Comparison of Voice Handicap Index in Patients with Esophageal and Tracheoesophageal Speech after Total Laryngectomy.

BACKGROUND: Successful speech rehabilitation has a great impact on the quality of life in totally laryngectomized patients. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper was to compare the self-assessed voice handicap of totally laryngectomized patients with two different methods of alaryngeal speech - esophageal (ES) and tracheoesophageal speech (TES). METHOD: The research comprised 83 totally laryngectomized, disease-free patients, split into two groups. The first group included 43 participants with successfully rehabilitated ES, and the second group included 40 participants with successfully established TES after secondary implantation of Provox 2TM voice prosthesis. All subjects filled in the Serbian version of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI-30). The results (overall score and three VHI subscales) were analyzed and compared with those of the subjects of both groups. The impact of age in the subgroups (<65 years old and ≥65 years old) and previous irradiation on the examined VHI values were also analyzed. RESULTS: The median value of the overall VHI score in the participants with TES was 29.03 ± 23.479 (range: 0-97), and in the participants with ES it was 64.51 ± 21.089 (range: 19-99). The VHI scores (overall and three VHI subscales) were significantly higher in participants with ES compared to those with TES (p < 0.01), indicating a larger voice handicap. No significant difference was found in the overall VHI score and VHI subgroups in terms of age subgroups and previous irradiation (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data reveal a significantly higher voice handicap in participants with ES compared to the TES group, with a large interindividual variation within both groups. VHI values are not significantly different between the two age subgroups, nor are they significantly influenced by irradiation.

[Role of surgery in modern treatment of laryngeal carcinoma].

The strategy of organ preservation by applying chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of laryngeal carcinoma, which has been extensively used since 1990s, is now being reviewed regarding its further justification. Despite good results in other localization of head and neck cancer, it has not met the expectations in case of laryngeal cancer. One explanation is the lower participation of human papillomavirus type 16 in the etiology of laryngeal cancer. A lot of developing countries base their concept on primary surgery with subsequent radiotherapy, because the cost of operations for cancer of the larynx is much lower than in developed countries. Endoscopic surgery of T1 cancers is feasible in all environments using cold surgery thanks to modern management of anesthesia with the possibility of local application of adrenaline. Its price is 481.46 euros, and if it is performed through laryngofissure, the price is 785.46 euros. The introduction of lasers into the treatment would justify the initial investment and extend indications, and the surgery of T1 and T2 cancers with laser application should be the standard practice in all countries and regions dealing with laryngeal pathology. T2 and some T3 cancers can be treated by conservation surgery of the larynx. Most of T3 and T4 cancers are indications for total laryngectomy or near-total laryngectomy in selected cases. If it is the primary surgery, wound healing is good and complications are rare. This greatly reduces the cost of operation, which is 1910.15 euros. Surgery after radiotherapy, particularly after chemoradiotherapy, may result in complications that significantly prolong the treatment and increase its costs. Thus, the biological nature of laryngeal cancer and its specificity make this approach to the treatment of cancer available in all regions of the world.

Laryngotracheal stenosis and restenosis. What has the influence on the final outcome?

The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of various parameters on the course and treatment outcome in patients with laryngotracheal stenosis and recurrent stenosis. Two groups of patients were compared: Group I included 29 patients with primary stenosis, and Group II included 22 patients with recurrent stenosis. The most frequent etiological factor for the development of stenosis was prolonged endotracheal intubation (79.3:77.3%), with subglottic-tracheal (44.8:45.5%) and tracheal (48.3:36.4%) localization being the most affected. Subglottic-tracheal stenosis was more common in men. There were no significant differences between the groups in regard to the grade of lumen obstruction and the length of the resected segment. In male patients, the length of the resected stenotic segment was significantly longer. Subglottic-tracheal stenoses were longer than tracheal ones. Various surgical procedures were performed, with additional management of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, if necessary. Laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) with costal cartilage grafting (CCG) was statistically significantly more often performed in Group II, while cricotracheal resection (CTR) was more common in Group I. The incidence of complications in Group I was 24.1%, and in Group II it was 31.8%. Satisfactory airway lumen with undisturbed breathing was achieved in 93.1% of patients in Group I, and in 95.3% in Group II. Since the success rate was similar in both groups of the patients, it could be concluded that treatment outcome depends less on the factors associated with the stenosis, and more on adequate choice of surgical procedure and surgical team know-how.

Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in young children with otitis media with effusion before and after surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is one of the commonest causes of acquired hearing loss in children with increasing incidence. In young children the diagnosis is restricted to clinical trials and tympanometry whereas evaluation of the auditory function is impossible due to noncompliance during pure tone audiometry. For this purpose, measurement of otoacoustic emissions, especially transient evoked ones (TEOAE), can be applied. The aim of this study is to evaluate the parameters of TEOAE in young children with OME prior and after surgery. METHODS: Prospective study included 50 children with OME, both sexes, aged 2-5 years. Preoperatively tympanometric examination was performed and TEOAE were recorded. Surgery was performed under general anesthesia and included myringotomy with/without ventilation tube insertion. Measurements of TEOAEs (correlation percentage, signal to noise ratio and amplitude) were repeated on the first and six day postoperatively as well as 6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The preoperative TEOAEs were not recorded in 93.5%, with values of all TEOAE parameters being the most affected on highest frequencies. Significant changes of all TEOAE parameters were found 6 weeks postoperatively with further improvement 6 months postoperatively. Statistically highly significant difference of TEOAE between examinees with and without inserted ventilation tubes was established only in regard to preoperative results. CONCLUSION: In small children with OME, application of TEOAEs in follow-up of surgical effects is a method of choice for hearing screening due to its objectivity, simplicity and ease of use even after insertion of ventilation tubes. Follow-ups of TEOAE correlation percentage and signal to noise ratio reflect the condition earlier than follow-ups of TEOAE amplitude.

Surgical treatment of primary tracheal dyskinesia in a 14-month-old child--case report.

The primary form of tracheal dyskinesia in early childhood is a rare congenital malformation of unknown origin. The degree of the posterior membranous tracheal wall involvement determines the intensity of obstruction and the severity of the clinical picture. The aim of this paper is to present a case of a 14-month-old child with severe tracheal dyskinesia that required surgical treatment. Fascia lata graft fixated with fibrin glue was used in strengthening the posterior tracheal wall. Three years following the surgery, the child is without breathing difficulties. In severe cases of primary dyskinesia, surgical treatment using fascia lata graft, fixated with fibrin glue is recommended in strengthening the posterior tracheal wall.

[Difficulties and complications of using endo-extralaryngeal laterofixation of vocal cords in bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy].

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to show our experience in using the endo-extralaryngeal laterofixation of vocal cords in treatment of bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, and to point out the difficulties and complications of this procedure and the ways of their managing. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the period from 2003 to 2006, 14 patients with bilateral palsy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve were treated with method of Lichtenberger's endo-extra laryngeal laterofixation of the vocal cord The patients were 12 female and 2 male from 26 to 78 (average 57.4) years old. The earliest intervention was performed 8 day after the onset of paresis and not later than 40 days. RESULTS: In 11/14 (78.6%) of the patients bilateral palsy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve occured as a result of thyroid gland surgery. At the admission 2 (14.3%) patients had tracheostomy while 12 (85.7%) had no tracheostomy. Edema was the most often complication of the endo extra laryngeal laterofixation and it appeared in 8/14 (57.1%) patients. The earliest swelling of the laryngeal tissue was recorded on the first postoperative day and the latest one started 7 days after the intervention. Edema developed in 7/11 (63.6%) after total thyreoidectomy, in 1/3 (33.3%) with traumatic injuries in the neck Because of progression of the edema which provoked narrowing of the airway at the laryngeal level tracheostoma was peformed in 2 patients. Inflammation of laryngeal tissue with sudden obstruction of the airway resulted in death in one patient. Malposition of the thread toward the midle part of the vocal cord happened very often if intervention was not performed in JET ventilation anesthesia. The vocal card function was repaired bilaterally in 2 patients and unilaterally in 1 patient (the total being 3 out of 14 patients, i.e. 21.4%) four months after the laterofixation, and the threads were removed. Lung functional test showed the increase in average value PEF% from 26.53 before to 39.43 after laterofixation, and PIF from 0.83 before to 1.19 after intervention. Resistance R% in the upper airway decreased from the average 257.95 as before to 215.83 after the intervention, while the index FEV1.0/PEF (ml/L/min) remained almost the same before 13.25 and after the intervention 13.50 and that showed that the upper airway obstruction, in spite of good clinical tolerance by the patients, still persisted in all patients after the laterofixation. CONCLUSIONS: Lichtenberger's endo-extra laryngeal laterofixation of the vocal cord is a good alternative method for bilateral palsy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve which provide sufficient upper airway without tracheostomy.

[Our results in surgical treatment of laryngotracheal stenosis--ten years experience].

INTRODUCTION: There are numerous techniques for the treatment of laryngotracheal stenosis. The aim of this paper was to present surgical techniques and results of treatment of laryngeal and laryngotracheal stenosis in a ten-year period by retrospective analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medical records of 34 patients (17 male and 17 female) surgically treated for laryngeal or laryngotracheal stenosis between 1995 and 2004 were analyzed. 19 (55.9%) patients had previous surgical procedures, whereas fifteen patients (44.1%) were diagnosed and treated for the first time. RESULTS: 5 patients had a glottic-subglottic stenosis, 11 patients had a subglottic stenosis, 16 patients had subglottic-tracheal stenosis and 2 patients had a glottic-subglottic-tracheal stenosis. 21 patients had normal vocal cord motion, 8 patients showed unilateral vocal cord fixation, and 5 had bilateral vocal cord fixation. Laryngotracheoplasty with anterior-posterior costal cartilage graft was performed in 24 patients, while single stage segmental laryngotracheal resection of the stenotic part was performed in 8 patients. One patient was operated in direct laryngomicroscopy and one with dilatation of the stenotic segment with T tube insertion. The most common complication was the development of granulation due to use of the Montgomery T-tube which was removed in direct laryngomicroscopy. Except for one patient, 33 (97%) patients were decannulated. There was no perioperative mortality. CONCLUSION: Although laryngotracheoplasty with anterior-posterior costal cartilage graft placement cannot be used in all cases of laryngotracheal stenosis, it was the method of choice in previously operated patients with segmental resection of the stenotic segment. This method requires use of Montgomery T-tube or anesthesiological tube, which is very hard to keep clean. Better recovery, short hospitalization and excellent results were obtained with the cricotracheal segmental resection.

[One thousand laryngectomies performed at the Novi Sad University ENT Clinic--historical review and important data on treatment of laryngeal tumors].

INTRODUCTION: The first ENT Department in Novi Sad was established in 1926. In 1960 the ENT Clinic became a part of the Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad and treatment of malignant disease started in 1973 at the Laryngology Department. SURGICAL TREATMENT OF MALIGNANT LARYNGEAL TUMORS: Treatment of laryngeal cancers in Novi Sad started in 1960's. Until 1971, the treatment of choice was radiotherapy, and surgical treatment started in 1971, when the first laryngectomy was performed After the first surgery, 31 years have passed until we have reached the number of one thousand performed laryngectomies at ENT Clinic in Novi Sad. PERIOD: 1971-1988: During this period, 138 laryngectomies were performed at ENT Clinic. Total laryngectomies were done as salvage surgeries in 136 cases, and 2 patients underwent functional partial laryngectomies. Direct laryngomicroscopy was introduced by Zivko Majdevac in 1972. Oncology consilium was founded. PERIOD: 1990-2002: New protocol was adopted. Surgery became the primary treatment of laryngeal carcinoma, while radiotherapy remained a valid therapeutic alternative. All known surgical techniques were introduced, including Pearson's near-total laryngectomy. In this period 834 patients were operated, and 873 laryngectomies were performed, out of which 388 total laryngectomies. Year after year the number of patients increased and in 2002, 90 laryngectomies were performed. The number of functional reconstructive operations has increased to 67.8% in comparison to 32.2 % of total laryngectomies.

[The Pearson method of "near total" laryngectomy: a radical surgical procedure with preservation of laryngeal phonatory function]. / "Near-total" laringektomija po Pearsonu: radikalan operativni zahvat sa cuvanjem fonatorne funkcije larinksa.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with advanced T3 and T4 laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma need surgical treatment--total laryngectomy. Excision of the larynx affects enormously the quality of patient's life. Near total laryngectomy appeared about twenty years ago, and was accepted worldwide during the last decade of the twentieth century. Two years ago we started performing this operative procedure. Although we still don't have great experiance, first results are satisfying. We point to the importance of this procedure especially in developing countries, where phonatory protheses are expensive, patients' education of esophageal speech is not satisfactory and number of those who were successfully trained is small. The aim of this paper was to introduce near total laryngectomy as a surgical procedure which improves quality of life of patients with advanced stages of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma. NEAR TOTAL LARYNGECTOMY: The original procedure described by Pearson was very complicated to understand, so we accepted Monux procedure which is easier. The resection of the laryngeal structures corresponds to those in total laryngectomy, but we spare a small part of cricoid cartilage and whole or 2/3 of the healthy vocal cord. CONCLUSION: A number of arguments, presented in this paper, speak in favor of near total laryngectomy. This technique has the same oncological results as total laryngectomy, but much better functional results and quality of life in patients with laryngeal and some hypopharyngeal carcinomas.