Swallowing disorders after ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate occurrences of swallowing disorders after ischemic stroke. METHOD: This was a retrospective study on 596 medical files. The inclusion criterion was that the patients needed to have been hospitalized with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke; the exclusion criteria were the presence of associated cardiac problems and hospital stay already more than 14 days. RESULTS: 50.5% were men and 49.5% women; mean age 65.3 years (SD= ± 11.7) (p ≤ 0.001). Among the risk factors, 79.4% had hypertension, 36.7% had diabetes (p ≤ 0.001) and 42.7% were smokers. 13.3% of the patients died. Swallowing disorders occurred in 19.6%, among whom 91.5% had mild difficulty and 8.5% had severe difficulty. 87.1% had spontaneous recovery after a mean of 2.4 months. A lesion in the brainstem region occurred in 6.8% (p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION: Swallowing disorders occurred in almost 20% of the population and most of the difficulty in swallowing found was mild. The predictors for swallowing disorders were older age, diabetes mellitus and lesions in the brainstem region.

Swallowing disorders after ischemic stroke / Alteração da deglutição após acidente cerebrovascular isquêmico

OBJECTIVE: To investigate occurrences of swallowing disorders after ischemic stroke. METHOD: This was a retrospective study on 596 medical files. The inclusion criterion was that the patients needed to have been hospitalized with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke; the exclusion criteria were the presence of associated cardiac problems and hospital stay already more than 14 days. RESULTS: 50.5 percent were men and 49.5 percent women; mean age 65.3 years (SD=±11.7) (p<0.001). Among the risk factors, 79.4 percent had hypertension, 36.7 percent had diabetes (p<0.001) and 42.7 percent were smokers. 13.3 percent of the patients died. Swallowing disorders occurred in 19.6 percent, among whom 91.5 percent had mild difficulty and 8.5 percent had severe difficulty. 87.1 percent had spontaneous recovery after a mean of 2.4 months. A lesion in the brainstem region occurred in 6.8 percent (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Swallowing disorders occurred in almost 20 percent of the population and most of the difficulty in swallowing found was mild. The predictors for swallowing disorders were older age, diabetes mellitus and lesions in the brainstem region.

OBJETIVO: Verificar alteração da deglutição após acidente cerebrovascular isquêmico (AVCI). MÉTODO: Estudo retrospectivo de 596 prontuários. Critérios de inclusão: pacientes hospitalizados com diagnóstico de AVCI. Critérios de exclusão: pacientes com problemas cardíacos associados e com mais de 14 dias de internação. RESULTADOS: 50,5 por cento homens e 49,5 por cento mulheres, idade média 65,3 anos (DP=±11,7) (p<0,001). Entre os fatores de risco, 79,4 por cento hipertensão arterial, 36,7 por cento diabetes (p<0,001), 42,7 por cento tabagismo. Óbito ocorreu em 13,3 por cento dos pacientes. Alteração de deglutição ocorreu em 19,6 por cento, sendo 91,5 por cento com dificuldade leve e 8,5 por cento com dificuldade grave; 87,1 por cento tiveram recuperação espontânea com tempo médio de 2,4 meses. A lesão em região de tronco encefálico ocorreu em 6,8 por cento (p<0,001). CONCLUSÃO: A alteração da deglutição ocorreu em quase 20 por cento da população e a dificuldade de deglutição mais encontrada foi a leve. Os fatores preditores para alteração de deglutição foram aumento da idade, diabetes mellitus e lesão em região de tronco encefálico.

Predictive factors for spasticity among ischemic stroke patients / Fatores preditivos para espasticidade após acidente vascular cerebral

Spasticity is a determining for functional loss following ischemic stroke. OBJECTIVE: To detect possible predictive factors for its occurrence. METHOD: Demographic, clinical and tomographic data on 146 stroke patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Spasticity was noted more frequently among patients who underwent physiotherapy (p<0.0001; OR=19.4; 95 percent CI: 4.4-84.5), those who underwent such treatment for long periods (p=0.028; OR=4.80; 95 percent CI: 1.1-8.3) and those with manual work (p=0.041; OR=2.2; 95 percent CI: 1.02-4.6), lower income (p=0.038), pain complaints (p<0.0001; OR=107.0; 95 percent CI: 13.5-847.3), appearance of pain at the same time as spasticity (p<0.0001), previous vascular disease (p=0.001; OR=4.2; 95 percent CI: 1.7-10.3), muscle weakness (p<0.0001; OR=91.9; 95 percent CI: 12.0-699.4), extensive lesions as seen on tomography (p=0.01) and lesions affecting more than one cerebral lobe (p=0.018). Manual work had a relative risk of 2.9; previous stroke 3.9, and extensive lesion 3.6. CONCLUSION: Spasticity affected 25 percent of the patients, and was associated with: manual work, previous stroke, extensive lesions, decrease in individual income, underwent physiotherapy, underwent physiotherapy for longer period, pain complaints, the pain started simultaneously with the spasticity, presented changes in strength.

A espasticidade é fator determinante para perda funcional após o acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico (AVCI). OBJETIVO: Detectar possíveis fatores preditivos para a ocorrência da espasticidade. MÉTODO: Foram analisados dados demográficos, clínicos e tomográficos de 146 pacientes pós-AVCI. RESULTADOS: Na análise univariada a espasticidade foi notada com maior freqüência em pacientes que realizaram fisioterapia (p<0,0001; OR=19,4; 95 por cento CI: 4,4-84,5), com maior tempo de duração desse tratamento (p=0,028; OR=4,80; 95 por cento CI: 1,1-8,3) e que realizavam trabalho braçal (p=0,041; OR=2,2; 95 por cento CI: 1,02-4,6), renda menor (p=0,038), referência de dor (p<0,0001; OR=107,0; 95 por cento CI: 13,5-847,3) e seu aparecimento simultâneo à espasticidade (p<0,0001), acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) pregresso (p=0,001; OR=4,2; 95 por cento CI: 1,7-10,3), fraqueza muscular (p<0,0001; OR=91,9; 95 por cento CI: 12,0-699,4), lesão tomográfica extensa (p=0,01) e lesão afetando mais de um lobo cerebral (p=0,018). Na análise de regressão multivariada a atividade braçal apresentou risco relativo de 2,9; acidente vascular cerebral prévio com risco relativo de 3,9 e lesão tomográfica extensa risco relativo de 3,6. CONCLUSÃO: A espasticidade afetou um quarto da população estudada e esteve associada ao trabalho braçal, AVC pregresso, lesões tomográficas extensas, diminuição da renda individual, realização de fisioterapia, realização de fisioterapia por um período maior, presença de dor, surgimento da dor simultânea à espasticidade e alteração da força.

Verbal language spontaneous recovery after ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the spontaneous recovery of the verbal language on patients who have had an ischemic stroke. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of 513 medical records. We characterize referring aspects for data identification, language deficit, spontaneous recovery and speech therapy. RESULTS: The average age was 62.2 years old (SD= +/-12.3), the average time of academic experience was 4.5 years (SD=+/-3.9), 245 (47.7%) patients presented language disturbance, 166 (54.0%) presented spontaneous recovery, from which 145 (47.2%) had expression deficit (p=0.001); 12 (3.9%) had comprehension deficit and 9 (2.9%) had both expression and comprehension deficit. Speech therapy was carried with 15 patients (4.8%) (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The verbal language spontaneous recovery occurred in most of the patients being taken care of at the stroke out clinic, and expression disturbance was the most identified alteration. As expected, the left hemisphere was associated with the deficit and smoking and pregressive stroke were the language alteration primary associated factors.

Verbal language spontaneous recovery after ischemic stroke / Recuperação espontânea da linguagem verbal após acidente cerebrovascular isquêmico

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the spontaneous recovery of the verbal language on patients who have had an ischemic stroke. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of 513 medical records. We characterize referring aspects for data identification, language deficit, spontaneous recovery and speech therapy. RESULTS: The average age was 62.2 years old (SD= ±12.3), the average time of academic experience was 4.5 years (SD=±3.9), 245 (47.7 percent) patients presented language disturbance, 166 (54.0 percent) presented spontaneous recovery, from which 145 (47.2 percent) had expression deficit (p=0.001); 12 (3.9 percent) had comprehension deficit and 9 (2.9 percent) had both expression and comprehension deficit. Speech therapy was carried with 15 patients (4.8 percent) (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The verbal language spontaneous recovery occurred in most of the patients being taken care of at the stroke out clinic, and expression disturbance was the most identified alteration. As expected, the left hemisphere was associated with the deficit and smoking and pregressive stroke were the language alteration primary associated factors.

OBJETIVO: Analisar a recuperação espontânea da linguagem verbal em pacientes que sofreram acidente cerebrovascular isquêmico (AVCI). MÉTODO: Análise retrospectiva de 513 prontuários. Caracterizamos aspectos referentes aos dados de identificação, déficit de linguagem, recuperação espontânea, realização de tratamento fonoaudiológico. RESULTADOS: A média de idade foi 62,2 anos (DP=±12,3), o nível de escolaridade teve média de 4,5 anos (DP=±3,9), 245 (47,7 por cento) pacientes apresentaram alteração de linguagem, 166 (54,0 por cento) apresentaram recuperação espontânea sendo 145 (47,2 por cento) do déficit de expressão (p=0,001), 12 (3,9 por cento) de compreensão e 9 (2,9 por cento) misto. A realização de tratamento fonoaudiológico foi encontrada em 15 (4,8 por cento) (p=0,001). CONCLUSÃO: A recuperação espontânea da linguagem verbal ocorreu na maioria dos pacientes atendidos no ambulatório de AVCI e a alteração mais encontrada foi de expressão. Como esperado o hemisfério esquerdo associou-se ao déficit, sendo o tabagismo e AVC pregresso fatores preditores de alteração de linguagem.

Formação e demanda do cirurgião pediátrico no Brasil / Needs and specialization for pediatric surgeons in Brazil

OBJETIVO: Definir o perfil epidemiológico dos especialistas em cirurgia pediátrica no Brasil. Definir as relações mercado-oferta de trabalho em cirurgia pediátrica no Brasil. Comparar o perfil profissional do cirurgião pediátrico brasileiro ao perfil deste especialista em outros países. MÉTODOS: Utilizando informações estatísticas fornecidas pelo IBGE, Conselho Federal de Medicina e Associação Brasileira de Cirurgia Pediátrica, definir o perfil de trabalho dos médicos especializados em cirurgia pediátrica no Brasil. RESULTADOS: A demanda de cirurgiões pediátricos trabalhando no Brasil em horário integral é de 850 cirurgiões, caso se considere apenas o atendimento de lactentes e neonatos. Há uma centralização excessiva de cirurgiões pediátricos no sul e sudeste e falta de mão de obra nas regiões norte e nordeste. Os dados quanto ao número de cirurgiões pediátricos atuando no Brasil são conflitantes (dados de pesquisa epidemiológica da FIOCRUZ diferem de dados do CFM e da CIPE). A rotina de trabalho do cirurgião pediátrico no Brasil não é comparável com aquela dos profissionais norte-americanos e europeus, fontes da maior parte dos dados de referência em literatura. CONCLUSÃO: A demanda de cirurgiões pediátricos trabalhando no Brasil em horário integral apenas para atendimento de lactentes e neonatos é de 850 cirurgiões. Existe um desequilíbrio entre oferta e ocupação de postos de trabalho nas diversas regiões do país. O sudeste é um centro de formação de especialistas que exporta profissionais para as demais regiões do país. Os dados quanto ao número de cirurgiões pediátricos atuando no Brasil são conflitantes.

OBJECTIVE: To define the distribution of Pediatric Surgeons in Brazil and the distribution of job offered for specialists in the country. To compare the professional profile of Brazilian Pediatric Surgeons with other countries. MEHTODS: Statistical data derived from Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), Brazilian Medical Council (CFM) and Brazilian Society of Pediatric Surgery (CIPE) were used to define the professional profile of pediatric surgeons in Brazil. RESULTS: Eight-hundred-and-five pediatric surgeons are needed in Brazil only to treat neonates and toddlers. Professionals are excessively concentrated in South and Southeast and insufficient numbers are found in North and Northeast. Data about the number of pediatric surgeons working in Brazil are conflicting: data obtained from FIOCRUZ differ from those from CFM and CIPE. The working routine of Brazilian pediatric surgeons is different from that of North-American and European specialists, from where the major part of our references is extracted. CONLCUSION: Brazil needs a minimum of 805 pediatric surgeons working full time only to treat nenonates and toddlers. Specialists are not well distributed throughout the country. The southeast is a training center and exports specialists to the rest of the country. Epidemiological data concerning the distribution of professionals in Brazil are conflicting.

Predictive factors for spasticity among ischemic stroke patients.

UNLABELLED: Spasticity is a determining for functional loss following ischemic stroke. OBJECTIVE: To detect possible predictive factors for its occurrence. METHOD: Demographic, clinical and tomographic data on 146 stroke patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Spasticity was noted more frequently among patients who underwent physiotherapy (p<0.0001; OR=19.4; 95% CI: 4.4-84.5), those who underwent such treatment for long periods (p=0.028; OR=4.80; 95% CI: 1.1-8.3) and those with manual work (p=0.041; OR=2.2; 95% CI: 1.02-4.6), lower income (p=0.038), pain complaints (p<0.0001; OR=107.0; 95% CI: 13.5-847.3), appearance of pain at the same time as spasticity (p<0.0001), previous vascular disease (p=0.001; OR=4.2; 95% CI: 1.7-10.3), muscle weakness (p<0.0001; OR=91.9; 95% CI: 12.0-699.4), extensive lesions as seen on tomography (p=0.01) and lesions affecting more than one cerebral lobe (p=0.018). Manual work had a relative risk of 2.9; previous stroke 3.9, and extensive lesion 3.6. CONCLUSION: Spasticity affected 25% of the patients, and was associated with: manual work, previous stroke, extensive lesions, decrease in individual income, underwent physiotherapy, underwent physiotherapy for longer period, pain complaints, the pain started simultaneously with the spasticity, presented changes in strength.

[Needs and specialization for pediatric surgeons in Brazil]. / Formação e demanda do cirurgião pediátrico no Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: To define the distribution of Pediatric Surgeons in Brazil and the distribution of job offered for specialists in the country. To compare the professional profile of Brazilian Pediatric Surgeons with other countries. METHODS: Statistical data derived from Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), Brazilian Medical Council (CFM) and Brazilian Society of Pediatric Surgery (CIPE) were used to define the professional profile of pediatric surgeons in Brazil. RESULTS: Eight-hundred-and-five pediatric surgeons are needed in Brazil only to treat neonates and toddlers. Professionals are excessively concentrated in South and Southeast and insufficient numbers are found in North and Northeast. Data about the number of pediatric surgeons working in Brazil are conflicting: data obtained from FIOCRUZ differ from those from CFM and CIPE. The working routine of Brazilian pediatric surgeons is different from that of North-American and European specialists, from where the major part of our references is extracted. CONCLUSION: Brazil needs a minimum of 805 pediatric surgeons working full time only to treat nenonates and toddlers. Specialists are not well distributed throughout the country. The southeast is a training center and exports specialists to the rest of the country. Epidemiological data concerning the distribution of professionals in Brazil are conflicting.

Weight of evidence / A importância da evidência

Evidence-based Medicine (EBM) has become a major source of medical knowledge. It handles complexities of virtually every method or technique used in research. The knowledge on how the EBM researcher retrieves information, judges for relevance and analyzes derived data is invaluable for the skillful reader of medical scientific reports.

As cordas que não são cordas / The strings that are not strings

As pregas vocais foram, durante muito tempo, denominadas cordas vocais. Essa expressão foi criada a partir de mais de três séculos da prática e do ensino do canto, sem nenhum conhecimento de anatomia e fisiologia, numa referência às cordas de certos instrumentos musicais. Entretanto, uma breve apreciação dos mecanismos da produção do som na laringe e nos instrumentos permite vislumbrar a extensão do erro contido nessa denominação.

The vocal cords were for a long time, called cords. This expression was created from more than three centuries of practice and teaching of singing, with no knowledge of anatomy and physiology, a reference to the ropes certain musical instruments. However, a brief assessment of the mechanisms of sound production the larynx and the tools to envision extension of the error contained in that name.

Transesophageal echocardiography discloses unexpected cardiac sources of embolus in stroke patients aged more than 45 years

Embolia cerebral de fonte cardíaca é frequentemente relacionada a acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) em jovem.OBJETIVO: Descrever achados ecocardiográficos em jovens e não jovens com AVC isquêmico, sem suspeita de fonte cardíaca.MÉTODO: Estudo transversal; 523 pacientes (267 homens e 256 mulheres) com AVC isquêmico sem evidência de fonte cardíaca submeteram-se ao ecocardiograma transesofágico (ECOTE). RESULTADOS: 10% dos pacientes tinha 45 anos; ou menos. Hipertrofia do ventrículo esquerdo, aumento do átrio esquerdo, contraste espontâneo na aorta, aneurisma do septo interatrial, calcificação da válvula mitral e aórtica, insuficiência aórtica e placas de ateroma na aorta foram significantemente mais frequentes nos pacientes com mais que 45 anos; 2.8% dos não-jovens apresentaram trombo nas câmaras esquerdas.CONCLUSÃO: ECOTE é amplamente sugerido na investigação de embolia em pacientes jovens, porém parece ser tão importante também no grupo de pacientes mais velhos, nos quais o risco de embolia cerebral é subestimado; etiologia cardioembólica e aterosclerótica coexistem, e ambas devem ser identificadas e tratadas para melhor prognóstico.

Transesophageal echocardiography discloses unexpected cardiac sources of embolus in stroke patients aged more than 45 years.

UNLABELLED: Cerebral embolism from cardiac source is an important cause of stroke, specially in patients younger than 45 years old. OBJECTIVE: To describe the transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) findings in young and non-young stroke patients without any prior evidence of cardiac source for cerebral embolism. METHOD: Transversal study: 523 patients (267 men and 256 women) with ischemic stroke, without any evidence of cardiac abnormality, underwent to TEE. RESULTS: Ten percent were aged 45 years; or less. Left ventricle hypertrophy, left atrial enlargement, spontaneous contrast in aorta, interatrial septum aneurysm, mitral and aortic valve calcification, aortic valve regurgitation, and atherosclerotic plaques in aorta were significantly more frequent in patients aged more than 45 years; 2.8% of non-young patients had thrombus in left heart. CONCLUSION: TEE is widely used to diagnose cardiac source of cerebral embolism in young patients, but it seems to be as useful for older ones, in whom cerebral embolism risk is underestimated; atherogenic and cardioembolic causes may actually coexist, and both should be treated.