Morphology of cricopharyngeal muscle in suspension laryngeal endoscope and laryngopharyngeal reflux

Abstract

Objective To determine whether laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) was associated with morphology of cricopharyngeal muscle (CPM) under suspension laryngoscope which is main part of upper esophageal sphincter. Methods The total of 147 consecutive patients (96 males and 51 females) aged from 15 to 71 years (medium, 47) who presented to our institution for endoscopic microlaryngoscopic surgery from August 2013 to October 2014 were prospectively studied. According to the reflux symptom index(RSI) and reflux finding score(RFS), RSI>13 and RFS>7, the subjects were divided into LPR group (58 patients) and non-LPR group (89 patients). The laryngoscope was introduced down to postcricoid area exposing mucosa-covered CPM just at end of endoscopic microlaryngoscopic surgery. The shape of CPM was recorded in three types, namely, semi-bar, full-bar and flat. Pearson χ2 test was used for comparing the shape of CPM between LPR group and non-LPR group. Results CPM was exposed in 144 out of 147 subjects. There were 36 patients (63.16%, 36/57) as semi-bar, 12 patients (21.05%, 12/57) as full-bar and 9 patients (15.79%, 9/57) as flat in LPR group. And in non-LPR group, there were 63 patients (72.42%, 63/87) as semi-bar, 11 patients (12.64%, 11/87)as full-bar and 13 patients(14.94%, 13/87) as flat. The shape of CPM had no differences between LPR group and non-LPR group(χ2 =1.970, P>0.05). Conclusions The morphology of CPM in suspension laryngeal endoscope during microlaryngoscopic surgery is not related to LPR. Key words: Pharyngeal muscle; Laryngoscope; Laryngopharyngeal reflux; Laryngeal disease