Histopathological morphometric study of cochleosaccular dysplasia in Dalmatian dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze temporal bones of deaf Dalmatian dogs from 5 days after birth to adulthood to better understand the pathogenesis of cochleosaccular dysplasia. METHODS: This is an experimental animal histopathological temporal bone study that included two groups of temporal bones. Group I consisted of 41 temporal bones from deaf Dalmatian dogs and group II of 25 temporal bones from 15 "normal" aged-matched, hearing Black Labradors. Morphometric analysis included: stria vascularis and spiral ligament area measurements, and cell counts of spiral ganglion, Scarpa's ganglion, and hair cells of saccular macula. RESULTS: The following findings were significantly less in deaf Dalmatian group compared to hearing Labradors: (1) cellular area of the stria vascularis in all cochlear turns; (2) cellular area of spiral ligament in the inferior part of the basal turn; (3) cellular density of spiral ganglion cells within segments III and IV; (4) number of Scarpa's ganglion cells; and (5) density of saccular hair cells types I and II. A borderline negative correlation was found between average density of spiral ganglion cells of segments III and IV and age in group I. Young deaf animals showed some cochlear hair cells, however in adult dogs all hair cells were replaced by supporting cells. CONCLUSION: General pattern of cochleosaccular dysplasia is variable, even when only one etiology, the genetic one, is involved. The gradual degeneration of inner ear elements in the cochleosaccular degeneration might indicate that early intervention might be crucial to stop the progression of cochleosaccular dysplasia.

Evaluation of early postoperative morbidity in pediatric tonsillectomy with the use of sucralfate.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of sucralfate in alleviating posttonsilectomy morbidity in a pediatric group of patients. METHODS: A prospective, double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled study comparing the irrigation of a solution containing either 1g of sucralfate (study group) or 1g of lactulose (control group) was performed on 69 children aged 3-12 years, who underwent tonsillectomy at the University Hospital of Brasilia Medical School. The children were randomly assigned and each one used a solution containing sucralfate or lactulose to swish and swallow four times daily during 7 days. Eleven patients were excluded. The anesthetic was standardized and no premedication was used. Pain magnitude using an "Oucher" scale, nausea, vomiting, bleeding, earache, analgesic drug intake, changes in the interincisor teeth distance, and changes in the weight and temperature were assessed by the surgeon 6, 24h, and 7 days after the surgery. RESULTS: Patients in the study group had significantly lower pain scores in the initial 6 postoperative hours (p<0.05). The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant for the other periods following the procedure or on the evaluation of the other indices. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the sucralfate in pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy was not effective in reducing the postoperative morbidity according to the parameters used in this study. The surgical technique with careful mucosal dissection associated with postoperative caries could be more important in the reduction of posttonsilectomy morbidity.