Biomedical subjects

M Lauren Lalakea

Publications and source records attributed to M Lauren Lalakea.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Perioperative steroids in tonsillectomy using electrocautery and sharp dissection techniques.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of preoperative dexamethasone sodium phosphate administration on posttonsillectomy morbidity for electrocautery ("hot") and sharp ("cold") dissection techniques. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blind study. SETTING: University pediatric hospital and county teaching hospital. Subjects A total of 219 children, aged 9 months to 12 years, undergoing tonsillectomy. Intervention Participants who underwent tonsillectomy were randomly assigned to receive either intravenous dexamethasone sodium phosphate (1 mg/kg) or placebo. OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain scores, oral intake, and emesis on postoperative day (POD) 1. RESULTS: A total of 106 subjects (62 undergoing hot and 44 cold tonsillectomies) received preoperative steroids, and 113 (56 hot and 57 cold tonsillectomies) received placebo. On POD 1, pain scores reported by patients (P =.02), parents (P =.002), and physicians (P<.001) were significantly lower in subjects receiving steroids than in those receiving placebo. Emesis was reduced from a mean of 2.1 (placebo group) to 1.2 episodes (steroid group) (P =.02). Oral intake improved from 24.5% of normal diet (placebo) to 31.7% (steroid group) (P =.004). When all 4 groups were compared (cold placebo, cold steroid, hot placebo, and hot steroid), pain scores reported by physicians and parents were significantly lower in the cold steroid group than in the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative dexamethasone use reduces posttonsillectomy morbidity in pediatric patients in the early postoperative period after hot or cold tonsillectomy. The combination of steroid and cold dissection technique provided the greatest advantage in reducing posttonsillectomy subjective pain levels.

California↗

PubMed2003

Ankyloglossia: does it matter?

Ankyloglossia is an uncommon oral anomaly that can cause difficulty with breast-feeding, speech articulation, and mechanical tasks such as licking the lips and kissing. For many years the subject of ankyloglossia has been controversial, with practitioners of many specialties having widely different views regarding its significance. In many children, ankyloglossia is asymptomatic; the condition may resolve spontaneously, or affected children may learn to compensate adequately for their decreased lingual mobility. Some children, however, benefit from surgical intervention (frenotomy or frenuloplasty) for their tongue-tie. Parents should be educated about the possible long-term effects of tongue-tie while their child is young (< 1 year of age), so that they may make an informed choice regarding possible therapy.

Child↗

PubMed2003

Ankyloglossia: the adolescent and adult perspective.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to characterize examination findings and functional limitations due to ankyloglossia in adolescents and adults and to evaluate frenuloplasty in this group. Study design A prospective study was conducted of 15 individuals with ankyloglossia aged 14 to 68 years. Baseline symptoms were recorded by questionnaire, and tongue mobility measures were compared with that of 20 control subjects. Six subjects were reassessed postfrenuloplasty. RESULTS: Thirteen of 14 patients with uncorrected ankyloglossia (93%) noted symptoms including speech problems (50%) and mechanical limitations (57%), such as difficulty licking the lips. Mean tongue protrusion and elevation at baseline measured 15.5 +/- 6.0 mm and 13.6 +/- 8.0 mm, respectively, for patients and 32.0 +/- 3.9 mm and 30.3 +/- 4.9 mm for control subjects (P < 0.001). Postfrenuloplasty, tongue function improved both subjectively and objectively in 6 of 6 patients, with a mean gain of 9.2 mm for protrusion (P < 0.05) and 13.0 mm for elevation (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Symptoms related to ankyloglossia are prevalent in this age group and respond favorably to frenuloplasty.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

The effect of ankyloglossia on speech in children.

OBJECTIVE: We wanted to determine whether ankyloglossia is associated with articulation problems and the effect of frenuloplasty on speech and tongue mobility. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a prospective study of 30 children aged 1 to 12 years with ankyloglossia undergoing frenuloplasty. Outcomes were assessed by measurements of tongue mobility, speech evaluation, and parent questionnaires. RESULTS: Mean tongue protrusion improved from 14.2 mm preoperatively to 25.8 mm postoperatively (P < 0.01). Similarly, mean tongue elevation improved from 5.2 to 22 mm (P < 0.01). Preoperative speech pathology evaluation documented articulation problems thought due to ankyloglossia in 15 of 21 children. Postoperative evaluation in 15 of these children showed improvement in articulation in 9, no change in 4 who had normal speech preoperatively, and an ongoing articulation disorder in 2. Parent perception of speech intelligibility on a scale of 1 to 5 improved from 3.4 to 4.2 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Tongue mobility and speech improve significantly after frenuloplasty in children with ankyloglossia who have articulation problems.

Articulation Disorders↗