes que cumplían con los criterios de inclusión. A los individuos seleccionados se les realizó un examen clínico y un registro fotográfico con el objetivo de clasificar la anatomía del velo del paladar. Posteriormente se les realizó una evaluación fonoaudiológica para determinar el grado de insuficiencia velo faríngea. Los datos obtenidos fueron tabulados y evaluados estadísticamente. La clasificación morfológica del velo del paladar determino que el 52% de los velos fueran clasificados como cóncavos, los velos convexos y planos se distribuyeron ambos en un 24%. Según la evaluación velo faríngea, el 12% se presentaron como insuficientes, el 52% como límite insuficiente, el 24% como límite suficiente y tan solo el 8% como suficientes. Al relacionar la morfología del velo del paladar con evaluación velo faríngea se obtuvo un p = 0,3. Existe una variabilidad tanto en la morfología del velo del paladar como en la evaluación de la insuficiencia velo faríngea en individuos fisurados operados, siendo esta ultima desfavorable. No se estableció una relación estadística entre morfología del velo del paladar y la evaluación velo faríngea.

The reason for lip and cleft palate is due to a congenital malformation characterized by the interruption in the continuity of tissue. The primary surgery of the palate velum allows us to reconstruct the lost morphology in the velum palate, however this doesn´t always consider the return of the uvula muscle anatomy, whereby the operated velum becomes an anomalous anatomy thus preventing an optimum closing between the nasal and oral cavity; this condition is known as pharyngeal velum insufficiency. The aim was to associate palate velum morphology with pharyngeal velum insufficiency on cleft palate operated patients. An analytical study was done, using the velum palate as sample; the sample was selected amongst patients who met the inclusion criteria. A photographic record and a clinical exam were done on those patients who were chosen in order to classify the anatomy of the velum palate. Subsequently a phonoaudiological evaluation was done in order to establish the degree of pharyngeal velum insufficiency. The data obtained were statistically tabulated and evaluated. The morphological classification of the palate velum determined that 52% of the vela were classified as concave; the flat and convex vela both had a 24% share each. According to the evaluation of the pharyngeal velum, 12% were shown to be insufficient, 52% as borderline insufficient, 24% as borderline sufficient, and only 8% proved to be sufficient. When relating the palate velum morphology with pharyngeal velum evaluation a p = 0.3 was obtained. There is a variability in both the palate velum morphology and in the evaluation of the pharyngeal velum insufficiency on operated cleft palate patients, with the latter shown as being unfavorable. No statistical relation was established between palate velum morphology and pharyngeal velum evaluation.

Fissura palatina reparada: fechamento velofaríngeo antes e durante o som basal / Cleft palate repair: velopharyngeal closure before and during the basal tone

Portadores de fissura palatina apresentam inadequado fechamento velofaríngeo (FVF), com consequente hipernasalidade vocal que pode ser diminuída com o som basal. OBJETIVO: Comparar o FVF durante a realização do som basal com a emissão em registro modal, em pacientes com fissura palatina pós-forame reparada. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Estudo de Casos com quatro homens adultos, portadores de fissura palatina pós-forame reparada. Imagens do FVF por nasofaringoscopia, durante a emissão da vogal [a] em registro modal e basal. Julgamento das imagens realizado por quatro otorrinolaringologistas. RESULTADOS: Em três sujeitos, não houve mudança no tipo de FVF entre os registros analisados; as modificações que ocorreram na maioria dos sujeitos referem-se apenas ao grau de movimentação das estruturas envolvidas, pois, em registro basal, o movimento das paredes laterais da faringe se manteve, o movimento da parede posterior da faringe estabilizou, o movimento do véu palatino diminuiu discretamente, e a Prega de Passavant se evidenciou. CONCLUSÕES: O tipo de FVF se manteve em três dos quatro sujeitos analisados, quando comparado o registro modal com o basal, havendo modificações no grau da movimentação das estruturas envolvidas, evidenciando a Prega de Passavant.

Patients with palatine fissure have inadequate velopharyngeal closure (VPC), with consequent vocal hypernasality which can be reduced by a basal tone. AIM: to compare VPC during a basal tone with the emission of a modal recording, in patients with repaired post-foramen palatine fissure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: case study with four adult men, all with repaired post-foramen palatine fissure. VPC images through nasal-pharyngoscopy during the emission o f the [a] vowel in a modal and basal recording. The images were studied by four ENTs. RESULTS: in three subjects there was no change in the type of VPC considering the recordings analyzed; the changes which happened to most of the subjects are associated only to the degree of movement of the structures involved, since in the basal recording the movement of the laryngeal lateral walls was kept, the movement of the posterior pharyngeal wall stabilized, the movement of the palatine veil was mildly reduced, and the Passavant fold was evident. CONCLUSIONS: The type of VPC was kept in the four subjects analyzed, when we compared the modal and basal recordings, there was a modification in the degree of movements in the structures involved, making it clear the Passavant Fold.

Achados endoscópico e citológico das vias respiratórias de potros puro sangue inglês em início de treinamento no Jóquei Clube do Paraná / Respiratory endoscopic and cytological findings in english thoroughbred foals in the beginning of their training at Jóquei Clube do Paraná / Hallazgos endoscópicos y citológicos de las vias respiratorias de potros purasangre inglés a principio de entrenamiento en el jóquei clube do paraná

O sistema respiratório de dezesseis potros PSI, com dois anos, em início de treinamento no Jóquei Clube do Paraná, foi avaliado através da videoendoscopia e citologia do aspirado traqueobrônquico. Observou-se que em sete destes animais (43,75%) foi diagnosticada hiperplasia folicular linfóide de grau III (intenso) e, nos demais (56,25%), grau II (moderado). No momento do exame, houve deslocamento do palato mole de forma persistente em dois animais (12,5%) e de forma intermitente, em outros três (18,75%). Foi constatada epiglote com aspecto frágil em apenas um animal e observada hemiplegia laríngea (grau II) em outros dois casos. Ainda, constatou-se secreção traqueobrônquica em dez animais (62,5%), em sete dos quais (70%) foi realizado aspirado e exame citológico.

The respiratory system of sixteen 2-year-old thoroughbred foals in the beginning of their training at Jóquei Club do Paraná was evaluated through videoendoscopy and tracheobronchial cytology. Seven horses (43.75%) presented (severe) level III follicular hyperplasia, and the others (56.25%) level II (moderate). At the moment of the exam there was persistent soft palate displacements in two animals (12.5%), and intermittent in three (18.75%). The epiglottis was found to be fragile in only one animal, and the level II laryngeal hemiplegia was diagnosed in two other cases. Ten animals (62.5%) presented tracheobronchial secretion, and the aspirate and cytological exams were carried out in seven (70%).

Proposta de classificação da função velofaríngea na avaliação perceptivo-auditiva da fala / Proposal for velopharyngeal function rating in a speech perceptual assessment

TEMA: a avaliação perceptivo-auditiva da função velofaríngea apresenta limitações em função de sua subjetividade. OBJETIVO: propor um método de classificação baseado nos escores atribuídos à hipernasalidade, emissão de ar nasal e distúrbios articulatórios compensatórios. CONCLUSÃO: o uso do método traz inúmeras vantagens em termos de documentação clínica e de pesquisa e para acompanhamento de resultados terapêutico-cirúrgicos.

Rhythmic palatal myoclonus.

We report two cases of rhythmic palatal myoclonus (RPM) first presenting with symptoms unrelated to myoclonus and a possible etiology of encephalitis and the second presenting with ear click and palatal myoclonus. The response to treatment was unsatisfactory in both.