ABSTRACT Purpose: To present a detailed, reproducible, cost-efficient surgical model for controlled subepithelial endoscopic vocal fold injury in the rat model. Methods: Six male Sprague Dawley rats were enrolled in the experiment. The left vocal folds were used to carry out the injury model, and the right vocal fold served as control. After deep sedation, the rats were placed on a custom operating platform. The vocal fold injury by subepithelial stripping was carried out using custom-made microsurgical instruments under endoscopic guidance. Data were analyzed for procedural time and post-procedural pain. Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) scan and histologic images were obtained to assess the length, area, and depth of injury to the vocal fold. Results: The mean procedural time was 112 s. The mean control vocal fold length was 0.96 ± 0.04 mm. The mean vocal fold injury length was 0.53 ± 0.04 mm. The mean vocal fold surface was 0.18 ± 0.01 mm2 with a mean lesion area of 0.05 ± 0.00 mm2. Mean vocal fold injury depth was 375.4 ± 42.8 μm. The lesion length to vocal fold length ratio was 0.55 ± 0.03, as well as lesion area to vocal fold surface area was 0.29 ± 0.02. Conclusions: Our described experimental vocal fold injury model in rats is found to be fast, safe, cost-efficient, and reproducible with a rapid learning curve.

Resumo Introdução: Qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde é usada para designar a parte da qualidade de vida que é influenciada pela saúde do indivíduo. Objetivos: Comparar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de indivíduos com distúrbios vestibulares de origem periférica, analisar incapacidades funcionais, emocionais e físicas antes e após o tratamento vestibular. Método: Um estudo de caso-controle prospectivo, não randomizado, foi conduzido no Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia, entre janeiro de 2015 e dezembro de 2015. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a uma pesquisa de saúde personalizada de 36 itens sobre qualidade de vida, ao formulário abreviado de avaliação de saúde 36 (SF-36) e ao Dizziness Handicap Inventory para avaliar a incapacidade. Os indivíduos foram diagnosticados com distúrbios vestibulares periféricos unilaterais agudos, classificados em cinco grupos: neurite vestibular, doença de Ménière, vertigem posicional paroxística benigna, disfunção cócleo-vestibular (exceto Doença de Ménière) ou outro tipo de vertigem periférica aguda (como enxaqueca vestibular). Resultados: Houve uma diferença estatisticamente significante para cada parâmetro de escore no Dizziness Handicap Inventory (emocional, funcional e físico) entre a avaliação basal e depois de um mês, tanto em homens quanto em mulheres, mas sem diferença estatística significativa entre sete dias e 14 dias. Foi encontrada uma diferença estatisticamente significante para todos os oito parâmetros do escore no SF-36 entre a avaliação basal e um mês mais tarde, tanto em homens quanto em mulheres; a exceção foi a percepção de saúde mental nos homens. A correlação entre Dizziness Handicap Inventory e o SF-36 de acordo com o tipo de diagnóstico mostrou que o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman foi moderado quando correlacionado com o escore total desses instrumentos. Conclusão: O Dizziness Handicap Inventory e o SF-36 demonstraram ser instrumentos úteis, práticos e válidos para avaliar o impacto da tontura na qualidade de vida de pacientes com distúrbios vestibulares periféricos unilaterais.

Abstract Introduction: Health-related quality of life is used to denote that portion of the quality of life that is influenced by the person's health. Objectives: To compare the health-related quality of life of individuals with vestibular disorders of peripheral origin by analyzing functional, emotional and physical disabilities before and after vestibular treatment. Methods: A prospective, non randomized case-controlled study was conduced in the ENT Department, between January 2015 and December 2015. All patients were submitted to customize a 36 item of health survey on quality of life, short form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF-36) and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory for assessing the disability. Individuals were diagnosed with acute unilateral vestibular peripheral disorders classified in 5 groups: vestibular neuritis, Ménière Disease, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, cochlear-vestibular dysfunction (other than Ménière Disease), or other type of acute peripheral vertigo (as vestibular migraine). Results: There was a statistical significant difference for each parameter of Dizziness Handicap Inventory score (the emotional, functional and physical) between the baseline and one month both in men and women, but with any statistical significant difference between 7 days and 14 days. It was found a statistical significant difference for all eight parameters of SF-36 score between the baseline and one month later both in men and women; the exception was the men mental health perception. The correlation between the Dizziness Handicap Inventory and the SF-36 scores according to diagnostics type pointed out that the Spearman's correlation coefficient was moderate correlated with the total scores of these instruments. Conclusion: The Dizziness Handicap Inventory and the SF-36 are useful, proved practical and valid instruments for assessing the impact of dizziness on the quality of life of patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders.