Clinic-epidemiological analysis of an Otorhinolaryngology Emergency Unit Care in a Tertiary Hospital

AbstractEmergencies are common in our Otorhinolaringology specialty. However, the clinical and epidemiological features are not very well known.ObjectivesTo evaluate the clinical and epidemiological profiles of otorhinolaryngological disorders in an emergency unit of a tertiary hospital, and to determine the appropriateness of the level of health care for a tertiary hospital.Materials and methodsAn analytical study using data records of an otorhinolaryngological emergency unit at a tertiary hospital in the Federal District for a year, full time, and no screening. The age, sex, arrival time and clinical diagnosis were evaluated. The entities were separated into cases of pharingolaryngoesthomatology, otology, rhinology, and head and neck surgery. These were evaluated according to the urgency level, the required care, and the arrival time.Results26,584 data records were selected, of which 2,001 were excluded. The group comprised 54.48% women, and 45.51% men. Otological complaints (62.27%) prevailed. 61.26% of cases were considered emergencies. Only 9.7% of those required medium or high complex resources for resolution.ConclusionThe study showed that 61.26% of the otorhinolaryngological cases are emergencies, and only 9.7% required medium or high complexity resources

Polysomnography applied to patients with tinnitus : a review

Introduction Tinnitus has been defined as an “auditory phantom perception,” meaning that tinnitus results from an abnormal activity within the nervous system, in the absence of any internal or external acoustic stimulation. About 10 to 15% of the adult population is affected by tinnitus, and a relevant percentage of tinnitus sufferers experience symptoms severe enough to significantly affect quality of life, including sleep disturbances, work impairment, and, in some cases, psychiatric distress. The selfrated complaints about tinnitus focus on emotional distress, auditory perceptual difficulties, and sleep disturbances. Objectives To evaluate the works that show sleep disorders in patients with tinnitus, and sleep disorders assessed by polysomnography. Data Synthesis We found four studies with polysomnography to assess sleep disorders in patients with tinnitus. The first study evaluated 80 patients who were military personnel without major psychiatric disturbances, and their tinnitus was associated with noise-induced permanent hearing. The second study was a prospective, case-control, nonrandomized study of 18 patients affected by chronic tinnituswho were compared with a homogeneous control group consisting of 15 healthy subjects. The last work evaluated questionnaires mailed to patients before their initial appointment at the Oregon Health Sciences University Tinnitus Clinic between 1994 and 1997. These questionnaires requested information pertaining to insomnia, tinnitus severity, and loudness. Follow-up questionnaires were mailed to 350 patients 1 to 4 years (mean 5 ± 2.3 years) after their initial appointment at the clinic. Conclusion There are few studies with polysomnography for the evaluation of patients with sleep disorders caused by tinnitus. This shows the need for more studies on this subject

Relação do incômodo do zumbido com a função das células ciliadas externas e os transtornos de ansiedade e depressão em indivíduos com limiar auditivo normal

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, 2011O zumbido é mais comum em pacientes com perda auditiva, porém em torno de 10 a 20% dos casos ocorrem em pacientes com o limiar auditivo normal. Existem várias teorias responsáveis pela geração do zumbido, e é consenso que o zumbido é resultado de atividade neural anormal na via auditiva, interpretada erroneamente nos centros auditivos cerebrais.Dados da história clínica, fatores etiológicos, grau da perda auditiva e medidas psicoacústicas não têm sido relacionados ao incômodo e à intensidade do zumbido. No entanto, o incômodo do zumbido tem sido associado a transtornos de ansiedade e depressão, com ênfase no papel das disfunções cognitivas para sua percepção e interpretação. A ativação de diferentes regiões corticais e subcorticais envolvidas no mecanismo central do processamento dos sinais auditivos, da emoção, da memória e da atenção em pacientes com zumbido sugerem que essas áreas são ligadas à percepção do zumbido. Os estudos relacionados ao incômodo do zumbido têm sido realizados em pacientes com diferentes graus de perda auditiva. A proposta desta pesquisa é avaliar o incômodo do zumbido em pacientes com limiar auditivo normal e correlacionar os achados com as funções das células ciliadas externas (CCE) e os transtornos de ansiedade e depressão. O presente estudo foi realizado em 68 pacientes com zumbido (Grupo Estudo) e em 46 pacientes sem zumbido (Grupo Controle), com idade entre 20 e 45 anos e com o limiar auditivo menor ou igual 25 dB nas frequências de 500 a 8000 Hz. Foi realizado o teste das Emissões Otoacústicas com o aparelho AuDX Plus da Biologic, a avaliação do incômodo zumbido com o Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) e dos níveis de ansiedade e depressão com as Escalas de Beck. No Grupo Estudo, 67% das EOAT foram alteradas, com diferença estatística significante para todas as frequências testadas. Nas EOAPD, 65,2% dos exames foram alterados, sendo frequências de 3000 Hz, 6000 Hz e 8000 Hz com diferença estatística. Ainda verificou-se que 44,1% dos pacientes possuem ansiedade e 33,3% possuem depressão, com diferença estatística significante do Grupo Controle. O incômodo do zumbido não mostrou correlação com os resultados das EOA e com o tempo de zumbido, mas com a presença de ansiedade e depressão. Em outras palavras, quanto maior o escore para ansiedade e depressão, maior o incômodo do zumbido. Ainda observou-se que, quando comparados, dentro do Grupo Estudo, os pacientes com EOA normais e alteradas, não houve diferença entre os grupos para a ansiedade e a depressão, concluindo-se que as EOA não exercem influência na presença ou na ausência de ansiedade e depressão. Por fim, parece que o incômodo do zumbido pode ser desencadeado e interpretado por áreas corticais e subcorticais de forma semelhante entre pacientes com e sem perda auditiva, o que reforça a ideia de que o gatilho periférico do zumbido não possui correlação com o seu incômodo. _______________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTTinnitus is more common in patients with hearing loss however; in about 10 to 20 percent of cases, tinnitus occurs in patients who have a normal hearing threshold. There are several theories about what is responsible for the generation of tinnitus. The consensus is that tinnitus is a result of abnormal neural activity in the auditory pathway, which is being misinterpreted in the auditory brain centers. Factors such as clinical history, etiologic considerations, the degree of hearing loss and psychoacoustic measurements have not been linked to discomfort and the intensity of tinnitus. Pervasive, tinnitus has been associated with anxiety disorders and depression, highlighting its role in cognitive dysfunction effecting sufferer’s perception and interpretation. The activation of different cortical and subcortical regions involved in the mechanisms of the central processing of auditory signals such as emotion, memory and attention in patients with tinnitus suggests that these areas are involved in the pathology of tinnitus. This study examines the effects of tinnitus and has been conducted with patients who have different degrees of hearing loss. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the level of annoyance of tinnitus in patients with a normal auditory threshold correlating with the functions of outer hair cells (OHC) and anxiety disorders and depression. This study was conducted in 68 tinnitus patients (study group) and 46 patients without tinnitus (control group), aged between 20 and 45 with the hearing threshold of 25 dB or less at 500 to 8000 Hz. Otoacoustic Emissions tests were performed with AuUDX Plus Biologic equipment, assessing annoyance with the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and levels of anxiety and depression with the Beck scale. In the study group, 67% of the TEOAE was altered, with a statistically significant differences for all frequencies tested. DPOAE, 65.2% of exams were altered, showing a significant statistical difference to frequencies of 3000 Hz, 6000 Hz and 8000 Hz. It was found that 44.1% had anxiety and 33.3% had depression in the study group which is statistically significantly different from the control group. The annoyance level of tinnitus showed no correlation with the results of OAE and tinnitus duration, but instead with the presence of anxiety and depression. That is, the higher the score for anxiety and depression, the greater the annoyance of tinnitus. It was found that when normal and altered OAE was compared within the study group that there was no difference between groups for anxiety and depression, concluding that the OAE has no influence on the presence or absence of anxiety and depression. Finally, it seems that the discomfort caused by tinnitus can be triggered and interpreted by cortical and subcortical areas which are similar between patients with and without hearing loss. This reinforces that the triggering of peripheral tinnitus, has no correlation with their discomfort

Is dry climate related to hospital admission for epistaxis?

Introduction: Epistaxis constitutes the main otorhinolaryngological emergency and presents a potential risk to life in cases of severe bleeding. There seems to be a seasonal correlation of the climate to epistaxis and the opinions are divided about which meteorological factor is the main responsible for nasal bleeding. Objective: To describe the prevalence, distribution, characteristics and hospital admission for epistaxis and correlate them to the climate variation. To test the hypothesis that the dry climate is associated to the increase of severity and number of hospital admission for epistaxis. Method: Retrospective study of the cases of epistaxis treated and admitted in a Tertiary Hospital of the Federal District, in the period of five years (2003 to 2007). Correlation of climate variation data obtained at the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET). Results: 194 patients with severe epistaxis were admitted. The average number of monthly internments was of 3.2. The month of July presented the highest average with 4.8, while the month of January, the lowest, with one case per month. The months with a lower and higher level of moisture were August and December, with 43.8% and 77.1%, respectively. The maximum average temperature was of 26.9ºC and the minimum was of 17ºC. There was no statistically significant correlation between moisture and temperature and the number of severe epistaxis admissions (r=0.15, p=0.20). Conclusion: The month of July presented the highest number of hospital admissions for severe epistaxis and the month of August presents the lowest moisture. The dry climate didn't present a correlation with the increase of the severity and the number of hospital admissions for epistaxis

The quality of life among Otorhinolaryngology residents in Distrito Federal (Brazil) A qualidade de vida entre os residentes de Otorrinolaringologia do Distrito Federal

Otorhinolaryngology residents' quality of life must be investigated during medical residency. Work-related factors impacting their lives, such as depression, sleep deprivation and excessive work load may impact the well-being of these individuals. OBJECTIVE: To assess and discuss the quality of life of Otorhinolaryngology Resident Physicians in Distrito Federal (Reuni-ORL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study, the quality of life of each individual was assessed by means of a questionnaire specifically designed for this purpose - Whoqol-bref, proposed by the WHO. RESULTS: Males had better psychological scores when compared to females (p= 0. 013). Mean scores comparison among the years in residency were statistically significant only in the psychological domain when comparing the first and second years (p=0. 046), in which 2nd-year residents had the higher scores. CONCLUSIONS: Despite constant changes to the ENT program (Reuni-ORL) in the Distrito Federal, aiming at improving work and training conditions for residents, there still is a psychological burden in their first year of residencyA qualidade de vida dos residentes de otorrinolaringologia precisa ser estudada ao longo da residência médica. Fatores decorrentes deste trabalho, como depressão, privação do sono e excessiva carga horária, podem interferir no bem-estar destes indivíduos. OBJETIVO: Avaliar e discutir a qualidade de vida dos médicos residentes de Otorrinolaringologia do Distrito Federal (Reuni-ORL). MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Sob a forma de estudo transversal, a avaliação da qualidade de vida de cada participante foi realizada por meio de um questionário específico para este fim, o Whoqol-bref, proposto pela OMS. RESULTADOS: O sexo masculino apresentou pontuação melhor no domínio psicológico com relação ao sexo feminino (p= 0,013). A comparação das médias de pontuação entre os anos de residência foram estatisticamente significativas apenas no domínio psicológico em relação ao primeiro e segundo ano (p=0,046), na qual os R2 apresentaram a pontuação maior. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar de constantes adaptações do programa da Reuni-ORL no Distrito Federal, visando melhorias das condições de trabalho e de estudo de seus residentes, ainda há o desgaste psicológico do primeiro ano de residênci

Dysphonia interference in schoolteachers’ speech intelligibility in the classroom

“Among the most common occupations, schooteachers are the ones who experience the most changes throughout their career. Considering this, the present study aims to verify whether dysphonia in three different degrees may compromise the speech intelligibility of schoolteachers in the classroom. Method. Overall, 39 students, average age 10 years, randomly selected from a public school in the Federal District, Brazil (Distrito Federal, Brasil) performed a transcription task of 20 sentences spoken by four distinct female voices in a classroom, one with a control voice (normal), another with mild dysphonia, 1 with moderatedysphonia and another with severe dysphonia. None of the voices in the study presented changes, neither in fluency nor articulation nor neurological changes. The sentences were previously recorded in an acoustically treated booth, with a microphone on a pedestal 5 cm away from the speaker's mouth. For each sentence to be recorded, the speech model was provided by the speech therapist and then repeated by the speaker according to the model. Each voice recorded 5 different sentences, phonetically balanced and with equivalent number of words. The students included in the study underwent auditory, auditory processing, sequential memory for verbal sounds and sound source location tests, fulfilling the normality criteria. They also did not have neurological or motor disorders or learning, speech or language disorders. Academic success was also taken into account. For the experiment, a speaker was placed in front of the classroom, 1 m from the wall and 1 m from the floor, and students were randomly assigned to the classroom seats. After listening to each sentence, some time was assigned for its transcription by each student. Results. The occurrence of errors was higher in voices with moderate and severe dysphonia, in which a significant difference was found (P ≤0.003) showing that voices with moderate and severe dysphonia were less intelligible than the normal voice (control voice). No difference was found between the normal voice and the mild dysphonic voice. Binary logistic regression analysis also showed that students had a 2.55 times higher chance of making mistakes with moderate dysphonic voice (P ≤0.011), and that this chance was 3.06 times greater for severe dysphonic voice (P ≤0.002) when compared to the normal voice (control voice). Conclusion: Moderate and severe dysphonia in the voices of schoolteachers interferes with the intelligibility of students, and the greater the degree of dysphonia of the teacher, the greater the chance that the student will make intelligibility errors.