Injection Laryngoplasty for Children with Dysphagia after Cardiac Surgery.

Objective: To determine whether injection laryngoplasty (IL) resolves thin liquid aspiration among children with unilateral vocal cord paralysis (UVCP) after cardiac surgery. Study Design: Retrospective case-control. Setting: Tertiary children's hospital. Methods: Consecutive children (<5 years) between 2012 and 2022 with UVCP after cardiac surgery were included. Resolution of thin liquid aspiration after IL versus observation was determined for children obtaining videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS). Results: A total of 32 children with left UVCP after cardiac surgery met inclusion. Initial surgeries were N = 9 (28%) patent ductus arteriosus ligations, N = 7 (22%) aortic arch surgeries, N = 9 (28%) surgeries for hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and N = 7 (22%) other cardiac surgeries. The mean age at initial surgery was 1.8 months (SD: 3.7). All children had a VFSS obtained after surgery that confirmed aspiration. There were 17 children that obtained an IL at 33.6 months (SD: 20.9) after cardiac surgery and 15 children observed without IL procedure. No surgical complications after IL were noted. The rate of aspiration resolution based on postoperative VFSS was N = 14 (82%) for the IL group and N = 9 (60%) for the control group P = .24. Documented VFSS aspiration resolution after cardiac surgery occurred by 9.6 months (SD: 10.0) in the observation group and 47.4 months (SD: 24.1) in the IL group (P < .001). Conclusion: IL can help treat aspiration in children with UVCP after cardiac surgery but the benefit beyond observation remains unclear. Future studies should continue to explore the utility for IL in managing dysphagia in this pediatric population.

Investigation of the Position and Angle of the Vocal Fold Projected onto the Thyroid Cartilage.

OBJECTIVE: To perform laryngeal framework surgery for unilateral vocal fold paralysis and obtain favorable voice improvement, it is necessary to accurately determine the vocal fold and arytenoid cartilage positions. Thus, the position and angle of the paralyzed vocal folds and arytenoid cartilage projected onto the affected thyroid plate were measured using computed tomography (CT) before and after surgery. METHODS: Forty-six male patients with thyroid cartilage ossification observed on preoperative CT and vocal fold paralysis were included. Using Adobe Illustrator®, the thyroid plate on the affected side was reconstructed from the continuous images of the sagittal section of the CT examination during participant's quiet breathing (reconstructed affected thyroid plate [RATP]). RESULTS: The anterior commissure mean position was slightly cranial to the midpoint of the thyroid cartilage midline. The paralyzed vocal fold angle was not parallel to the baseline. The average unaffected vocal fold angle during vocalization projected onto the affected thyroid plate was 13.83°, which differed significantly from the average paralyzed vocal fold angle before surgery (19.05°). However, no significant difference was observed in comparison with the average angle of the paralyzed vocal fold after arytenoid adduction. The average distance from the inferior notch of the affected side thyroid cartilage to the affected arytenoid cartilage was 16.7 mm. CONCLUSION: By understanding the positional relationship between the thyroid cartilage plate and internal structure from preoperative CT images, more effective surgery can be performed according to individual differences. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV Laryngoscope, 2024.

Dysphagia as a predictor of voice handicap and voice restoration in unilateral vocal fold immobility.

OBJECTIVE: Dysphagia is multifactorial in unilateral vocal fold immobility (UVFI). Severe dysphagia could indicate greater functional deficits in UVFI. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association of dysphagia with the need for surgical voice restoration in patients with UVFI. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Single-institution, tertiary referral center. METHODS: Records of UVFI patients from 2008 to 2018 were examined. Dysphagia severity was extracted from patient history. Etiology of UVFI and other relevant variables were analyzed to determine their association with dysphagia. Dysphagia severity and other clinical variables were then analyzed for their association with surgical voice restoration. RESULTS: Eighty patients met selection criteria out of 478 patients with UVFI. There was significant concordance between dysphagia severity extracted from patient history and patient-reported EAT-10 scores (R = 0.59, p = 0.000035). Patients' EAT-10 scores were correlated with VHI-10 scores (R = 0.45, p = 0.011). Severe dysphagia (p = 0.037), high VHI-10 score on presentation (p = 0.0009), and longer duration of hoarseness before presentation (p = 0.008) were associated with surgical voice restoration in UVFI patients. CONCLUSION: In this pilot study, severe dysphagia and increased voice handicap on presentation were associated with the need for surgical voice restoration in UVFI patients. Presenting dysphagia may be an additional variable for clinicians to consider for management of UVFI.

Acoustics and aerodynamic effects following glottal and infraglottal medialization in an excised larynx model.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of the implant's vertical location during Type 1 Thyroplasty (T1T) on acoustics and glottal aerodynamics using excised canine larynx model, providing insights into the optimal technique for treating unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). METHODS: Measurements were conducted in six excised canine larynges using Silastic implants. Two implant locations, glottal and infraglottal, were tested for each larynx at low and high subglottal pressure levels. Acoustic and intraglottal flow velocity field measurements were taken to assess vocal efficiency (VE), cepstral peak prominence (CPP), and the development of intraglottal vortices. RESULTS: The results indicated that the implant's vertical location significantly influenced vocal efficiency (p = 0.045), with the infraglottal implant generally yielding higher VE values. The effect on CPP was not statistically significant (p = 0.234). Intraglottal velocity field measurements demonstrated larger glottal divergence angles and stronger vortices with the infraglottal implant. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that medializing the paralyzed fold at the infraglottal level rather than the glottal level can lead to improved vocal efficiency. The observed larger divergence angles and stronger intraglottal vortices with infraglottal medialization may enhance voice outcomes in UVFP patients. These findings have important implications for optimizing T1T procedures and improving voice quality in individuals with UVFP. Further research is warranted to validate these results in clinical settings.

Safety and Adverse Events of Medialization Thyroplasty: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Unilateral vocal fold paralysis or paresis (UVFP) is a condition that causes significant morbidity due to dysphonia, dysphagia, and aspiration. Type I medialization thyroplasty (MT) is the current mainstay surgical treatment for UVFP. Though widely considered a safe procedure, concerns exist over possible airway complications which can lead to overnight observation. Herein, we report a systematic review of the safety and adverse events of MT to aid in determining the safety of same-day discharge. DATA SOURCES: PubMed and Embase databases. REVIEW METHODS: Our search identified studies investigating complications associated with MT. Articles were selected if published between January 1, 1989 and March 15, 2023. Abstracts were screened, and data were extracted from included studies. Only Type I MT procedures were included; case reports were excluded. Participant characteristics, intervention details, results, and adverse events were extracted. RESULTS: The database query identified 751 abstracts, of which 46 studies met eligibility criteria. A total of 2426 patients underwent MT. The most common implant was Silastic (n = 898, 37.0%) followed by Gore-Tex (n = 664, 27.4%). There were 254 (10.5%) total complications reported; 110 (4.5%) were considered major. The most common complication was nonobstructive hematoma (n = 59, 2.4%) followed by hemorrhage (n = 36, 1.5%). Implant extrusion (n = 24, 0.99%) or displacement (n = 15, 0.62%) occurred mostly in Silastic and Gore-Tex implants. Same-day discharge occurred with 429 patients and was not associated with adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: UVFP can be reliably improved by MT with a low risk of complications. Outpatient MT is a promising treatment with a favorable safety profile. Laryngoscope, 134:1994-2004, 2024.

Changes in vocal fold gene expression and histology after injection augmentation in a recurrent laryngeal nerve injury model.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes in neuroregenerative pathways with vocal fold denervation in response to vocal fold augmentation. METHODS: Eighteen Yorkshire crossbreed swine underwent left recurrent laryngeal nerve transection, followed by observation or augmentation with carboxymethylcellulose or calcium hydroxyapatite at two weeks. Polymerase chain reaction expression of genes regulating muscle growth (MyoD1, MyoG and FoxO1) and atrophy (FBXO32) were analysed at 4 and 12 weeks post-injection. Thyroarytenoid neuromuscular junction density was quantified using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Denervated vocal folds demonstrated reduced expression of MyoD1, MyoG, FoxO1 and FBXO32, but overexpression after augmentation. Healthy vocal folds showed increased early and late MyoD1, MyoG, FoxO1 and FBXO32 expression in all animals. Neuromuscular junction density had a slower decline in augmented compared to untreated denervated vocal folds, and was significantly reduced in healthy vocal folds contralateral to augmentation. CONCLUSION: Injection augmentation may slow neuromuscular degeneration pathways in denervated vocal folds and reduce compensatory remodelling in contralateral healthy vocal folds.

Type 1 Thyroplasty for Chronic Cough.

OBJECTIVES: Type 1 thyroplasty is a vital component of treatment for vocal fold hypomobility, immobility, and atrophy. However, patients with other laryngeal symptoms, including chronic cough, can have concomitant vocal fold atrophy and glottic insufficiency on the exam. Previous work has demonstrated that injection laryngoplasty can assist with treating cough in patients with glottic insufficiency. However, the role of type 1 thyroplasty for cough has not been well described. METHODS: Case series of five patients treated by a fellowship-trained laryngologist at a tertiary voice center. RESULTS: Five patients underwent type 1 thyroplasty for chronic cough. All five patients had a chronic cough that was not responsive to medical management. One patient underwent a previous superior laryngeal nerve block, which was effective for three weeks. Prior to surgery, all patients had a trial injection laryngoplasty with temporary improvement in symptoms. Four of five patients underwent bilateral GoreTex type 1 thyroplasty; one underwent only unilateral thyroplasty due to subtle vocal fold hypomobility on that side. All patients had improvement in their cough, with follow-up periods ranging from one month to three years. CONCLUSION: There are limited therapeutic options for chronic cough refractory to medical therapy. For patients with vocal fold atrophy or glottic insufficiency, type 1 thyroplasty may offer a durable option to improve cough.

Long-term Outcome of Autologous Lipoinjection Medialization Laryngoplasty versus Type I Thyroplasty.

Glottic insufficiency is incomplete or soft closure of the true vocal folds during phonation and is a common cause of dysphonia. Treatment includes voice therapy, type I thyroplasty, vocal fold injection augmentation (with materials such as autologous fat), arytenoid cartilage repositioning, or a combination of treatment modalities. The present study aimed to compare long-term outcomes of lipoinjection medialization with type I thyroplasty for patients with glottic insufficiency. METHODS: Adult voice center patients who had undergone surgical vocal fold medialization with autologous lipoinjection or with type I thyroplasty for glottic insufficiency were included in this retrospective study. The primary outcome measures were the need for further medialization surgery and improvement in the glottic gap. RESULTS: There were 172 subjects included in this study: 100 subjects underwent type I thyroplasty and 72 subjects underwent autologous lipoinjection medialization. Neither age nor gender differed significantly between thyroplasty and lipoinjection groups. The rate of further medialization surgery did not differ significantly between thyroplasty and lipoinjection groups, but further medialization surgery was performed longer after the initial operation in the thyroplasty group Baseline glottic gap did not differ significantly between thyroplasty and lipoinjection groups. When improvement from baseline was compared between thyroplasty and lipoinjection subjects, the improvement from baseline was similar for both groups at 6 months and at 12 months. Voice handicap index scores improved significantly after thyroplasty or after lipoinjection, and the improvement from baseline was similar in both cohorts. CONCLUSION: Both autologous lipoinjection medialization and type I thyroplasty provide effective medialization for patients with glottic insufficiency. Both techniques yield similar reoperation rates, and the benefit of surgery appears to last for at least 1 year for most patients.

Effectiveness of vocal fold medialization surgery on the swallowing function of patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Objectives: Vocal fold medialization surgery is generally considered a phonosurgical procedure for improvement of vocal function in patients with glottic insufficiency. However, the literature describing this procedure for the management of dysphagia is limited. This study aims to assess the effects of medialization surgery on swallowing function in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). Methods: We enrolled 32 patients with UVFP undergoing vocal fold medialization surgery (medialization laryngoplasty combined with arytenoid adduction [ML + AA], 12 cases; injection laryngoplasty [IL], 20 cases). We assessed the aerodynamic vocal function including maximum phonation time and mean flow rate to evaluate glottal closure status. The Hyodo score determined by flexible endoscopic evaluation and Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) were evaluated pre- and postoperatively. Results: Almost 60% of patients with UVFP had dysphagia, and one-third were at high risk for aspiration. Aerodynamic parameters effectively improved after IL and ML + AA. With regard to swallowing, both the FOIS and total Hyodo score were significantly improved postoperatively. We found a particularly significant improvement in pharyngeal clearance. However, patients with high vagal nerve paralysis and postoperative insufficient glottal closure showed poor swallowing benefits after the interventions. In patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, there were no significant differences in postoperative swallowing function between the ML + AA and IL groups. Conclusion: Vocal fold medialization surgery was effective in improving swallowing function in most cases with UVFP, except for those with high vagal paralysis and insufficient postoperative glottal closure. Both IL and ML + AA showed an equivalent effect on swallowing improvement. Level of evidence: 3b.

Augmentation-lateralization for Unilateral Vocal Fold Palsy With Airway Obstruction: A New Concept in Laryngology.

OBJECTIVES: This study presents an efficient, safe, effective, and novel technique of reconstructive transoral laser microsurgery (R-TLM) for the treatment of unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) with airway obstruction. It is based on the augmentation of the immobile and potentially flaccid and atrophic side while lateralizing the arytenoid and posterior part of the vocal fold, thus improving breathing without sacrificing phonation and commonly improving it. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study through data from medical records and operative notes. METHODS: Patients with UVFP with exertional dyspnea with or without dysphonia were included in this report. The vocal fold is augmented by harvesting the aryepiglottic fold soft tissues and the upper part of the arytenoid and placing them into the paraglottic space as a pedicled microflap, thus augmenting the anterior two thirds of the vocal fold while lateralizing the remaining arytenoid and posterior third of the vocal fold by an internal traction suture to improve airway. Postoperative breathing, phonation and swallowing were assessed. RESULTS: Twenty two cases are reported in the study. Follow-up evaluations ranged from 6 to 12 months. All cases showed successful and durable improvement of breathing and phonation. None required tracheostomy or gastrostomy pre- or postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Augmentation-lateralization is a novel, safe, and effective minimally invasive technique that allows airway improvement with good results on phonation in patients with challenging UVFP with airway obstruction.

Effects of implant and vocal fold stiffness on voice production after medialization laryngoplasty in an MRI-based vocal fold model.

Medialization laryngoplasty is one of the primary surgical interventions in the treatment of glottal insufficiency due to vocal fold paralysis, paresis, or atrophy. During the surgery, an implant is laterally inserted into the larynx to medialize the affected vocal fold toward glottal midline, with the goal of improving glottal closure during phonation and voice production efficiency. While implants of different materials and geometry designs have been used, the effect of implant design on the voice outcome remains unclear. In this simulation study, the effect of implant stiffness was investigated in an MRI-based model of the vocal folds after medialization laryngoplasty. The results showed that implant stiffness had a significant impact on the phonation threshold pressure, glottal area waveform, and fundamental frequency, but only small effect on the closed quotient and other acoustic measures of the produced voice. The effect of implant stiffness also exhibited variability, depending on the stiffness conditions of the vocal fold and paraglottic tissues, indicating that individual differences need to be considered during the planning of medialization laryngoplasty.

An Ex-vivo Model Examining Acoustics and Aerodynamic Effects Following Medialization With and Without Arytenoid Adduction.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Quantify differences in acoustics and intraglottal flow fields between Thyroplasty Type 1 (TT1) with and without arytenoid adduction (AA) using excised canine larynx model. STUDY DESIGN: Basic science experiments using excised larynges. METHODS: Surgical procedures were implemented in eight excised canine larynges. Acoustics and intraglottal flow measurements were taken at low and high subglottal pressures in each experimental setup. RESULTS: In all larynges, vocal efficiency (VE) and cepstrum peak prominence (CPP) were higher, and the mean phonatory flow rate was lower in TT1 with AA than without AA. The glottal asymmetry is reduced with AA and promotes the formation of stronger vortices in the glottal flow during the closing phase of the vibrating folds. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest a clear acoustic and aerodynamic benefit to the addition of AA when performing TT1. It shows significant improvement in CPP, translating to decreased breathiness and dysphonia and increased VE, leading to easier and more sustainable phonation. Stronger intraglottal vortices are known to be correlated with the loudness of voice produced by phonation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A Laryngoscope, 133:621-627, 2023.

Contribution of Undesired Medial Surface Shape to Suboptimal Voice Outcome After Medialization Laryngoplasty.

OBJECTIVES: Voice production in pathological conditions or after surgical intervention often involves undesired medial surface shape such as reduced vertical thickness and/or left-right asymmetry in medial surface shape. The effect of such undesired medial surface on voice production remains unclear, and is often not taken into consideration during planning of surgical intervention, due to difficulty of imaging the medial surface in patients. This study aims to better understand how voice outcomes are impacted by undesired medial surface shape. METHODS: Computational simulations were conducted to parametrically manipulate medial surface shape and stiffness and observe its consequence on voice production. RESULTS: The results showed that undesired medial surface shape can result in incomplete glottal closure, weak voice production, increased phonation threshold, and significantly reduced vocal efficiency, particularly in the presence of left-right stiffness asymmetry. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to approximating the vocal folds, medialization laryngoplasty should additionally aim to sufficiently increase medial surface thickness, which may improve voice outcomes in patients whose voices remain unsatisfactory or suboptimal after initial intervention. While a divergent implant may increase medial surface thickness, precise implant placement in anticipation of tissue and implant deformation during the insertion process is equally important in order to achieve desired medial surface shape and optimal voice outcomes.

Real-Time Light-Guided Vocal Fold Injection via the Cricothyroid Membrane in Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis: A Human Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: Vocal fold injection (VFI) via the cricothyroid (CT) membrane is used to treat various diseases affecting the vocal folds. The technical challenges of this technique are mainly related to the invisibility of the needle. Real-time light-guided VFI (RL-VFI) was recently developed for injection under simultaneous light guidance in the CT approach. Herein, we present the first clinical trial of RL-VFI, in which we investigated the feasibility and safety of this new technique in unilateral vocal fold paralysis (VFP). METHODS: This prospective pilot study enrolled 40 patients, who were treated with RL-VFI for unilateral VFP between September 2020 and August 2021. Adverse events were monitored during the procedure and for 4 weeks postoperatively. The Voice Handicap Index-10, the GRBAS (grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain) scale, aerodynamic studies, and acoustic analyses were evaluated to compare the voice improvement after 4 weeks with the baseline values. RESULTS: The needle tip was intuitively identified by the red light. The mean procedure time was 95.6±40.6 seconds for the initial injection, while the additional injection required 79.2±70.5 seconds. The injection was performed under light guidance without additional manipulation after the needle reached the intended point. No acute or delayed adverse events were reported. Among the 40 patients, 36 completed voice analyses after 4 weeks. Subjective and objective voice parameters, including the Voice Handicap Index-10, GRBAS scale, maximum phonation time, mean expiratory airflow, fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, and noise-to-harmonics ratio improved significantly after RL-VFI (P<0.05), while the expiratory volume was maintained. CONCLUSION: RL-VFI is feasible and safe for treating patients with unilateral VFP. This technique is anticipated to improve the precision and safety of the CT approach in the treatment of unilateral VFP. This study provides a rationale for further structured clinical studies.

Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis With Large Posterior Glottic Gap: Is Arytenoid Procedure Necessary?

OBJECTIVES: For unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) with large posterior glottic gap medialization laryngoplasty (ML) + arytenoid adduction (AA), ML + adduction arytenopexy (AApexy), and ML alone using prosthesis with posterior extension are possible solutions. This study was carried out to elucidate the controversy among these solution options. METHODS: Retrospective cohort. Tertiary referral center. One hundred forty patients with UVFP with large posterior glottic gap. Group 1 had 30 patients with ML + AA; Group 2 had 25 patients with ML + AApexy; Group 3 had 29 patients with ML using Isshiki prosthesis; Group 4 had 26 patients with ML using Montgomery prosthesis; Group 5 had 30 patients with ML using prosthesis with large posterior extension. Glottic closure using videolaryngostroboscopy, GRBAS, VHI-30, EAT-10, acoustic and aerodynamic analysis was carried out pre- and 1-year-postoperatively. RESULTS: Preoperatively there was no significant difference in any parameters studied among all study groups (P > .05). Except F0, speaking F0 and EAT-10, all other parameters in acoustic and aerodynamic analysis, glottic closure, GRBAS, and VHI-30 scores were significantly better postoperatively in Groups 1 and 2 compared to Groups 3 to 5 (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with UVFP and large posterior glottic gap, ML + AA and ML + AApexy seem to do better subjectively and objectively, acoustically and aerodynamically, when compared to ML using prosthesis with and without large posterior extension. ML alone does not appear to close posterior glottic gap. Therefore, it is a better and more reasonable option to perform arytenoid procedure when there is large posterior glottic gap in UVFP.

Speech Pathology Utilization and Stroboscopy Before and After Adult Medialization Laryngoplasty.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of trends and utilization of speech-language-pathology (SLP) services, including stroboscopy, before and after medialization laryngoplasty (ML) over 11 years. METHODS: Retrospective national US database study conducted using OptumLabs Data Warehouse. Study cohort included patients (age ≥18 years) who underwent ML between January 2007 and December 2016. Primary outcomes were rates of SLP visits in the 12 months before and 12 months after ML. Linear regression analysis was performed assessing for trends utilization across years. Secondary outcomes were predictors of utilization After-ML using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: 1114 patients met criteria. Services, including stroboscopy, were utilized by 774 (69%) Before-ML and 697 (63%) After-ML. SLP services, excluding stroboscopy, were utilized by 512 (46%) Before-ML and 478 (43%) After-ML. Vocal cord paralysis was the most common diagnosis, 945 (84.8%) patients. Other service billed were stroboscopy, [Before-ML 676 (60.7%); After-ML 567 (50.9%)], voice evaluation [Before-ML 431(38.7%); After-ML 366 (32.9%)], voice therapy [Before-ML 309 (27.7%); After-ML 339 (30.4%)], laryngeal function studies, [Before-ML 175 (15.7%); After-ML 164 (14.7%)], swallow evaluations [Before-ML 150 (13.5%); After-ML 90 (8.1%)], and swallow therapy [Before-ML 53 (4.8%); After-ML 47 (4.2%)]. SLP utilization Before-ML predicted SLP utilization After-ML [Odds Ratio (95% Confidence Interval): 9.31 (6.78, 12.77)]. Nearly half (49%) of visits occurred in the 6 months around ML. Of those who had voice therapy, the majority (73.7%) had a total of 1 to 5 sessions. CONCLUSION: Based on this retrospective US national database study, SLP services and stroboscopy are a complementary component of assessment and treatment of patients who undergo ML with the majority of services occurring in the 3 months before and after ML. Future work would benefit from outcome data.

Dysphagia Severity and Outcomes Following Iatrogenic High Vagal Nerve Injury.

OBJECTIVE: To examine severity of dysphagia and outcomes following iatrogenic high vagal nerve injury. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all patients with iatrogenic high vagal nerve injury that were seen at a tertiary referral center from 2012 to 2020. RESULTS: Of 1304 patients who met criteria for initial screening, 18 met all inclusion criteria. All 18 required intervention to address postoperative dysphagia. Eleven required enteral feeding tubes with 7 eventually able to advance to exclusively per oral diets. Fourteen underwent vocal fold injection and 6 underwent laryngeal framework surgery. Sixteen pursued swallowing therapy with speech language pathology. Patients lost a mean of 8.6 kg of weight in the 6 months following the injury. Swallowing function on the Functional Outcome Swallowing Scale (FOSS) and Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) was 4.4 and 2.4 respectively immediately following the injury and improved to 1.9 and 5.3 at the last follow-up. No patients had complete return of normal swallowing function at last follow up. CONCLUSION: Iatrogenic high vagal injury causes significant lasting dysphagia which improves with intervention but does not completely resolve. Interventions such as vocal fold injection, medialization laryngoplasty, cricopharyngeal myotomy, or swallowing therapy may be required to reestablish safe swallowing in these patients.

Voice assessment of fat injection vs medialization laryngoplasty in nonparalytic dysphonia.

OBJECTIVE: Compare long-term voice outcomes in patients treated with FIM or BML for nonparalytic dysphonia. There is controversy whether fat injection medialization (FIM) is a durable alternative to bilateral medialization laryngoplasty (BML) for nonparalytic dysphonia (atrophy, sulcus, scar, paresis). Both interventions yield improved voice quality, yet comparison of patients' long-term perceptions of their voice after these procedures has not been performed. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients who underwent FIM or BML for nonparalytic dysphonia was performed from 2008-2018. Charts were reviewed for demographic information, preoperative diagnosis, intervention, Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10), and follow-up time. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients met our criteria. Fifty procedures were performed (25 FIM, 25 BML). One patient underwent BML with subsequent FIM. There was no significant difference in pre-treatment or post-treatment VHI-10 scores between both groups (Pre-FIM 21 Post-FIM 10.28; Pre-BML 22.48, Post-BML 10.88). Total median follow-up time was 11.3 months (FIM 14.8 months, BML 9.5 months). Using VHI-10 scores recorded at each patient's latest follow-up visit, both groups demonstrated significant decrease (P < .05) compared to preoperative scores: VHI-10 decreased by a mean delta of 10.72 in the FIM group and 11.6 in the BML group. There was no significant difference in pre, post and change in VHI between groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with nonparalytic dysphonia, FIM is a durable alternative to BML. Patients treated in both groups gained substantial improvement in vocal function. For both treatment groups, we should anticipate less than complete satisfaction with surgery and revision procedures in a minority of patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Breathiness and Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) in Patients Undergoing Medialization Laryngoplasty With or Without Arytenoid Adduction.

OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that, in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP), the auditory-perception of breathiness measured with Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) would be higher preoperatively in patients who undergo medialization laryngoplasty (ML) with arytenoid adduction (AA) compared to ML alone. We further hypothesized that increased breathiness would correlate with increased glottal area at maximum glottal closure. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: CAPE-V recordings were rated by expert judges in 105 subjects with UVFP (47 ML+AA and 58 ML). Component scores of the CAPE-V prior to laryngeal framework surgery and those at 3 and/or 12 months postoperatively were compared. Assessment of glottal area width during maximum glottal closure was attempted. RESULTS: Breathiness scores prior to laryngeal framework surgery were significantly greater in UVFP patients having ML+AA compared to ML only (P < 0.001). Roughness was greater for ML only (P = 0.003). At 3 months, adjusted for age and previous injection laryngoplasty, the ML+AA group showed greater improvement for breathiness (P <0.001), loudness (P < 0.001), strain (P = 0.037), and pitch (P = 0.039), while the ML only group showed greater improvement in roughness (P = 0.009). Results were similar at 12 months. Only 26% of glottal area widths were ratable using methods previously described; therefore, no further analysis was attempted. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with UVFP baseline perception of breathiness is greater in those clinically selected for ML+AA compared to ML only. Glottal area measurements were not representative of the UVFP cohort and more stringent criteria are needed for valid and reliable glottal area assessment when using clinical flexible stroboscopic exams. Findings support the idea that surgeons may be making decisions about AA based, to at least some degree, on auditory perceptual evaluation of voice.

Long-term treatment outcome of type 1 thyroplasty using novel titanium medialization laryngoplasty implant combined with arytenoid adduction for unilateral vocal cord paralysis: single-arm interventional study at a single institution.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term treatment outcome of type 1 thyroplasty with novel rearrangeable titanium medialization laryngoplasty implant (TMLI) combined with arytenoid adduction (AA) for unilateral vocal cord paralysis (UVFP) in the authors' institution. METHODS: A total of 16 Japanese patients with UVFP who received type 1 thyroplasty using TMLI with arytenoid adduction was enrolled in this single-arm, non-randomized interventional study. The results of the auditory perceptual assessment, aerodynamic examination, acoustic measurement, and patient-based survey on these patients were evaluated preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Type 1 thyroplasty using TMLI with arytenoid adduction for our patient series presented significant improvements in maximum phonation time, mean flow rates, GRBAS scale, the Voice Handicap Index and the Voice-Related Quality of Life score over the 12-month postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Type 1 thyroplasty using TMLI with arytenoid adduction was quite effective for obtaining satisfactory postoperative voice improvement without any surgical complication over the long-term period.