Injection and removal of Teflon for unilateral vocal cord paralysis.

For over 70 years, reinnervation attempts have been unsuccessful in restoring motion to paralyzed vocal cords, in spite of occasional claims to the contrary. Fortunately, the major defect of unilateral vocal cord paralysis, a soft and breathy voice, can be eliminated if the edge of the paralyzed vocal cord is moved to the midline. This permits the mobile vocal cord to adduct and therefore to vibrate firmly against the edge of the paralyzed vocal cord during phonation, eliminating the air leak between the vocal cords. Teflon injection of the paralyzed vocal cord does this effectively. It is accomplished most easily and reliably via indirect laryngoscopy under local anesthesia, so the effect on the voice can be monitored during the injection. Teflon can be easily removed from the vocal cord via direct laryngoscopy. The disadvantages of trying to medialize the edge of a paralyzed vocal cord via a window in the thyroid cartilage (laryngeal framework surgery) will be discussed.     

Long-term voice outcome following partial cricotracheal resection in children for severe subglottic stenosis

Objective

To correlate the postoperative voice outcome to preoperative glottic involvement, following partial cricotracheal resection (PCTR) in children. The glottic involvement was analysed based on the extent of subglottic stenosis (SGS) in the endoscopic image and functional dynamic assessment using flexible endoscopy.

Methods

We conducted an interobserver study in which two ENT surgeons, blinded to one another's interpretation, independently rated the extent of SGS based on the endoscopic image along with the dynamic functional airway assessment, of 108 children who underwent PCTR for grade III or IV stenosis. Based on the observation, the glottic involvement was rated into 4 categories:

A.

SGS clear from vocal cords (3-4 mm below vocal cords).

B.

SGS reaching the free border of vocal cord and/or the posterior commissure with slightly limited abduction with no true posterior glottic stenosis (PGS).

C.

SGS with associated PGS or vocal cord fusion without cricoarytenoid ankylosis (CAA).

D.

Transglottic stenosis with/or without bilateral CAA.

Evaluation of the voice was based on a parent/patient proxy questionnaire sent in 2008 to assess the current functional status of the patient's voice.

Results

Among the 77 patients available for long-term outcome with a minimum 1-year follow-up, 31 patients had isolated SGS free from vocal cords (group A) and 30 had SGS reaching the under surface of vocal cords with partial or no impairment of abduction of vocal cords (group B). Twelve patients belonged to group C with posterior glottic stenosis and/or vocal cord fusion (without cricoarytenoid ankylosis) and 4 patients had transglottic stenosis and or/bilateral cricoarytenoid ankylosis (group D). The long-term voice outcome following PCTR as perceived by the parent or patient was normal in 18% (14 of 77 patients) and the remaining 63 patients demonstrated mild to severe dysphonia. Patients belonging to group A and B exhibited either normal voice or mild dysphonia. Patients in group C demonstrated dysphonia, which was moderate in severity in the majority (83%). All patients in group D with transglottic stenosis and/or CAA showed severe dysphonia.

Conclusion

Children with associated glottic involvement are at high risk for poor voice outcome following PCTR. The severity of dysphonia was found to be proportional to the preoperative glottic involvement. Preoperative rating of the extent of glottic involvement based on endoscopic image and dynamic assessment was found to be useful in prognosticating the voice outcome.     

电视波纹摄影术:一种调查声带振动的高速成像技术

目的 探讨电视波纹摄影术在嗓音研究中应用的可行性。方法 使用电视波纹摄影系统观察记录声带振动。结果 电视波纹图中可观察到声带振动的频率和幅度、声门周期间的开放和关闭相、开启相和闭拢相的移动、声带上下缘的移位、粘膜波的播散，左右声带的开闭过程是否对称等重要信息。结论 此技术适用于嗓音研究。同样也适用于喉科临床。     

Laryngoscopic findings in dysphonia following traumatic midbrain syndrome

26 patients with traumatic voice disorders were examined laryngoscopically. During the initial mute stage, reflex vocal cord movement could be detected but no intentional movement. A gradual approximation of the vocal cords led to a narrowing of the glottic aperture so that whispering but not voiced phonation, was possible (stage of whispering). The third stage was characterized by the rapid development of a laryngeal (and pharyngeal) spasticity, identifiable by shortened and thickened vocal folds, an increased approximation of the ventricular folds and in a more dorsal position of the epiglottis. During phonation hyperadduction of the anterior two thirds of the vocal cords occurred with an accompanying open posterior chink (stage of spastic dysphonia). In some patients an incomplete, unilateral vocal cord abduction during respiration was observed which is most probably the result of an unilateral (contralateral) laryngeal hemispasticity. In other patients spontaneous (uni- and bilateral) laryngeal hyperkinesias were also present.     

Vocal cord sulcus

Vocal cord sulcus is a congenital condition consisting of a furrow on the medial edge of the vocal cord. It is most often bilateral but may be unilateral. The symptoms are a hoarse and breathy voice due to incomplete closure of the vocal cords. The present series comprises 15 patients found among 1,400 patients with voice and speech disorders. The condition is often overlooked and regarded as part of a primary functional hyperkinetic voice disorder. By close inspection the furrow can often be seen by indirect laryngoscopy. In many cases, however, microlaryngoscopy under general anaesthesia should be performed, but the furrow is only detected if a search is made for it. The condition is often found in younger patients, probably due to the fact that the sulcus is difficult to detect in older patients who have developed severe organic changes in a effort to overcome the incomplete closure of the glottis.     

Vocal cord mobilization by posterior laryngoplasty

Laryngeal obstruction due to fixation of the vocal cords by scar tissue in the posterior commissure is a serious complication of endotracheal intubation. Until recently, operative procedures, including unilateral arytenoidectomy, were recommended for the relief of such obstruction. Because arytenoidectomy adversely affects voice quality, alternative procedures designed to open the airway by restoring vocal cord mobility have been attempted with some success. We report our experience with six consecutive patients, five of whom had previously required tracheotomy for relief of airway obstruction from posterior glottic stenosis. In all patients, the operative procedure included a midline thyrotomy, excision of the posterior commissure scar tissue, and stenting. Vocal cord motion returned to normal or near normal in all six patients, and all have been decannulated. Subjective evaluation of voice quality was the same or improved postoperatively. Our experience suggests that restoration of an adequate airway in patients with posterior glottic stenosis can be achieved without sacrificing an arytenoid cartilage and voice quality.     

Use of YAG laser combined with mucosal suturing for the treatment of polypoid vocal cord]

To improve low-pitched voices in cases with polypoid vocal cords, YAG laser irradiation combined with a mucosal suturing technique was attempted in 9 female cases with severe polypoid changes in their vocal cords. A YAG laser beam (5 to 10 W) was used to irradiate the upper surface of the polypoid vocal cord. The polypoid content of the cord was gradually coagulated, and the free edge of the cord appeared to slide up toward the burned area. The polypoid content was then removed and squeezed through an open wound made in the burned area using a conventional method. Bleeding was successfully controlled using the laser. After the excessive mucosal margin was trimmed and the contour of the vocal cord was adjusted, the wound was closed by 7-0 monofilament absorbable suture. Suturing was relatively easy because the mucosal edge was also coagulated. Postoperative evaluations of voice quality revealed an improvement in the GRBAS scale of voice quality as well as an elevation in voice pitch and an upwards shift in the voice range in all cases.     

An analysis-by-synthesis approach to the estimation of vocal cord polyp features

This paper deals with a new noninvasive method of estimating vocal cord polyp features through hoarse-voice analysis. A noteworthy feature of this method is that it enables us not only to discriminate hoarse voices caused by pathological vocal cords with a single golf-ball–like polyp from normal voices, but also to estimate polyp features such as the mass and dimension of polyp through the use of a novel model of pathological vocal cords which has been devised to simulate the subtle movement of the vocal cords. A synthetic hoarse voice produced with a hoarse-voice synthesizer is compared with a natural hoarse voice caused by the vocal cord polyp in terms of a distance measure and the polyp features are estimated by minimizing the distance measure. Some estimates of polyp dimension that have been obtained by applying this procedure to hoarse voices are found to compare favorably with actual polyp dimensions, demonstrating that the procedure is effective for estimating the features of golf-ball–like vocal cord polyps.     

Carbon dioxide laser enucleation of polypoid vocal cords

Polypoid vocal cords have routinely been treated by endoscopic vocal cord stripping, often-times resulting in prolonged hoarseness postoperatively. Submucosal CO₂ laser enucleation of the polypoid tissue, with preservation of a mucosal flap on the medial edge of the cord, has proved to be a valuable improvement. The surgical procedure is described and results are presented which suggest that voice quality is better earlier than is the case after vocal cord stripping.     

Benign keratoma of the vocal cords

Summary Benign keratomas are true benign tumors of the vocal cords that are to be differentiated clinically and histologically from malignant, inflammatory and reactive lesions which may also result in superficial keratinization. Clinically, keratomas present as flat, warty or papillary lesions with varying keratinization surrounded by a normal-appearing (healthy) epithelium. They are usually unilateral, with their extents varying from 2 to 3 mm in diameter to tumors occupying the entire vocal cord. Histology shows grade I or grade II epithelial hyperplasia without any signs of inflammation. In the present study 61 patients with benign keratomas were treated by excisional biopsies alone. Fifty-seven patients were followed for a minimum of 7 months and a maximum of 16.5 years. Two patients developed recurrent keratomas. To date none of the patients has developed an invasive vocal cord carcinoma or a carcinoma in situ.     

Treatment of early vocal cord carcinoma: a comparison of apples and apples

Radiation therapy, hemilaryngectomy, and even cordectomy will cure a very large percentage of patients with early vocal cord cancer and preserve the voice. However, hemilaryngectomy and cordectomy are conceded by most surgeons to usually produce a poorer voice, compared to radiation therapy, and the operations are restricted to certain anatomical distributions. Those surgeons advocating hemilaryngectomy or cordectomy have compared their results with radiation therapy series which include a proportion of patients with lesions not suitable for voice-sparing operations. One hundred and thirty-nine patients with T 1-2 carcinoma of the vocal cords with a 2-15 year follow-up, who were treated initially by radiation therapy, were analyzed in detail by initial extent of disease. Patients were identified whose lesions were anatomically suitable for hemilaryngectomy or cordectomy, and results for these patients compared to operative results. Since the curative results with voice sparing by irradiation were at least equal, and since the quality of the voice is thought to be much better, there is little justification for recommending a major operation except in specific situations. Lesions initially suitable for voice-sparing operations which subsequently recur after irradiation can usually be treated by a voice-sparing operation.     

An in vivo canine model for testing treatment effects in laryngeal hyperadduction disorders

Adductor spastic dysphonia is a voice disorder characterized by a strained, squeezed, effortful voice produced by true and false cord hyperadduction. An in vivo canine model has been developed to simulate hyperadduction of the true cords. Using this model, the thyroarytenoid muscle was found to have a greater effect on intraglottic and subglottic pressure than cricothyroid muscle contraction. The intraglottic and subglottic pressure was reduced after simulated recurrent laryngeal paralysis. This model can be used in future studies to compare laryngeal treatment modalities for disorders that have a component of vocal cord hyperadduction, such as spastic dysphonia.     

Laryngeales Kontaktgranulom

Vocal cord granulomas are benign inflammatory lesions of the vocal cords. They are usually located over the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage. A corresponding ulcer on the contralateral side is a common finding. Clinical signs include foreign body sensation, a need to repeatedly clear one’s throat, hoarseness, and reduced voice resilience. Voice abuse and gastro-oesophageal reflux are commonly cited important aetiological factors. Differentiation from malignant lesions is usually possible by history and clinical examination; biopsy is only rarely necessary. The primary treatment is speech therapy or voice counselling, if necessary, supported by antacids. Surgical excision is not helpful because contact granulomas tend to recur. We present two typical cases of vocal cord granulomas and discuss their management.     

Central vocal cord paralysis and paresis presenting as laryngeal stridor in children

Vocal cord paralysis or paresis as the initial presenting symptom for intracranial tumors in children are rare. Recently, two pediatric patients who were later diagnosed as having intracranial tumors presented with the symptom of voice changes and stridor. Telescopic examination revealed bilateral vocal cord paresis and paralysis as demonstrated by video recordings. The majority of pediatric brain tumors present with both generalized and localized complaints; however, by discussing these two rare cases, we hope to underscore the importance of a thorough workup of the paralyzed or paretic vocal cords.     

Spasmodic dysphonia combined with insufficient glottic closure by phonation

The authors describe the case history of a patient who suffered from symptoms deriving from two different origins. The patient's voice was spasmodic dysphonia-like interrupted and pressed. At the same time, his voice was powerless, too. The reason for this was that besides the spasmodic dysphonia caused by hyperkinesis, an incomplete closure of the vocal cords during phonation in the middle third was present. It was caused by the atrophy of the vocal cords. In order to eliminate the symptoms, initially we injected 25 IU Botox into the left vocal cord transcutaneously under the direction of EMG control. It resulted in a fluent, though breathy voice. In order to manage the closing insufficiency during phonation, we performed lipoaugmentation on the left vocal cord under high-frequency jet anaesthesia. The result of the two-step procedure was a fluent and clear voice. The speech without interruption lasted for 5 months, until the drug was eliminated. Of course, to prolong the result, the Botox injection should be repeated.     

Vocal cord paralysis

The information presented in this article demonstrates that unilateral or bilateral vocal cord paresis or paralysis in infants and children is difficult to diagnose and difficult to manage. In an attempt to provide the otolaryngologist with a concise set of relevant guidelines, the following rules for management are presented here. 1. Suspect bilateral abductor vocal cord paralysis (BAVP) when a neonate or infant presents with high-pitched inspiratory stridor and evidence of airway compromise. Factors that should increase the suspicion of BAVP include associated Arnold-Chiari malformation; congenital anatomic abnormality involving the mediastinum (for example, tracheoesophageal fistula, vascular ring, other vascular anomalies); dysmorphic syndromes, especially those involving brainstem dysfunction; and manifest findings indicative of neuromuscular disorder. The neonate or infant with Arnold-Chiari malformation and inspiratory stridor has bilateral abductor vocal cord paralysis until proven otherwise. 2. Suspect unilateral vocal cord paresis or paralysis in an infant or child with hoarse voice, low-pitched cry, or breathy cry or voice. The infant who develops mild stridor and hoarse cry following surgical repair of a patent ductus arteriosus or tracheoesophageal fistula has a unilateral vocal cord paralysis until proven otherwise. 3. Direct laryngoscopy with the flexible fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscope and photodocumentation using a videocassette recorder offers the best method for diagnosis of vocal cord paresis or paralysis. Additional diagnostic studies that may be helpful include radiographic studies, CT scan, MRI scan, electromyography of the larynx, and, in older children, stroboscopy. 4. In using a flexible direct laryngoscope be careful not to interpret all motions of the vocal cords or arytenoids as evidence to preclude the diagnosis of vocal cord paralysis or paresis and be careful not to mistake the anterior intraluminal portion of a normal cricoid for an "anterior glottic web." 5. Tracheotomy is often required in order to assure adequate airway during infancy for children with BAVP. However, with the advent of sophisticated cardiorespiratory monitoring equipment and methods for monitoring blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, tracheotomy can be delayed until attempts have been made to improve the adequacy of the airway with neurosurgical intervention or other procedures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Airway complication after thyroid surgery: minimally invasive management of bilateral recurrent nerve injury

OBJECTIVES: After bilateral vocal cord paralysis, the consequent paramedian position usually necessitates tracheostomy for at least 6 months, when the paralysis is potentially reversible. In the present study a reversible endoscopic vocal cord laterofixation procedure was used instead of tracheotomy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study of 15 consecutive patients aged 33 to 73 years who suffered bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis after thyroid surgery. METHODS: The operation was performed endoscopically with a special endo-extralaryngeal needle carrier instrument. Two ends of a monofilament nonresorbable thread were passed above and under the posterior third of the vocal cord and knotted on the prelaryngeal muscles, permitting the creation of an abducted vocal cord position. If movement of one or both vocal cords recovered, the suture was removed. Regular spirometric measurements and radiological aspiration tests were conducted on the patients. RESULTS: During the follow-up period of 3 to 40 months, airway stability was demonstrated in all but one patient. After the repeated lateralization procedure, this patient's breathing improved. Partial or complete vocal cord recovery was observed in eight patients. In six patients further voice improvement was achieved when the threads were removed after vocal cord medialization or recovery. Mild postoperative aspirations ceased in the first postoperative days. CONCLUSIONS: This management approach offers an alternative to tracheostomy in the early period of paralysis, avoids terminal loss of voice quality, and provides a "one-stage" solution for permanent bilateral recurrent nerve injuries.     

Pathological and clinical assessment of polypoid hypertrophy of the vocal cords

Polypoid hypertrophy of mucosa of the vocal cord is the most common non-neoplastic disease of the larynx. This hypertrophy has a form of simple polyp of vocal cord or polypoid hypertrophy of the whole length of one or both vocal cords. In most cases a course of the disease is typical. In a few cases we can observe changes in polyp epithelium, i.e. hyperplasia or even dysplasia. Clinical and histological analysis of 809 patients treated because of laryngeal polyps (by Kleinsasser microsurgical procedure) within the period of 1981-1995 at ENT Clinic in Gdańsk was made. Sex and age of the patients, macroscopic picture of the disease as well as treatment and results were assessed. Special attention was paid to the problem of polyp epithelium rebuilding. In a few cases, polyp of the vocal cord should be assessed as praecancerous state.     

Video-endoscopic findings in playing various wind instruments]

The function of the larynx and tongue of 15 subjects playing different wind instruments was examined. Whichever instrument was played, no variations of the vocal cord positions were found. A sustained note produced by the singing voice, or by playing an instrument, or by singing synchronously was observed by stroposcopy. Laryngeal functions did not change between these three types of use of the larynx. Vibrato was indirectly produced by the vocal cords. Laryngeal disorders influence the playing of wind instruments and the use of the singing voice.     

Dysphonia: medical treatment and a medical voice hygiene advice approach. A prospective randomised pilot study

For many years all patients with dysphonia referred to in the literature as resulting from non-organic (functional) voice disorders were sent to speech therapy. Medical diagnoses were not taken into account. In our earlier Cochrane review on vocal cord nodules we discovered that evidence-based research in the area of benign voice disorders with dysphonia, and with or without slight benign swellings including nodules on the vocal cords, was lacking at that time. Therefore, a prospective randomised pilot study based on our Cochrane review has been made on dysphonic patients with non-organic (function provoked?) voice disorders as the basis for further evidence-based studies.Medical treatment was based on the scientific approach that once a micro-organic disorder caused by reflux, infection, allergy or environmental irritatants (e.g., dust or noise in the workplace) was discovered by very careful anamnesis and systematic objective routine analyses and was treated effectively, with documentation, the non-organic voice disorder disappeared, as, e.g., in the case of a diagnosis and treatment of helicobakter pylori. The reason is that the mucosal swelling/dysfunction of the vocal cords is secondary.In order to try to understand why the recommendation to all these patients for many years was only voice therapy, which the speech therapists “felt to be effective”, updated voice-hygiene advice (for posture, accents of the diaphragm, intonation pattern and resonance) was given by experienced laryngologists, randomised with the updated medical diagnosis/therapy in order to elucidate what effect the training might have. No evidence-based studies in the literature document any effect. The crucial point seemed to be that doctors mostly did not examine any other diagnoses other than the “dysphonia” and did not dig down to any of the medical reasons when the vocal fold diagnosis of “non- organic disorders” was made. This should be changed in the future. This pilot study was based on a comparison of ten dysphonic patients with stroboscopic non- organic (functional) voice disorders, where a micro-organic diagnosis was searched for and treated systematically in a medical regime (for infections, allergies, gastrooesophageal reflux and environmental irritants such as dust, noise, etc.) versus ten dysphonic patients with stroboscopically confirmed non-organic (functional) voice disorders, having only the traditional but optimal voice advice, which we can call medical voice-hygiene advice, including the use of the Accent method. A retrospective group of ten patients treated medically was included, too. A demand cannot be made that the functional group being treated by randomisation with voice advice should also be medically treated at once, the medical approach being the new one. On the other hand, it is strange that no evidence-based research was made before. All patients were measured two times with stored videostroboscopy, a quality-of-life questionnaire and phonetograms with 1-month intervals. All patient groups improved. There was no statistical improvement in favour of the medical group with the voice-related quality-of-life score, also not for the group who received voice-hygiene advice. The geometrical mean values of the phonetogram areas in decibels times semitones were better in all groups, but a statistical difference was not found between the medically treated group and the voice-hygiene advice group. The pilot study showed that both medical treatment and medical voice-hygiene advice had a positive effect on dysphonia in non-organic (functional) voice disorders. There is need of an extensive prospective randomised trial on dysphonia including vocal cord nodules to find out which treatment should be used for this group of patients. It is suggested that an eventual randomisation for microsurgical treatment or regular voice therapy should be made after a period of systematic medical diagnosis and treatment including medical voice-hygiene advice.