Surgical treatment of symptomatic subglottic stenosis during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Subglottic stenosis is a narrowing of the airway distal to the glottis. Airway narrowing can be severe and, when coupled with pregnancy, can pose a significant threat to the mother and fetus. There is sparse literature describing treatment of these critical patients, posing a challenge for management. We describe our experience with a 31-year-old woman with idiopathic subglottic stenosis who became symptomatic during her pregnancy, requiring surgical intervention early in her third trimester. The following case report describes this patient's presentation and management, in which an awake dilation technique was used. We also include a literature review on the management of subglottic stenosis in pregnancy.

The effect of voluntary pharyngeal swallowing maneuvers on esophageal swallowing physiology.

The purpose of our study was to evaluate whether swallowing maneuvers designed to impact pharyngeal physiology would also impact esophageal physiology. Healthy volunteers underwent high-resolution manometry while performing three randomized swallowing maneuvers with and without a 5-ml bolus: normal swallowing, Mendelsohn maneuver, and effortful swallowing. We examined esophageal parameters of peristaltic swallows, hypotensive or failed swallows ("nonperistaltic swallows"), distal contractile integral (DCI), contractile front velocity (CFV), intrabolus pressure, and transition zone (TZ) defect. Four females and six males (median age 39 years; range 25-53) were included in the study. The overall number of nonperistaltic swallows was 21/40 (53 %) during normal swallowing, 27/40 (66 %) during the Mendelsohn maneuver, and 13/40 (33 %) during effortful swallowing. There were significantly more overall nonperistaltic swallows with the Mendelsohn maneuver compared with effortful swallowing (p = 0.003). While swallowing a 5-ml bolus, there were more nonperistaltic swallows during the Mendelsohn maneuver (12/20, 60 %) compared to that during normal swallowing (6/20, 30 %) (p = 0.05) and more peristaltic swallows during effortful swallowing as compared to Mendelsohn maneuver (p = 0.003). Intrabolus esophageal pressure was greater during the Mendelsohn maneuver swallows in the bolus-swallowing condition as compared to normal swallowing (p = 0.02). There was no statistical difference in DCI, CFV, or TZ defect between swallowing conditions. The Mendelsohn maneuver may result in decreased esophageal peristalsis while effortful swallowing may improve esophageal peristalsis. Because it is important to understand the implications for the entire swallowing mechanism when considering retraining techniques for our patients, further investigation is warranted.

Topical bethanechol for the improvement of esophageal dysmotility: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: We studied a case series to evaluate the effect of topical bethanechol chloride on esophageal function in individuals with ineffective esophageal motility. METHODS: Five subjects with ineffective esophageal motility underwent high resolution esophageal manometry. Ten 5 mL liquid swallows were performed to establish a baseline. Five milligrams of topical bethanechol was then administered. After 10 minutes, the subjects completed 10 additional liquid swallows. This procedure was repeated with 10 mg of bethanechol in 4 subjects. RESULTS: After administration of 5 mg of topical bethanechol, the mean (+/- SD) distal contractile integral, an index of esophageal contractility, increased from 178.3 +/- 83.1 mm Hg x s x cm to 272.3 +/- 216.9 mm Hg x s x cm (p = 0.69). The percentage of failed swallows decreased from 52.8% +/- 33.2% to 29.4% +/- 18.3% (p = 0.14). The percentage of peristaltic swallows increased from 28.0% +/- 26.8% to 67.2% +/- 15.3% (p = 0.04). The contractile front velocity was essentially unchanged. After administration of 10 mg of bethanechol,the distal contractile integral decreased from 349.3 +/- 371.0 mm Hg x s x cm to 261.8 +/- 293.5 mm Hg x s x cm (p = 0.72). The percentage of failed swallows increased from 57.5% +/- 37.7% to 66.8% +/- 24.9% (p = 0.46). The percentage of peristaltic swallows increased from 17.5% +/- 23.6% to 28.3% +/- 19.1% (p = 0.29). The contractile front velocity decreased from 11.6 +/- 5.2 cm/s to 4.9 +/- 3.0 cm/s (p = 0.32). No adverse side effects occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot study support the need for further investigation with larger sample sizes and dose escalation.

Hemodynamic changes during otolaryngological office-based flexible endoscopic procedures.

OBJECTIVES: A preponderance of literature supports the safety of office-based flexible endoscopic procedures of the upper aerodigestive tract; however, until recently there were no data regarding hemodynamic stability during these procedures. A recent study showed intraprocedure changes in patients' hemodynamic parameters, raising the concern that perhaps patients should be monitored during these procedures. The aim of our study was to determine whether physiologically significant alterations in vital signs occur during office-based flexible endoscopic procedures. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 100 consecutive patients who underwent office-based flexible endoscopic procedures of the upper aerodigestive tract from July 2010 to October 2011. Baseline values and the maximal changes in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were recorded and compared. RESULTS: One hundred consecutive patients were included in the study. Twenty-one patients (21%) had severe hypertension and 40 patients (40%) had tachycardia during the procedure. The mean change overall in systolic blood pressure was 26.2 mm Hg (p < 0.001), the mean change in diastolic blood pressure was 13.9 mm Hg (p < 0.001), the mean change in heart rate was 16.6 beats per minute (p < 0.001), and the mean change in oxygen saturation was 1.6% (p < 0.001). These changes were significant. On further breakdown into groups, patients over 50 years of age and patients who were undergoing esophageal or laser procedures had significant elevations in heart rate (p = 0.01 and p = 0.04, respectively). An elevation in diastolic blood pressure was also significant in patients who were undergoing esophageal or laser procedures (p = 0.04 for both). CONCLUSIONS: These data concur with those of the previous report that found potentially significant hemodynamic changes during office-based procedures. Although preliminary, our findings suggest that it may be wise to monitor vital signs in patients over 50 years of age and patients who are undergoing an esophageal or laser procedure who are at risk for complications that could arise from tachycardia and hypertension.

New technology applications: Knotless barbed suture for tracheal resection anastomosis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Tracheal resection anastomoses are often under tension and can be technically challenging. New suture materials such as V-loc (barbed, knotless wound closure device) may offer advantages over conventional methods. The objective of this study is to determine if a running V-loc suture is of comparable tensile strength to conventional closure. STUDY DESIGN: Laboratory based study of human cadaveric tissue. METHODS: Fresh human cadaveric tracheas were dissected and incised into segments. Anastomosis of adjacent segments was then performed with either submucosal interrupted 3-0 Vicryl, or a running submucosal 3-0 V-loc suture. Anastomosed specimens were stretched to failure on an Instron force tension machine. Surgeon satisfaction was recorded by visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: The tensile strength of 12 tracheal anastomoses was tested. Video documentation of V-loc suture technique and anastomosis failure was recorded. In both Vicryl (80%) and V-loc (100%) anastomoses, failure occurred at the membranous intercartilaginous region. In 20% of the Vicryl anastomoses, the suture was noted to break prior to tissue failure. Anastomoses with V-loc suture had equivalent failure force (mean, 59 N) compared to interrupted Vicryl (51 N), with P = .57. On VAS, surgeons were more satisfied with V-loc suture closure compared to interrupted Vicryl closure (paired t test, P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Tracheal anastomosis with running v-loc suture is a feasible alternative to conventional closure with interrupted Vicryl suture. V-loc suture provided a surgical advantage by improved ease of use.

Safety and efficacy of carboxymethylcellulose in the treatment of glottic insufficiency.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: No studies to date have examined the clinical safety and efficacy of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) for vocal fold injection. The current study investigates the voice outcomes and complications of CMC injection. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. METHODS: All patients who underwent CMC injection from three independent sites in a 1-year period were reviewed. Voice outcomes in the form of voice handicap index-10 (VHI-10) and complications from injection were recorded. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients with VHI-10 results from 1 to 8 weeks after CMC injection were evaluated. Thirty-eight patients were treated for vocal fold immobility, and 15 patients underwent treatment for hypomobility, 15 for vocal fold atrophy, seven for scar/sulcus, one for previous laryngeal fracture, one for functional dysphonia, and one for persistent granuloma. In 60 patients with available VHI-10 data, overall improvement in voice was seen. There was a mean decrease in VHI-10 of 7.48 (26.4 to 18.9, P < .05), correlating to a 19.9% decrease. Forty-five patients (75%) showed a decrease in VHI-10, nine (15%) showed an increase, and six (10%) showed no change. Statistically significant differences were seen for patients with immobility (decrease of 8.6, or 31%) and hypomobility (decrease of 10.7, or 37.8%). There were no complications of vocal fold stiffness, inflammatory reaction, or scar in the 78 patients during the total follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: CMC is a viable, safe, and efficacious material for the temporary treatment of glottic insufficiency in vocal fold immobility and hypomobility, with minimal risk of permanent adverse voice outcomes.

The tough tracheoesophageal puncture.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participants should be aware of the technique and success of in-office transnasal esophageal (TNE)-guided tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) placement in patients who have failed prior attempts in the operating room or are not healthy enough to undergo general anesthesia. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the technique of TEP, which can be completed safely in an office setting when patients are not able to undergo general anesthesia due to medical comorbities or have previously had an unsuccessful attempt at TEP placement in the operating room due to anatomical reasons. STUDY DESIGN: This study is a retrospective chart review from 2007 to 2011. METHODS: A total of 13 outpatient adults with a history of total laryngectomy presenting to the laryngology clinic for TEP after either failing prior placement in the operating room or not being able to undergo general anesthesia due to medical comorbities were identified. In-office TNE-guided TEP placement was performed on all 13 patients. RESULTS: All subjects underwent successful TNE-guided TEP placement in the office. Complications included 1 possible false passage and 1 case of cellulitis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who could not undergo TEP placement in the operating room due to poor exposure or medical comorbities were able to successfully undergo the procedure in an office setting with good results.