Functional outcomes and quality of life in patients who undergone conventional or endoscopic/robotic retroauricular neck dissection: a case-control study.

Background: Neck dissection performed via retroauricular approach emerged as an alternative to the conventional approach, aiming to maintain therapeutic efficacy with lower postoperative morbidity. Differences among these modalities in terms of functional aspects and quality of life (QOL) remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the anatomical and functional aspects and the QOL in patients undergoing unilateral neck dissection via conventional or retroauricular (endoscopic or robotic) access. Methods: This study involved consecutively 35 patients who underwent unilateral neck dissection for head and neck cancer, 25 submitted to the conventional surgery [conventional group (CG)] and 10 to the retroauricular approach [retroauricular group (RG)]. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and on the 30th postoperative day (POD) regarding range of motion (ROM) of the cervical spine and shoulder, trapezius muscle strength and QOL. Results: The CG and RG were similar in terms of anthropometric, clinical and surgical variables. The mean age of both groups was between 52 and 55 years old. There was a predominance of females in the CG (52%) and males in the RG (70%); P=0.08. The most affected site was the oropharynx followed by the thyroid in the two groups and the most frequently dissected levels were I-III in both groups. There was a difference in the length of hospital stay {CG: 5 [1-22] days and RG: 2 [1-6] days; P=0.02} and pain scores at the 30th POD was higher in CG group (P=0.002). Regarding the cervical spine ROM, it was better in RG in the 30th POD for neck extension, ipsilateral lateroflexion, contralateral lateroflexion and contralateral rotation (P<0.05). No significant differences were found regarding shoulder ROM. Trapezius muscle strength, was also higher at the 30th POD in RG group (P<0.05). QOL was most impacted in the CG in the Chewing and Shoulder domains and Physical Function dimension at the 30th POD (P<0.05). Conclusions: Postoperative functional morbidity was lower in patients undergoing retroauricular neck dissection. The cervical spine ROM and trapezius muscle strength were better in patients undergoing retroauricular approach and postoperative QOL was worse in patients undergoing conventional neck dissection.

Effects of aerobic training combined with respiratory muscle stretching on the functional exercise capacity and thoracoabdominal kinematics in patients with COPD: a randomized and controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with COPD present a major recruitment of the inspiratory muscles, predisposing to chest incoordination, increasing the degree of dyspnea and impairing their exercise capacity. Stretching techniques could decrease the respiratory muscle activity and improve their contractile capacity; however, the systemic effects of stretching remain unknown. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aerobic training combined with respiratory muscle stretching on functional exercise capacity and thoracoabdominal kinematics in patients with COPD. DESIGN: This study was a randomized and controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 30 patients were allocated to a treatment group (TG) or a control group (CG; n=15, each group). INTERVENTION: The TG was engaged in respiratory muscle stretching and the CG in upper and lower limb muscle stretching. Both groups performed 24 sessions (twice a week, 12 weeks) of aerobic training. EVALUATIONS: Functional exercise capacity (6-minute walk test), thoracoabdominal kinematics (optoelectronic plethysmography), and respiratory muscle activity (surface electromyography) were evaluated during exercise. Analysis of covariance was used to compare the groups at a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: After the intervention, the TG showed improved abdominal (ABD) contribution, compartmental volume, mobility, and functional exercise capacity with decreased dyspnea when compared with the CG (P<0.01). The TG also showed a decreased respiratory muscle effort required to obtain the same pulmonary volume compared to the CG (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that aerobic training combined with respiratory muscle stretching increases the functional exercise capacity with decreased dyspnea in patients with COPD. These effects are associated with an increased efficacy of the respiratory muscles and participation of the ABD compartment.

Anxiety and depression are related to dyspnea and clinical control but not with thoracoabdominal mechanics in patients with COPD.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the presence of symptoms of anxiety or depression with breathing pattern and thoracoabdominal mechanics at rest and during exercise in COPD. METHODS: Cross-sectional study enrolled 54 patients with COPD ranked according to Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) score and compared to dyspnea, clinical control, hypercapnia, breathing pattern and thoracoabdominal mechanics at rest and during exercise. RESULTS: Seventeen patients with COPD had no symptoms, 12 had anxiety symptoms, 13 had depressive symptoms and 12 had both symptoms. COPD with depressive symptoms presented greater degree of dyspnea (p<0.01). Poor clinical control was observed in COPD with anxious and/or depressive symptoms (p<0.05). Breathing pattern and thoracoabdominal mechanics were similar among all groups at rest and during exercise. CONCLUSIONS: COPD with symptoms of depression report more dyspnea. Anxiety and depression are associated with poor clinical control without impact on breathing pattern and thoracoabdominal mechanics in COPD.

Pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength and quality of life in patients submitted to elective thoracotomies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pre-and postoperative pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength and quality of life in patients submitted to elective thoracotomy. METHODS: We selected 19 patients undergoing elective thoracotomy to assess the following parameters: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) and quality of life through implementation of the SF-36. The examinations were performed preoperatively and in the second, 10th, 15th, 30th and 60th days postoperatively. We conduced data normality analyzes were made with the Shapiro-Wilk test, descriptive analysis of the study variables, as well as analysis of variance with multiple comparisons using ANOVA and Friedman, p-value <0.05 . RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in spirometric levels and in maximal respiratory pressures in the second postoperative day. FVC returned to preoperative values between the 15th and 30th postoperative days, whereas FEV1, between the 10th and 15th. MIP and MEP returned to preoperative values between the 10th and 15th postoperative days. There was a decrease in quality of life as for functional capacity and physical aspects, which returned to preoperative values within two months after surgery. CONCLUSION: There was significant reduction in lung function and respiratory muscle strength, which returned to baseline within 30 days after surgery. There was a decrease in quality of life that persisted for up to 60 days after the operation.

Comportamento da função pulmonar, força muscular respiratória e qualidade de vida em pacientes submetidos às toracotomias eletivas / Pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength and quality of life in patients submitted to elective thoracotomies

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o comportamento da função pulmonar, força muscular respiratória e qualidade de vida no pré e pós-operatório de pacientes submetidos às toracotomias eletivas. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 19 pacientes submetidos à toracotomia eletiva para obtenção dos parâmetros: capacidade vital forçada (CVF), volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo (VEF1), pressão inspiratória máxima (PImax), pressão expiratória máxima (PEmax) e qualidade de vida mediante aplicação do questionário SF-36. Os exames foram realizados no pré-operatório, 2°, 10°, 15°, 30° e 60° dia de pós-operatório. Foram feitas análises de normalidade dos dados utilizando-se o teste de Shapiro-Wilk, análise descritiva das variáveis de estudo, bem como, análise de variância com comparações múltiplas utilizando-se os testes ANOVA e Friedman, com valor de p <0,05. RESULTADOS: Houve significativa redução nas variáveis espirométricas e nas pressões respiratórias máximas no 2° pós-operatório. CVF retornou aos valores pré-operatórios entre o 15° e o 30° pós-operatório, enquanto que VEF1 retornou entre o 10° e 15°. PImax e PEmax retornam aos valores pré-operatórios entre o 10° e 15° pós-operatório. Houve redução da qualidade de vida nos domínios capacidade funcional e aspectos físicos, que retornaram aos valores pré-operatórios em até dois meses após o procedimento cirúrgico. CONCLUSÃO: Foi verificada significativa redução na função pulmonar e na força muscular respiratória, que retornaram aos valores basais em até 30 dias após o procedimento cirúrgico. Houve queda na qualidade de vida, que persistiu por até 60 dias após a operação.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pre-and postoperative pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength and quality of life in patients submitted to elective thoracotomy. METHODS: We selected 19 patients undergoing elective thoracotomy to assess the following parameters: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) and quality of life through implementation of the SF-36. The examinations were performed preoperatively and in the second, 10th, 15th, 30th and 60th days postoperatively. We conduced data normality analyzes were made with the Shapiro-Wilk test, descriptive analysis of the study variables, as well as analysis of variance with multiple comparisons using ANOVA and Friedman, p-value <0.05 . RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in spirometric levels and in maximal respiratory pressures in the second postoperative day. FVC returned to preoperative values between the 15th and 30th postoperative days, whereas FEV1, between the 10th and 15th. MIP and MEP returned to preoperative values between the 10th and 15th postoperative days. There was a decrease in quality of life as for functional capacity and physical aspects, which returned to preoperative values within two months after surgery. CONCLUSION: There was significant reduction in lung function and respiratory muscle strength, which returned to baseline within 30 days after surgery. There was a decrease in quality of life that persisted for up to 60 days after the operation.