[Metallic ureteral stents. Present and future.] / Stents ureterales metálicos. Presente y futuro.

The management of ureteral obstruction of malignant origin or complicated benign obstruction continues to be a challenge for the urological community. In this sense, the use of metallic stents could be considered a useful alternative to the conventional drainage techniques, because it accomplishes the resolution of obstruction in a single procedure, without external diversions and without the adverse effects of current diversions. Another important advantage they offer is that they do not need replacement as frequently as double J catheters or nephrostomy tubes require. From their first applications in the upper urinary tract until now the design of metallic stents has experienced a notable evolution. The main obstacle at the beginning was the use of stents intended for other organic territories, which caused a high rate of failures, since they did not take into consideration in their designs the hostile environment represented by urine for this type of devices, neither the existence of ureteral peristaltism. Thanks to subsequent metallic designs (Memokath, Uventa, Allium Medical URS-stent, Resonance), the current generation of ureteral metallic stents has improved the success rate in comparison to classical designs, accommodating to ureteral dynamics and improving the coating and alloys. Despite these advances, today, their application is limited to very selected patients due to the onset of undesirable effects still associated with theses stents, such as obstructive urothelial hyperplasia, encrustation or migration. The precise knowledge of the physiopathological mechanisms responsible for the cited adverse effects, together with the application of Bioengineering enabling the development of drug eluting metallic stents, biocoated stents, or new biodegradable metallic materials that mitigate or diminish their effects, may be the key to allow the development of the ideal metallic stent.

Estudio experimental con Ecografía Doppler en uropatía obstructiva parcial crónica / Experimental study with Doppler Ultrasound in partial chronic obstructive uropathy

Objetivo: La valoración de los parámetros hemodinámicos índice de resistencia renal (IR), velocidad pico sistólica (PSV), velocidad mínima diastólica (EDV) y flujo de la arteria renal (FR) mediante ecografía Doppler para el diagnóstico y monitorización posquirúrgica de la uropatía obstructiva parcial crónica. Material y métodos: Se emplean 50 animales de la especie porcina. El estudio se divide en 3 fases. La fase I consta de la valoración ecográfica dúplex-Doppler de ambos riñones, determinando los parámetros objeto de estudio. La ratio de cada índice se calcula como la diferencia entre el valor del riñón en estudio y su contralateral. El examen termina con la realización de cistografía de compresión, urografía excretora y ureteropielografía retrógrada. Seguidamente, se procede a la creación de un modelo de obstrucción parcial del uréter derecho. Transcurridas 6 semanas, comienza la fase II mediante la realización de las pruebas descritas anteriormente y posterior resolución endourológica de la obstrucción. La fase III consiste en un seguimiento a los 6 meses del tratamiento mediante las pruebas realizadas en las fases previas. Resultados: De los parámetros estudiados la EDV y su ratio son los que mayor sensibilidad y especificidad muestran como marcador diagnóstico de uropatía obstructiva. En el seguimiento posquirúrgico se observa como el IR y principalmente la EDV retornan a los valores basales. Conclusiones: La ΔEDV es el parámetro que mayor eficacia muestra para el diagnóstico de uropatía obstructiva parcial crónica; pero esta es insuficiente para relegar las técnicas de diagnóstico convencionales. Todos los parámetros, principalmente la EDV, han mostrado ser útiles como pruebas complementarias de monitorización y pronóstico tras la resolución endourológica de la uropatía obstructiva (AU)

Introduction: This study has aimed to assess the hemodynamic parameters, Renal Resistive Index (RI), Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV), End-Diastolic Velocity (EDV) and Blood Flow of the Renal Artery (FR) by Doppler Ultrasound for diagnosis and monitoring postsurgical partial chronic obstructive uropathy. Material and methods: Fifty pigs were used. The experiment was divided into three phases. Phase I consisted of a duplex-Doppler evaluation of the both kidneys to determine the parameters under study. The ratio of each index is calculated as the difference between the value of study kidney and the contralateral. After, a fluoroscopic examination was performed by compressive cystography, excretory urography and retrograde ureteropyelography. Finally, a model of partial right ureteral obstruction was created. After six weeks of the obstructive model, Phase II was begun with the diagnosis of the uropathy, by means of the aforementioned diagnostic methods and the endourological treatment was completed. Phase III is a follow-up performed at 6 months of treatment using the same methods as in the previous phases. Results: Of the parameters studied, the EDV and its ratio showed greater sensitivity and specificity as a diagnostic marker of obstructive uropathy. In the postoperative monitoring, it was observed that the RI and the EDV returned to baseline levels, with the baseline values. Conclusions: The ΔEDV and its ratio is the parameter that shows the greater efficacy for the diagnosis of chronic partial obstructive uropathy, however, it is insufficient to avoid conventional diagnostic techniques. All the parameters, mainly the EDV, have proven useful as complementary tests for monitoring after endourologic resolution of obstructive uropathy (AU)

[Experimental study with Doppler ultrasound in partial chronic obstructive uropathy]. / Estudio experimental con Ecografía Doppler en uropatía obstructiva parcial crónica.

INTRODUCTION: This study has aimed to assess the hemodynamic parameters, Renal Resistive Index (RI), Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV), End-Diastolic Velocity (EDV) and Blood Flow of the Renal Artery (FR) by Doppler Ultrasound for diagnosis and monitoring postsurgical partial chronic obstructive uropathy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty pigs were used. The experiment was divided into three phases. Phase I consisted of a duplex-Doppler evaluation of the both kidneys to determine the parameters under study. The ratio of each index is calculated as the difference between the value of study kidney and the contralateral. After, a fluoroscopic examination was performed by compressive cystography, excretory urography and retrograde ureteropyelography. Finally, a model of partial right ureteral obstruction was created. After six weeks of the obstructive model, Phase II was begun with the diagnosis of the uropathy, by means of the aforementioned diagnostic methods and the endourological treatment was completed. Phase III is a follow-up performed at 6 months of treatment using the same methods as in the previous phases. RESULTS: Of the parameters studied, the EDV and its ratio showed greater sensitivity and specificity as a diagnostic marker of obstructive uropathy. In the postoperative monitoring, it was observed that the RI and the EDV returned to baseline levels, with the baseline values. CONCLUSIONS: The ΔEDV and its ratio is the parameter that shows the greater efficacy for the diagnosis of chronic partial obstructive uropathy, however, it is insufficient to avoid conventional diagnostic techniques. All the parameters, mainly the EDV, have proven useful as complementary tests for monitoring after endourologic resolution of obstructive uropathy.

Cardiovascular events after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively evaluate the incidence of cardiovascular events after functioning simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cardiovascular events after 89 SPKT procedures performed at our institution from March 1995 to March 2009 were investigated. Study criteria included normal functioning of both grafts. Patients included 36 women and 53 men, with mean (range) age of 37.7 (25-66) years. Duration of diabetes mellitus was 23.6 (10-48) years, and of dialysis therapy was 19.8 (0-70) months. The exocrine pancreatic secretions were drained to the bladder in 41 patients, and enterically in 45 patients. Mean (SD) follow-up was 58.62 (34.74) months. RESULTS: During follow-up after SPKT, 9 patients (10.1%) experienced cardiovascular events including cerebrovascular accident in 4 patients, myocardial infarction (MI) in 3, and episodes of angina pectoris without evidence of coronary artery disease in 2 patients. Nevertheless, these two patients had sustained an MI that required coronary angioplasty before SPKT. Moreover, coronary angioplasty was required in 2 patients before they were enrolled in the transplantation program because of silent coronary artery disease. Four of 9 cardiovascular events occurred in the perioperative period. No deaths occurred due to cardiovascular events. Patient survival rate was 100%, with both grafts functioning in 87 (97.8%). CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular events occur relatively frequently in patients undergoing SPKT. In the present study, most events occurred in the perioperative period, but did not result in death.

Third kidney transplantation: a permanent medical-surgical challenge.

The aim of this study was to analyze the 30 third transplantations performed at our center since 1976. They were all from cadaveric donors. Recipient mean age was 40 years (range, 21-57 years). Twenty-one patients (70%) had hepatitis C virus infection and 16 (53%) were hypersensitized (panel-reactive antibodies [PRA] >50%), with a mean time on dialysis since second graft loss of 65 months (range, 1-250 months). The imaging tests showed iliac calcifications in 14 patients (47%). The graft was preferably placed in the iliac fossa (27/30). Twenty-five patients (83%) had prior graft nephrectomy and transplantectomy was performed at the same surgery in 2 cases. Immunosuppressive protocol was quadruple therapy in 23 patients (77%). At a mean follow-up of 43 months, 24 grafts were functioning. Mean serum creatinine was 1.5 mg/dL and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) clearance was 64.5 mL/min. Six grafts were lost: 3 due to acute rejection, 2 due to chronic allograft nephropathy, and 1 due to venous thrombosis. Four patients died: 2 due to infectious complications, 1 due to hepatic encephalopathy, and 1 to an accident with a functioning graft. The acute rejection rate was 30% and 4 patients had an acute humoral rejection episode. The main surgical complication was lymphocele in 7 cases (23%). Estimated survival at 5 years was 76% for grafts and 86% for patients. Graft survival worsened among patients with PRA > 80% and among those who had lost the previous grafts in the first month posttransplantation (P < .05). In conclusion, the outcomes of the third kidney transplantations encourage us to continue with this procedure. However, worse graft survival should be expected among hyperimmunized patients and among those who had lost previous grafts early in their course.

Outcome of renal transplantation in adult patients with augmented bladders.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the long-term renal graft functions, survivals, and complications among patients with augmented bladders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1976 and 2008, we performed 6/2600 renal transplantations in patients with augmented bladders. The mean patient age was 52 years. The cause of end-stage renal disease was chronic interstitial kidney disease in all patients, being secondary to lower urinary tract dysfunction. The etiology of bladder dysfunction was tuberculosis in 4 cases, bladder exstrophy in 1, and myelomeningocele in 1. Enterocystoplasty had been performed at a mean of 19 years prior to transplantation. The ureter was implanted into the native ureter in 5 cases and the bowel segment in 1 case. RESULTS: With a mean follow-up of 56 months (range, 20-100 months), the overall graft survival was 50%. Three grafts were lost due to venous thrombosis (n = 1), and chronic allograft nephropathy (n = 2) at 37 and 100 months posttransplantation. No patient died during follow-up. Mean serum creatinine was 1.44 mg/dL with Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) clearance of 76 mL/min/1.73 m(2). One fistula that caused obstructive uropathy and 2 cases of migration of a double J catheter were among the surgical complications. These patients showed a mean of 7 episodes of uncomplicated urinary infections. Only 1 patient was rehospitalized due to a complicated urinary tract infection. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with enterocystoplasty and renal transplantation show a greater risk of urinary tract infections, albeit mostly uncomplicated. Despite this, the long-term results are acceptable.

Urological complications after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the incidence of urological complications after simultaneous renal and pancreatic transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed urological complications following 107 simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantations performed at our institution between March 1995 and June 2008. The 46 women and 61 men were of mean age 37.8 years (range, 25-66). The mean duration of diabetes mellitus was 23.0 years (range, 9-48) and the mean duration of dialysis was 19.9 months (range, 0-70). The exocrine pancreatic secretions were drained to bladder in 58 cases, or enterically in 49 patients. The mean length of follow-up was 51.7 months. RESULTS: The most frequent urological complication was urinary tract infection, reported in 63.8% of patients: 42 bladder-drained and 25 enteric-drained (P = .011). Hematuria occurred in 13 patients (12.5%): 12 bladder-drained and 1 enteric-drained (P = .002). Five bladder-drained patients developed bladder calculi. Among 58 bladder-drained patients, reflux pancreatitis occurred in 28 patients and urine leaks related to the pancreatic graft occurred in 7 patients. Conversion of exocrine secretions from bladder to enteric diversion was required in 6 patients. One- and 3-year patient survival rates were 92.7% and 89.1%, respectively. Moreover, 1 and 3-year kidney graft survival rates were 90.6% and 84.4%, and pancreas graft survival rates were 78.1 and 70.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation with bladder drainage is associated with a high frequency of urological complications. Appropriate treatment can resolve most complications. In our opinion, both enteric and bladder drainage seemed to be safe and effective alternatives to manage pancreatic exocrine secretions.

Video fluoroscopy for evaluating adenoid hypertrophy in children.

BACKGROUND: Adenoid hypertrophy is a common cause of upper airway obstruction in children. Traditionally, adenoid size has been evaluated using a conventional lateral skull film. Flexible endoscopy is now the gold standard for the evaluation of the upper airway. Children need to be cooperative in order to complete a videonasopharyngoscopy examination, which is not always possible. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to determine the sensitivity and specificity of lateral video fluoroscopy for assessing adenoid size compared to conventional lateral skull films with videonasopharyngoscopy as the gold standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty pediatric patients with adenoid hypertrophy demonstrated by videonasopharyngoscopy, and 20 control patients without adenoid hypertrophy were assessed with video fluoroscopy and lateral skull radiograph. Two independent examiners evaluated all studies. Specificity, sensitivity, and predictive values were obtained for findings on video fluoroscopy and lateral skull film. RESULTS: Video fluoroscopy showed 100% sensitivity, and 90% specificity for the diagnosis of adenoid hypertrophy. Lateral skull films showed 70% sensitivity, and 55% specificity. A Spearman correlation coefficient demonstrated a significant correlation (P<0.05) between findings on video fluoroscopy and videonasopharyngoscopy. In contrast, there was a no significant correlation (P>0.05) between lateral skull films and videonasopharyngoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Video fluoroscopy appears to be a safe and reliable procedure for assessing adenoid hypertrophy in children.

Videonasopharyngoscopy in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (Shprintzen syndrome).

INTRODUCTION: Velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) (also known as DiGeorge sequence, conotruncal anomaly face syndrome, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome among other labels) is now recognized as the most common syndrome associated with cleft palate and velopharyngeal insufficiency. VCFS has been associated with medially positioned internal carotid arteries. This anomaly has been associated with obvious posterior pharyngeal pulsations seen on videonasopharyngoscopy. The purpose of this paper is to study the role of videonasopharyngoscopy for the evaluation of patients with VCFS and submucous cleft palate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with submucous cleft palate, velopharyngeal insufficiency, and 22q11.2 deletion as demonstrated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were studied. Also, 20 patients with submucous cleft palate, and without abnormalities in the FISH procedure, were studied as controls. All patients from both groups underwent videonasopharyngoscopy. A double-blind procedure was utilized whereby all videonasopharyngoscopies were independently revised by the two examiners. RESULTS: Both examiners coincided that 17 patients with VCFS demonstrated obvious posterior pharyngeal pulsations seen on videonasopharyngoscopy. In contrast, both examiners agreed that none of the patients from the control group showed posterior pharyngeal pulsations. CONCLUSIONS: Videonasopharyngoscopy seems to be a safe and reliable procedure for evaluating patients with VCFS. The observations of posterior pharyngeal wall pulsations on videonasopharyngoscopy should alert clinicians to the diagnosis of VCFS. Also, the findings of videonasopharyngoscopy can be useful for preventing the risk of damage to the carotid arteries during velopharyngeal surgery. This indicates another important role of videonasopharyngoscopy in the preoperative assessment of children for palatopharyngoplasty.

Short latency and long latency auditory evoked responses in children with attention deficit disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Children diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) can present with different abnormalities in electrophysiological studies. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to compare brainstem auditory (short latency) evoked responses (BSAER) and long latency auditory evoked responses (LLAER) in school children with and without ADD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A normative study was carried out, 20 normal subjects were studied. All these patients underwent a study protocol including BSAER and LLAER. Eighteen school children diagnosed as ADD were included in the active group. Eighteen school children were selected as controls. All children from both groups underwent BSAER and LLAER. BSAER and LLAER results from both groups of patients were compared. RESULTS: Brainstem transmission was significantly longer in children with ADD. The latency of P300 was significantly longer in children with ADD. Also, mean amplitude of P300 was significantly decreased in children with ADD. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicates that school children with ADD show significant abnormalities in BSAER and LLAER. These electrophysiological procedures involving the auditory system can be useful for the diagnosis of children with ADD.

Mothers of children with cleft palate undergoing speech intervention change communicative interaction.

INTRODUCTION: Natural learning must include language learning relationships that provide natural support for communication and language learning. OBJECTIVE: To find out if including the mother as an active participant during speech therapy sessions would improve the communicative style and mode of the interaction of the mothers with their cleft palate children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-nine children with cleft palate and their mothers were included in the study group. The patients were divided into two groups randomly. Patients received the same treatment. Twenty-eight of the children were included in the control group. They participated in small working groups comprising the speech pathologist and two children. Thirty-one of the children were included in the experimental group. In this case, the mothers of the children were also included as active participants. The mothers of the patients from the two groups were assessed at the beginning and end of the speech therapy period to find out their style and mode of interaction. Pre- and post-data of the mothers from both groups were compared. RESULTS: Eighty-nine per cent of the mothers of the experimental group modified their patterns of interaction. In contrast, only 19% of the mothers of the control group modified their style and mode of interaction. A Fisher exact test demonstrated that the frequency of mothers from the experimental group that modified their style and mode of interaction was significantly greater as compared to the number of mothers from the control group that were able to modify their style and mode of interaction. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers of children with cleft palate and accompanying language delay modify their communicative style and mode of interaction through active participation in speech therapy.

Respiratory disorders in common variable immunodeficiency.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous immunodeficiency syndrome characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia, recurrent bacterial infections, and various immunologic abnormalities. The clinical presentation is generally that of recurrent pyogenic sinopulmonary infections. Our objectives were to study the prevalence of lung involvement and the response to intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy in 19 patients with CVID. Nineteen patients (12 men) with a mean age (SD) of 33.1 (17.1) years had a previous diagnosis of CVID and were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin replacement. All patients underwent complete pulmonary function tests and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) examination. Bronchiectasis was diagnosed in 11 (58%) patients and eight (42%) were multi-lobar bronchiectasis. Chronic airflow limitation (CAL) was present in 10 (53%) patients and a restrictive pattern was seen in one case. Eleven patients (58%) presented a decrease in single-breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity of the lung (DL(CO)). Before intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy (INIRT), 84% of patients had suffered from at least one episode of pneumonia. Episodes of lower respiratory tract infection decreased significantly from 0.28 per patient and year before replacement therapy to 0.16 per patient and year after treatment. The mean duration of replacement therapy was 7.5 years. In conclusion lung involvement was frequent in patients with CVID. Long-term administration of intravenous gammaglobulin resulted in a substantial reduction of pneumonic episodes.

Surgical treatment of submucous cleft palate: a comparative trial of two modalities for palatal closure.

Submucous cleft palate is a congenital malformation with specific clinical and anatomical features. It can be present with or without velopharyngeal insufficiency. Surgical treatment of this malformation is indicated only when velopharyngeal insufficiency has been demonstrated. This article compares two modalities of surgical treatment for submucous cleft palate. The first includes a minimal incision palatopharyngoplasty, as described in a previous report. The second combines the first technique with additional individualized velopharyngeal surgery (individualized pharyngeal flap or sphincter pharyngoplasty) performed simultaneously. The individualized part of the procedure was selected and performed according to the findings of videonasopharyngoscopy and multiview videofluoroscopy, as reported previously. Two hundred and three patients with submucous cleft palate were studied from 1990 to 1999. Videonasopharyngoscopy and multiview videofluoroscopy demonstrated velopharyngeal insufficiency in 72 patients, who were randomly divided into two groups. Those in group 1 (n = 37) underwent a minimal incision palatopharyngoplasty. Patients in group 2 (n = 35) also underwent that procedure but simultaneously received individualized pharyngeal flap or sphincter pharyngoplasty, according to the findings of videonasopharyngoscopy and multiview videofluoroscopy. The median age of the patients from both groups was not significantly different (p > 0.5). The frequency of residual velopharyngeal insufficiency after palatal closure was not significantly different in both groups of patients (14 percent versus 11 percent; p > 0.5). The mean size of the gap at the velopharyngeal sphincter during speech was not significantly different in both groups of patients before surgery (23 percent versus 22 percent; p > 0.5). After the surgical procedures, there was a nonsignificant difference between both groups of patients in mean residual size of the gap in cases of velopharyngeal insufficiency (7 percent versus 8 percent; p > 0.5). It seems that minimal incision palatopharyngoplasty is a safe and reliable procedure for palatal closure in patients with submucous cleft palate. The use of additional individualized velopharyngeal surgery performed simultaneously did not seem to decrease the frequency of residual velopharyngeal insufficiency. Moreover, the residual size of the gap at the velopharyngeal sphincter was not significantly reduced when an additional surgical procedure was performed simultaneously with palatal closure.

Relación entre desarrollo lingüístico y articulación compensatoria en niños con fisura palatina / Relation between linguistic development and compensatory articulation children with cleft palate

Justificación: Frecuentemente, los pacientes con fisura palatina presentan articulación compensatoria (AC). Este trastorno no se puede modificar con cirugía, afecta la inteligibilidad del habla y, dado que requiere un período de tiempo prolongado de terapia de lenguaje, parece necesario explorar la relación entre AC y el desarrollo lingüístico. Material y Método: Se estudió el desarrollo lingüístico de niños con insuficiencia velofaríngea residual (IVF) después del cierre de paladar, con AC y sin AC. Veintinueve niños con IVF y AC fueron incluidos en el primer grupo (activo). El segundo grupo se constituyó con 29 niños con IVF sin AC, pareados en edad y sexo (control). Para evaluar el desarrollo lingüístico se utilizó el modelo situacional-discurso-semántico. Resultados: Una prueba exacta de Fischer demostró que los pacientes con AC presentaron una frecuencia significativamente mayor de retraso en el desarrollo lingüístico en comparación con los pacientes sin AC. Conclusiones: Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que debe realizarse una evaluación de la organización lingüística-cognitiva en todos los pacientes con fisura palatina, especialmente en los pacientes que presentan AC. Así mismo, la terapia de lenguaje debe incluir no sólo la corrección del proceso de articulación, sino aspectos específicos de la organización lingüística y cognitiva.

Active participation of mothers during speech therapy improved language development of children with cleft palate.

Whole language intervention uses the principles of natural language learning, which consider language not as an independent system but as a system intimately related to other cognitive and social abilities. This paper compares the outcome of speech therapy given in different settings to two groups of children with cleft palate. Those in the first group were treated by the speech pathologist alone (control group), whereas those in the second group were treated by the speech pathologist but were also accompanied by their mothers (experimental group). The purpose of this study was to find out if including the mother as an active participant in speech therapy sessions would improve the language development of children with cleft palate who also had additional language delays. Both groups were evaluated before and after treatment to evaluate the advance of each group. The patients accompanied by their mothers had significantly better language skills compared with patients treated without their mothers. The results support the statement that language development is related to mother-child mode of daily life interaction in children with cleft palate.

Linguistic development in cleft palate patients with and without compensatory articulation disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Cleft palate patients frequently show compensatory articulation disorder (CAD). CAD severely affects speech intelligibility and requires a prolonged period of speech intervention. CAD has been considered a phonologic disorder. Thus, it seems necessary to explore the relationship between CAD and language development. OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between language development and the presence of CAD in cleft palate patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cleft palate children with residual velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) after palatal closure, with and without CAD were studied. Only patients with an age ranging from 3 to 8 years were included in the study group. Twenty-nine cleft palate patients with residual VPI and CAD were included in the first group (active). The second group was assembled with 29 cleft palate patients with residual VPI without CAD, matched by age and sex (control). For evaluating language development, all patients were analyzed using the Situational-Discourse-Semantic (SDS) Model [13]. This Model is a valuable tool for conducting naturalistic observation and descriptive assessment of language development. The SDS Model provides a detailed description of three contexts (situational, discourse, and semantic) in ten levels of cognitive and linguistic organization. RESULTS: In all contexts considered by the model of cognitive and linguistic organization used for this study, i.e. SDS, a Fischer exact test demonstrated that patients with CAD showed a significantly higher frequency of language delay as compared with patients without CAD. None of the patients present with CAD showed an adequate level of language development. The degree of language delay was greater in the situational context as compared to the semantic and discourse contexts. CONCLUSIONS: Cleft palate patients present with CAD, demonstrated a significantly higher frequency of delay in language development as compared with cleft palate patients present with VPI without CAD. From the results of this paper, it seems that a detailed evaluation of all aspects of cognitive and linguistic organization should be performed in cleft palate patients, especially in patients present with CAD. Moreover, it seems that speech intervention in cleft palate patients with CAD should address not only the articulation process, but also specific aspects of language development.

A comparative trial of two modalities of speech intervention for compensatory articulation in cleft palate children, phonologic approach versus articulatory approach.

To compare two modalities of speech intervention (SI) in cleft palate children with compensatory articulation disorder (CAD). The first modality was a phonologic based intervention, the second modality was an articulatory or phonetic intervention. The main purpose is to study whether a phonologic intervention may reduce the total time of speech therapy necessary for correcting CAD in cleft palate children as compared to an articulatory intervention. A prospective, comparative, and randomized trial was carried out. Cleft palate children with velopharyngeal insufficiency and CAD were included in the study group. Only patients with an age ranging from 3 to 7 years were included. A total of 29 patients were selected and were divided randomly into two groups. Fifteen patients were included in the first group (control) and received articulatory SI. Fourteen patients were included in the second group (active) and received phonologic SI. The speech pathologist in charge of the SI was the same in all cases. A blind procedure was utilized whereby each patient was evaluated independently by two speech pathologist every three months until both examiners were convinced that CAD had been completely corrected. The mean total time of SI required for the normalization of speech in the two groups of patients was compared. Median age in the control group was 54 months, and 55.50 months in the active group (P > 0.05). The mean total time of SI in the control group was 30.07, and 14.50 in the active group. A Student's t-test demonstrated that the total time of SI was significantly reduced (P < 0.001) when a phonological intervention was utilized. Phonologic based SI significantly reduced the time necessary for correcting CAD in cleft palate children.

Velopharyngeal motion after sphincter pharyngoplasty: a videonasopharyngoscopic and electromyographic study.

Sphincter pharyngoplasty is a surgical procedure for managing velopharyngeal insufficiency after palatal closure. This procedure is intended to create an active diaphragm for velopharyngeal closure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate velopharyngeal motion after sphincter pharyngoplasty, by using selective electromyography and simultaneous videonasopharyngoscopy. Twenty-five patients who were subjected to sphincter pharyngoplasty from 1985 to 1996 were reviewed. All conditions were evaluated by using electromyography with simultaneous videonasopharyngoscopy. The following velopharyngeal muscles were examined: superior constrictor pharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, and levator veli palatini. The palatopharyngeus was included in the superiorly based surgical flaps inserted at the posterior pharyngeal wall. Twenty-three patients (92 percent) showed complete velopharyngeal closure. The two patients with residual velopharyngeal insufficiency showed a defect size of 20 and 25 percent. None of the patients showed electromyographic activity at the superiorly based flaps, indicating absence of activity of the palatopharyngeus muscles. However, all patients showed normal electromyographic activity at the superior constrictor pharyngeus and the levator veli palatini. Videonasopharyngoscopy demonstrated that lateral pharyngeal wall movements, which ranged from 25 to 40 percent, were related to strong electromyographic activity at the superior constrictor pharyngeus. It is concluded that the superiorly based pharyngeal flaps of the sphincter pharyngoplasty do not seem to create an active diaphragm for velopharyngeal closure. Moreover, the observed sphinctering seems to be passive, caused by the contraction of the superior constrictor pharyngeus.