title: Proposed computerized protocol for epidemiological study of patients undergoing microsurgery of the larynx.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The merging of medicine with information technology facilitates the retrieval of stored data, aiding the conduct of research with greater scientific rigor. Studies in the field of otorhinolaryngology, specifically in the area of laryngology and voice, are of fundamental importance, since 70% of the economically active need their voice to work.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To create a computerized protocol of the diseases of the larynx, apply and validate it, and use it to evaluate patients undergoing laryngoscopic microsurgery of the larynx.
  
  
  METHODS
  We created a database of ENT diseases through a literature review of textbooks and scientific articles. Next, we computerized the data and incorporated it into the SINPE(©), creating a master protocol (ENT diseases) and a specific protocol (laryngeal diseases). Data were collected prospectively from patients undergoing laryngeal microsurgery in the ENT Hospital of Paraná. The collected data were analyzed with graphs through the SINPE(©) Analyzer module.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated 245 patients aged 9-79 years, and determined that 36.61% (93 patients) underwent surgery for the presence of polyps on the vocal folds, 12.6% (32) underwent surgery for papillomatosis, and 11.83% (29) underwent surgery for intracordal cysts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The creation of an electronic database of clinical ENT diseases was feasible. We were also able to implement and validate the protocol. The database may be released to physicians involved in clinical data collection and retrieval of information to conduct scientific research in an organized manner. The most common laryngeal disorders identified were polyps, papilloma, and intracordal cysts.
authors.affiliation: M.D., ENT by ABORL. Physician from the ENT Department of HC/UFPR.
authors.forename: Guilherme Simas do Amaral
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Catani
authors.affiliation: M.D. by UFPR. Resident from the ENT Department of HC/UFPR.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: M.D., ENT by ABORL. Physician from the ENT Department of HC/UFPR.
authors.forename: Jorge Massaaki Ido
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.affiliation: M.D., ENT by ABORL. Physician from the ENT Department of HC/UFPR.
authors.forename: Evaldo Dacheux de Macedo
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.affiliation: PhD. in Informatics applied to the teaching and research in Surgery - medicine (2005). Professor of the Science and Information management department of UFPR.
authors.forename: José Simão de Paula
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: PhD in Medical Anatomy (1976). Professor of the postgraduation programe in Surgery principles of Faculdade Evangelica do Parana.
authors.forename: Osvaldo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Malafaia
authors.affiliation: PhD in the Surgical Clinics of the postgraduation programe at UFPR (2002). Professor and Coordinator of the Vascular Surgery discipline of HC/UFPR.
authors.forename: Henrique Jorge
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Stahlke
keywords: epidemiologic studies; larynx; microsurgery