Does Postthyroidectomy Syndrome Really Exist Following Thyroidectomy? Prospective Comparative Analysis of Open vs. Endoscopic Thyroidectomy

ObjectivesThis study prospectively evaluated postthyroidectomy syndrome (PTS) through objective and subjective voice changes following thyroidectomy of open vs. endoscopic thyroidectomy.MethodsA prospective clinical trial (SCHBC IRB 09 26) was performed from Jan 2008 to Aug 2010 to compare the open thyroidectomy (OPEN group) and endoscopic thyroidectomy (ENDO group). Of the 110 patients, 75 completed the evaluation before and 1 and 6 months after surgery. Subjective parameters included perceptual analysis (GRBAS [grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain] scale), stroboscopic or flexible fiberscopic analysis, voice handicap index, and 5-point visual analog scales for vocal fatigue, singing difficulty, difficulty with high-pitch phonation, and neck discomfort. Objective parameters included acoustic, aerodynamic analysis and the electroglottograph.ResultsFor the ENDO group (n=36), the operation time was longer than in the OPEN group (n=39; P<0.01). For the OPEN group, two objective and five subjective parameters were worse 1 month postoperatively; of these, two subjective parameters persisted for 6 months (P<0.05). For the ENDO group, three objective and six subjective parameters were worse 1 month postoperatively, and three of the subjective parameters persisted 6 months postoperatively (P<0.05).ConclusionPTS really exists following simple thyroidectomy and are very common for both OPEN and ENDO groups. Most of the parameters improved gradually over time, but some subjective changes persisted 6 months postoperatively.     

Long-term voice outcome after thyroidectomy using energy based devices

Objective

Voice dysfunction is frequently reported after thyroidectomy even in absence of vocal fold paralysis. The energy-based devices such as Harmonic scalpel (HS) or LigaSure (LS) are commonly used in conventional thyroidectomy. The objective of this study was to investigate the long-term voice outcome after total thyroidectomy using energy based devices.

Comparison of 24-month voice outcomes after injection laryngoplasty with calcium hydroxylapatite or hyaluronic acid in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis

PurposeThe objective was to evaluate the long-term voice outcomes in pa-tients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis treated with injection laryngoplasty using either cal-cium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) or hyaluronic acid (HA).MethodsA single-centre retrospective study was performed. There were 75 patients with dysphonia due to unilateral vocal fold paralysis: injected with CaHA or injected with HA. We analysed Voice Handicap Index-30 (VHI), videostroboscopic images, auditory-perceptual (GRBAS), and acoustic measures (MDVP) in 6, 12, and 24 months after augmentation.ResultsThe mean change in VHI 24 months after augmentation was 29.14 in the CaHA group, and 22.88 in the HA group. There was an improvement of glottal gap 6, 12, and 24 months after augmentation in both groups. The GRBAS parameters were similar in both groups throughout the whole period. The MDVP pa-rameters decreased 6 and 12 months after augmentation and were similar in both groups. There were 4 patients augmented with CaHA (12.5%) who needed reintervention within 2 years of surgery and another 4 (9.3%) augmented with HA.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that there are no long-term differences in voice outcomes or number of reaugmentations for injection laryn-goplasty with CaHA compared to HA.     

Changes after voice therapy in objective and subjective voice measurements of pediatric patients with vocal nodules

The aim of this study was to analyze the efficiency of the voice therapy in children with vocal nodules by using the acoustic analysis and subjective assessment. Thirty-nine patients with vocal fold nodules, aged between 7 and 14, were included in the study. Each subject had voice therapy led by an experienced voice therapist once a week. All diagnostic and follow-up workouts were performed before the voice therapy and after the third or the sixth month. Transoral and/or transnasal videostroboscopic examination and acoustic analysis were achieved using multi-dimensional voice program (MDVP) and subjective analysis with GRBAS scale. As for the perceptual assessment, the difference was significant for four parameters out of five. A significant improvement was found in the acoustic analysis parameters of jitter, shimmer, and noise-to-harmonic ratio. The voice therapy which was planned according to patients’ needs, age, compliance and response to therapy had positive effects on pediatric patients with vocal nodules. Acoustic analysis and GRBAS may be used successfully in the follow-up of pediatric vocal nodule treatment.     

Radiofrequency ablation of intubation granulomas

ObjectiveWe explored the outcomes and voice parameters of patients undergoing plasma radiofrequency (RF) ablation to treat intubation granulomas.Study designProspective case series.Methods and materialsPatients with intubation granulomas who met the inclusion criteria underwent RF ablation. The complete remission rate and voice function were evaluated preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively.ResultsWe enrolled 13 patients with 25 intubation granulomas. The mean time between intubation and initial diagnosis was 38.6 days and that between intubation and surgical diagnosis was 2.7 months. All 25 granulomas were successfully removed and histologically confirmed. No surgical remnant was evident on the vocal folds and complete glottal closure was observed at 2 weeks postoperatively. No recurrence or RF ablation-related complications were observed during the 6-month follow-up. The complete remission rate was 100% (13/13). In addition, the mean hoarseness, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain (GRBAS) scores, and the maximum phonation time (MPT), improved significantly after treatment (all P < 0.05).ConclusionsRF ablation is effective and safe for patients with intubation granulomas who failed medical management or request the procedure. In this study, the complete resolution rate was high and voice restoration outcomes were good.     

梅尔频率倒谱系数在声带息肉手术前后嗓音分析中的价值研究

目的 本研究拟通过提取患者嗓音中的梅尔频率倒谱系数(MFCC)指标,探讨其在声带息肉手术前后嗓音分析中的临床价值。方法 回顾性分析于2018年1月—2019年8月行声带息肉手术且术前及术后1个月均行嗓音评估的患者41例,男31例,女10例;平均年龄(42.9±11.4)岁。另选取无声嘶且无声带病变的正常受试者21例作为基线对照。使用基于Python编程语言的librosa语音处理包进行MFCC特征提取,分别提取每位患者的MFCC均值,MFCC方差与MFCC标准差,使用配对样本t检验比较声带息肉手术前后上述各MFCC特征的差异。结果 声带息肉患者术后MFCC均值1.25±1.01、MFCC方差561.34±154.98及MFCC标准差21.74±4.03比术前MFCC均值6.81±2.05、MFCC方差1 019.66±295.87及MFCC标准差34.37±6.63显著下降,差异具有统计学意义(t=18.596,P=0.000;t=10.338,P=0.000;t=11.852,P=0.000)。声带息肉组患者术后1个月其MFCC均值、MFCC方差及MFCC标准差与正常受试者相比差异均无统计学意义,表明绝大部分声带息肉患者术后嗓音得到良好的恢复。结论 本研究首次探索了MFCC在声带息肉手术前后嗓音分析中的价值, MFCC各特征可作为评估声带息肉术后嗓音恢复的指标。     

Detection of voice changes due to aspiration via acoustic voice analysis

Objective

Aspiration can occur during swallowing. The present study investigated the feasibility of identifying aspiration risk (AR) via acoustic voice parameters.

甲状腺结节术后患者语音评估及嗓音声学分析

目的 探讨分析甲状腺结节患者手术前后嗓音变化特点.方法 选取行甲状腺手术的64例患者为研究对象,并依据手术方式和性别将其分为4组,分别为女性甲状腺全切术组(组1,18例)、女性甲状腺非全切术组(组2,28例)、男性甲状腺全切术组(组3,6例)、男性甲状腺非全切术组(组4,12例).对患者术前、术后3 d及术后1个月分别...     

Subjective and objective voice assessment following partial resection of the larynx

There is no generally accepted, standardized approach for evaluation of voice quality and of intelligibility after partial laryngectomy. A voice evaluation which considers some aspects of voice quality is possible by assessing physical and acoustic voice parameters. But this approach does not consider how the patient subjectively assesses his postoperatively altered voice and how the patient believes he is understood by various communication partners. In this study objective and subjective variables of the voice quality of 32 patients with partial laryngectomies were measured. First, selected physical and acoustic variables of voice quality were quantified. Second, subjective criteria of voice quality and of intelligibility were assessed by a questionnaire. A significant correlation between variables of objective and subjective voice quality was found. The maximum vocal intensity, the maximum pitch, and the intensity range correlated significantly with the subjective assessment of intelligibility. No relationship was found between the acoustic variables and the subjectively perceived degree of vocal disability.     

Videolaryngostroboscopy and voice evaluation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Arthritis may affect the larynx and produce symptoms such as hoarseness and vocal fatigue.ObjectiveThis paper aimed to evaluate the laryngeal manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis.MethodsThis is prospective study assessed 27 patients with rheumatoid arthritis with the aid of videolaryngostroboscopy, auditory-perceptual analysis of the speech using the GIRBAS scale, acoustic analysis and the Voice Handicap Index questionnaire.ResultsNineteen patients had laryngeal complaints, the main ones being intermittent dysphonia and sensation of a foreign body in the throat. The most frequent laryngoscopical finding was overlapping arytenoids. Three patients had low pitch, nine patients had mild dysphonia and roughness. Median acoustic measures were: F0, 198.39 Hz; Jitter, 0.815; Shimmer, 4.915; and NHR, 0.144. Regarding the Voice Handicap Index, the median score was zero in all domains. There was a statistically significant correlation between voice complaints and the domains of this index. Functional classes were significantly correlated to: overlapping arytenoids (p = 0.001), PPQ (p = 0.0257), Shimmer (p = 0.0295), APQ (p = 0.0195), and the VHI physical (p = 0.0227) and total domains (p = 0.0425).ConclusionLaryngeal complaints were reported by 70.4% of the patients and laryngoscopical alterations were observed in 48% of the subjects. Voice acoustic evaluation and self-perception were altered.     

Cambios acústicos de la voz como signos de fatiga vocal en locutores de radio: resultados preliminares

Introduction and objectivesVocal fatigue is one of the most common voice symptoms. It usually refers to the sensation of vocal tiredness after a long period of speaking or singing. The purpose of this study was to compare the acoustic characteristics of the voice before and after a long period of voice use in a group of radio broadcasters.MethodsEight radio broadcasters with normal voices were assessed. We used cepstrum, energy ratio, noise to harmonic ratio and soft phonation index as acoustic variables to assess the possible pre-post vocal loading changes objectively.ResultsThere were no statistically significant pre-post differences in any of the acoustic parameters. Although cepstrum at high pitch did not show a significant difference, it obtained the greatest difference among the acoustic variables.ConclusionsThe acoustic measurements used in the present study might not be sensitive enough or appropriate for detecting vocal changes after a long period of voice use, whether in reading (as reported in previous research) or speaking tasks. Moreover, a longer period of vocal loading would eventually reveal more evident and consistent acoustic voice changes.     

Immediate effects of the phonation into a straw exercise

Immediate effects of an exercise with the vocal tract semi-closed.ObjectiveTo investigate the immediate effects of the phonation exercise in a straw in individuals with and without vocal fold lesions.Materials and MethodsProspective study. 48 individuals, aged between 18 and 55 years participated in the study, and they were distributed into two groups: GL- with a benign vocal fold lesion; GSL-without a lesion. The following analyses were carried out before and after the straw phonation exercises: voice self-analysis, [ε] vowel auditory-perception analysis, selected parameters acoustics (VoxMetria 2.6) and videolaryngoscopy.ResultsThe vocal self assessment indicated a statistically significant improvement on voice emission in GL individuals (p=0.015). There were no statistically significant differences before and after the exercise and between the groups, in the videolaryngoscopy, acoustic and auditory-perception assessments.ConclusionThe straw phonation exercise caused positive effects, seen upon voice self-assessment, indicating an easier and better voice upon phonation.     

Effects on voice by endolaryngeal microsurgery

Endolaryngeal microsurgery (EM) is functionally oriented. Therefore, assessment of vocal function is important to evaluate the effect of the surgery on voice. In all, 58 patients, including 26 patients with vocal cord nodules and 32 patients with vocal cord polyps, underwent EM. The patients’ voices were recorded and analyzed before EM and 2 weeks after. Analysis of voice quality included perceptual assessment and each patient’s own subjective evaluation of social acceptability of voice according to the 10.0 cm visual analogue scale (VAS) scale. Acoustic voice signal data were measured for fundamental frequency (F ₀), jitter, shimmer and normalized noise energy (NNE) using Tiger Electronics Dr. Speech software. Statistically significant (P < 0.001) improvement was achieved in both perceptual and acoustic analysis and in both patient groups. According to the VAS scale, a high degree of satisfaction with the surgery was achieved. The grade of hoarseness (G) as well as roughness (R) and breathiness (B) decreased significantly after the operation. EM resulted in a statistically significant decrease in the mean jitter, shimmer and NNE postoperatively. There were no significant changes in the F ₀ after EM. These results confirm a high degree of effectiveness of EM on vocal rehabilitation and meet the expectations regarding the assessment and documentation of postsurgical voice changes. Received: 26 September 1998 / Accepted: 23 February 1999     

Work-related voice disorder

IntroductionDysphonia is the main symptom of the disorders of oral communication. However, voice disorders also present with other symptoms such as difficulty in maintaining the voice (asthenia), vocal fatigue, variation in habitual vocal fundamental frequency, hoarseness, lack of vocal volume and projection, loss of vocal efficiency, and weakness when speaking. There are several proposals for the etiologic classification of dysphonia: functional, organofunctional, organic, and work-related voice disorder (WRVD).ObjectiveTo conduct a literature review on WRVD and on the current Brazilian labor legislation.MethodsThis was a review article with bibliographical research conducted on the PubMed and Bireme databases, using the terms “work-related voice disorder”, “occupational dysphonia”, “dysphonia and labor legislation”, and a review of labor and social security relevant laws.ConclusionWRVD is a situation that frequently is listed as a reason for work absenteeism, functional rehabilitation, or for prolonged absence from work. Currently, forensic physicians have no comparative parameters to help with the analysis of vocal disorders. In certain situations WRVD may cause, work disability. This disorder may be labor-related, or be an adjuvant factor to work-related diseases.     

Surgical effects of type-I thyroplasty and fat injection laryngoplasty on voice recovery

ObjectiveType-I thryroplasty, also known as medialization thyroplasty (MT) and autologous fat injection laryngoplasty (FIL) are one of the main surgical treatments for unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). Both procedures have the same concept of completing the glottal closure by medializing the vocal fold, although the surgical approaches are quite different. In order to assess these surgical effects, we examined the treatment outcomes and benefits of the two surgeries.MethodsWe collected data from the 135 phonosurgeries that we performed out of 375 patients with UVFP at Osaka Voice Center, Osaka Kaisei Hospital from January 2009 to February 2013. After excluding cases with glottal level differences on phonation, either MT or FIL were performed on 80 cases. The inclusion criteria for the present study were: (1) patients had no history of previous phonosurgery, and (2) functional evaluations were available before/after surgery. Consequently, 43 participants (12 for MT and 31 for FIL) were enrolled in this study. Surgical effects were evaluated by means of the maximum phonation time (MPT), pitch period perturbation quotient (PPQ), amplitude perturbation quotient (APQ), and harmonic to noise ratio (HNR) just before, one month, and 6 months after surgery.ResultsBoth MT and FIL showed significant improvement in MPT (MT, p = 0.005; FIL, p < 0.001) and PPQ (MT, p = 0.047; FIL, p = 0.041) at 1 month postoperation. We also compared the variation of each variable between the two procedures, but there were no significant differences in these parameters. However, MPT, APQ, and HNR at the post-MT after 6 months worsened compared to those at 1 month posttreatment, whereas MPT showed only a slight decrease from the 1st month to the 6th month in those with FIL.ConclusionBoth MT and FIL were effective for the voice recovery in patients with UVFP. Our findings suggest that surgical results in FIL might be better than those in MT 6 months after surgery, although there were no significant differences between these two procedures 1 month postoperation.     

Cepstral Analysis of Voice in Patients With Thyroidectomy

ObjectivesThe vocal changes after a thyroidectomy are temporary and nonsevere, therefore, obtaining accurate analytical results on the pathological vocal characteristics following such a procedure is difficult. For a more objective acoustic analysis, this study used the cepstral analysis method to examine changes in the patients’ voices during the perioperative period regarding sustained vowel phonation.MethodsThe sustained phonation of the five vowels (i.e., /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, and /u/) by 35 patients with thyroidectomy were recorded by using a Multi-Speech program. Of the 35 patients, 10 were men and 25 were women, with an average age of 51.5 years. Voice data were collected a total of 3 times (preoperatively, 5–7 days after the operation, and 6 weeks after the operation) and were edited according to each fragment (on-set, mid, and off-set) for cepstral analysis.ResultsThe cepstral analysis on the patients’ voices revealed no significant differences between the examination periods of all vowel phonations. However, analysis of the on-set fragment of the vowel /i/ revealed pathological characteristics in which the cepstral measurements of the voice were significantly lower after the operation than before the operation, with the cepstral measurements of the voice increasing further 6 weeks following surgery.ConclusionThe results of the acoustic analysis on the on-set fragment of the vowel /i/ will be important data for characterizing the vocal changes during the perioperative period. This study contributes to future research on the mechanisms underlying changes in the voice of patients with a history of thyroid or neck surgery.     

嗓音训练应用于声带息肉术后的效果评价

目的 探讨嗓音训练应用于声带息肉术后的疗效.方法 选取92例接受声带息肉切除术患者作为研究对象,所有患者随机分为实验组(n=46)与对照组(n=46)两组.两组患者均行喉显微声带息肉切除术,对照组术后给予金嗓散结丸口服治疗4周,实验组在对照组基础上术后1周起联合嗓音训练治疗3周,术后4周两组同时结束治疗.比较两组患者治...     

Impact of incidental parathyroidectomy and mediastinal-recurrent cellular and lymph-node dissection on parathyroid function after total thyroidectomy

ObjectivesTo determine the impact of incidental parathyroidectomy and mediastinal-recurrent cellular and lymph-node dissection on parathyroid function after total thyroidectomy.Material and methodsA single-center retrospective study was conducted for a 5-year period in a university hospital center, including 605 patients undergoing total thyroidectomy, 52 of whom had mediastinal-recurrent cellular and lymph-node dissection.EndpointsThe main endpoint was intraoperative number of parathyroid glands as predictor of parathyroid hormone (PTH) level and postoperative hypocalcemia. The secondary endpoint was the correlation between associated mediastinal-recurrent cellular and lymph-node dissection and incidental parathyroidectomy and its impact on PTH level and calcemia in the immediate postoperative period and at 1 month.Results161 patients (26.61%) showed hypocalcemia in the immediate postoperative period and 12 (1.98%) at 1 month. Mediastinal-recurrent cellular and lymph-node dissection increased incidental parathyroidectomy risk 4.6-fold. Mediastinal-recurrent cellular and lymph-node dissection was associated with a statistically “suggestive” decrease in day-1 calcemia (P = 0.03), and no significant decrease at 1 month (P = 0.52). Incidental parathyroidectomy (6.7% of cases with parathyroidectomy versus 1.3% without) did not significantly increase the rate of early hypocalcemia (P = 0.28), but was associated with a “suggestive” worsening at 1 month (P = 0.02).ConclusionHypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy is a complex, probably multifactorial issue. Systematic parathyroid gland identification is not recommended due to the increased risk of gland lesion, mainly by devascularization. Incidental parathyroidectomy may induce hypocalcemia at 1 month postoperatively (statistically “suggestive” association).     

Objective and subjective changes in voice after endoscopic sinus surgeries in patients with and without nasal polyps

BackgroundMany studies have looked at the effect of functional endoscopic sinus surgeries (FESS) on nasalance, nasal consonant and nasalized vowels. Only two studies investigated the effect of FESS on vocal sound quality and have not found statistically significant changes before and after operations. The aim of this study was to examine the short-term and long-term objective and subjective changes in the vocal quality of patients after FESS, comparing patients with and without nasal polyps.MethodsSixteen patients were recruited for voice analysis during pre-operative, within two weeks and at least three months post-operatively. Subjective questionnaire was used to assess perception of voice changes.ResultsThere were no statistically significant changes in the acoustic parameters of patients with nasal polyposis. In patients with CRS without polyps, there was a statistically significant increase in fundamental frequency (F₀) in nasal sound during early follow up. The changes in soft phonation index (SPI) values between the two groups were statistically significant during early follow-ups. Only patients with nasal polyposis perceived a subjective change in their voice post-operatively.ConclusionsClinicians should inform all patients, especially voice professionals about the possible effects of endoscopic sinus surgeries on their voice quality.     

Shoulder function after neck dissection: Assessment via a shoulder-specific quality-of-life questionnaire and active shoulder abduction

ObjectiveNeck dissection results in a high probability of postoperative shoulder functional impairment, even when the spinal accessory nerve is preserved. Therefore, surgeons must inform patients about the expected functional and qualitative recovery of shoulder function after surgery.MethodsThe present study included a prospective cohort of 66 patients (85 neck dissection sides) who underwent neck dissection between December 2015 and July 2017 at a single institution. The active shoulder abduction angles of the affected side and the patient-reported shoulder-specific quality-of-life recovery score of the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) questionnaire were examined at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. Additionally, the association between these outcomes and risk factors for shoulder impairment were investigated.ResultsThe average active shoulder abduction angles were significantly improved at 3 and 6 months postoperatively compared with 1 month postoperatively (96.5 ± 4.3° at 1 month versus 110.1 ± 4.7° at 3 months, p = 0.035, and versus 142.0 ± 4.6° at 6 months, p < 0.0001). The proportion of patients who were unable to abduct their shoulders by 150° or more was significantly lower at 6 months postoperatively (41.5%) compared with 1 month postoperatively (82.4%, p < 0.0001). The WORC score significantly improved from 60.4 ± 2.4% at 1 month postoperatively to 67.9 ± 2.6% at 6 months postoperatively (p = 0.036). Multivariate analysis revealed that postoperative radiotherapy was a significant risk factor for shoulder impairment at 3 and 6 months postoperatively (p = 0.003 and p = 0.027, respectively), and that level V dissection and head and neck irradiation were significant risk factors for a worse shoulder outcome at 6 and 9 months postoperatively (respective p values for level V dissection and head and neck irradiation were p = 0.049 and p = 0.030 at 6 months postoperatively, and p = 0.016 and p = 0.013 at 9 months postoperatively).ConclusionSatisfactory functional and qualitative recovery of shoulder function was achieved at 6 months after neck dissection. Postoperative radiotherapy was a predictor of poor shoulder function in the early postoperative period; both level V dissection and head and neck irradiation were predictors of poor shoulder function at 6 and 9 months after neck dissection.