Focus Harmonic Scalpel Compared to Conventional Haemostasis in Open Total Thyroidectomy: A Prospective Randomized Trial

The aim of this prospective randomized trial was to compare operative factors, postoperative outcomes and surgical complications of open total thyroidectomy when using the Harmonic Scalpel (HS) versus Conventional Haemostasis (CH). Methods. 100 consecutive patients underwent open total thyroidectomy were randomized into two groups: group CH (Conventional Haemostasis) and group HS (Harmonic Scalpel). We recorded the following: age, sex, pathology, thyroid volume, haemostatic technique, operative time, drainage volume, thyroid weight, postoperative pain, postoperative complications, and hospital stay. The results were analyzed using the Student's t test and χ2 test. Results. No significant difference was found between the two groups concerning mean thyroid weight and mean hospital stay. The mean operative time was significantly shorter in the HS group. The total drainage fluid volume was lower in HS group. Two (4%) transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsies were observed in CH group and no one (0%) in the HS group. Postoperative transient hypocalcemia occurred more frequently in the CH group. HS group experienced significantly less postoperative pain at 24 and 48 hours. Conclusions. In patients undergoing thyroidectomy, HS is a reliable and safe tool. Comparing with CH techniques, its use reduces operative times, postoperative pain, drainage volume and transient hypocalcemia

Multicenter research into the quality of life of patients with advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma with long-term survival associated with human papilloma virus

The treatment of advanced-stage oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma may utilize various modes, including combining surgery with chemoradiotherapy (CTRT), or primary CTRT followed by rescue surgery. In previous literature it has been revealed how patients treated with combined modes report a low quality of life (QoL) and severe consequences following surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, in the short and in the long-term. The decrease in the QoL of patients treated with high-intensity multi-modal strategies highlights the necessity of modifying treatments, particularly for young HPV-positive patients, where an increased survival rate has already been reported. The modified treatment for HPV-positive tumors in the tonsils and at the base of the tongue is based on the deintensification of therapies aiming to reduce toxicity and thereby improve QoL in the long term, whilst still maintaining therapeutic effectiveness. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the QoL in patients with a long-term survival, who were treated with combined therapy for squamous cell tumors in the tonsils and at the base of the tongue, and to compare the results observed in HPV-positive and HPV-negative patients. According to statistical analysis, differences in the general QoL and in the single scales of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaires were not correlated with the type of therapy selected for the particular patient. QoL considered the presence of HPV, the type of treatment, the subregion of the tonsils vs. the base of the tongue and the disease stage at the time of diagnosis, and was determined to be non-influential with regard to these specific variables

Six-month psychophysical evaluation of olfactory dysfunction in patients with COVID-19

This study prospectively assessed the six-month prevalence of self-reported and psychophysically measured olfactory dysfunction in subjects with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Self-reported smell or taste impairment was prospectively evaluated by SNOT-22 at diagnosis, 4-week, 8-week, and 6-month. At 6 months from the diagnosis, psychophysical evaluation of olfactory function was also performed using the 34-item culturally adapted University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (CA-UPSIT). 145 completed both the 6-month subjective and psychophysical olfactory evaluation. According to CA-UPSIT, 87 subjects (60.0%) exhibited some smell dysfunction, with 10 patients being anosmic (6.9%) and 7 being severely microsmic (4.8%). At the time CA-UPSIT was administered, a weak correlation was observed between the self-reported alteration of sense of smell or taste and olfactory test scores (Spearman's r=-0.26). Among 112 patients who self-reported normal sense of smell at last follow-up, CA-UPSIT revealed normal smell in 46 (41.1%), mild microsmia in 46 (41.1%), moderate microsmia in 11 (9.8%), severe microsmia in 3 (2.3%), and anosmia in 6 (5.4%) patients; however, of those patients self-reporting normal smell but who were found to have hypofunction on testing, 62 out of 66 had self-reported reduction in sense of smell or taste at an earlier time point. Despite most patients report a subjectively normal sense of smell, we observed a high percentage of persistent smell dysfunction at 6 months from the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with 11.7% of patients being anosmic or severely microsmic. These data highlight a significant long-term rate of smell alteration in patients with previous SARS-COV-2 infection

Harmonic Scalpel versus Conventional Haemostasis in Neck Dissection: A Prospective Randomized Study

Purpose. The aim of this prospective randomized trial was to compare operative factors, postoperative outcomes, and surgical complications of neck dissection (ND) when using the harmonic scalpel (HS) versus conventional haemostasis (CH) (classic technique of tying and knots, resorbable ligature, and bipolar diathermy). Materials and methods. Sixty-one patients who underwent ND with primary head and neck cancer (HNSCC) resection were enrolled in this study and were randomized into two homogeneous groups: CH (conventional haemostasis with classic technique of tying and knots, resorbable ligature, and bipolar diathermy) and HS (haemostasis with harmonic scalpel). Outcomes of the study included operative time, intraoperative blood loss, drainage volume, postoperative pain, hospital stay, and incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications. Results. The use of the HS reduced significantly the operating time, the intraoperative blood loss, the postoperative pain, and the volume of drainage. No significant difference was observed in mean hospital stay and perioperative, and postoperative complications. Conclusion. The HS is a reliable and safe tool for reducing intraoperative blood loss, operative time, volume of drainage and postoperative pain in patients undergoing ND for HNSCC. Multicenter randomized studies need to be done to confirm the advantages of this technique and to evaluate the cost-benefit ratio

Sensoriamento e monitoração de inovações da casa "E"

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Sensoriamento e monitoração de inovações da casa "E"

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INSERÇÃO DOS EGRESSOS DO ENSINO TÉCNICO AO MERCADO DE TRABALHO DO SETOR MOVELEIRODOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5892/ruvrd.v14i2.2776

A recente reforma curricular tem como pressuposto básico a educação profissional integrada ao ensino médio. Desse modo, este artigo tem como objetivo analisar a inserção dos egressos do ensino técnico ao mercado de trabalho, a partir do sistema de avaliação implantado com a reforma curricular. Com isso, realizou-se uma pesquisa exploratória, com base em um estudo de caso de uma escola técnica. A coleta de dados foi realizada através de observações, documentos e entrevistas em profundidade com estudantes do curso técnico em móveis e com o gerente de produção de uma empresa moveleira. Como resultado, contatou-se que o gerente de produção teve dois estudantes aptos como seus estagiários, sendo um deles com um baixo nível de aptidão (50% a 60%) e outro com alto nível de aptidão (90% a 100%). Embora o atual sistema de avaliação não permita uma pontuação final (apenas uma relação de aptidão ou não), observou-se que os estudantes apresentam diferentes tipos e níveis de competências e habilidades adquiridas e/ou desenvolvidas durante a sua formação

Inserção dos egressos do ensino técnico ao mercado de trabalho do setor moveleirodoi

A recente reforma curricular tem como pressuposto básico a educação profissional integrada ao ensino médio. Desse modo, este artigo tem como objetivo analisar a inserção dos egressos do ensino técnico ao mercado de trabalho, a partir do sistema de avaliação implantado com a reforma curricular. Com isso, realizou-se uma pesquisa exploratória, com base em um estudo de caso de uma escola técnica. A coleta de dados foi realizada através de observações, documentos e entrevistas em profundidade com estudantes do curso técnico em móveis e com o gerente de produção de uma empresa moveleira. Como resultado, contatou-se que o gerente de produção teve dois estudantes aptos como seus estagiários, sendo um deles com um baixo nível de aptidão (50% a 60%) e outro com alto nível de aptidão (90% a 100%). Embora o atual sistema de avaliação não permita uma pontuação final (apenas uma relação de aptidão ou não), observou-se que os estudantes apresentam diferentes tipos e níveis de competências e habilidades adquiridas e/ou desenvolvidas durante a sua formação