Videostroboscopy in Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disorder

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Acid reflux disease of the larynx has been established as a separate clinical entity in the present day, requiring the nuances of a skilled laryngologist for its early diagnosis and appropriate management. Clinical presentations of laryngopharyngeal reflux disorder may vary from very subtle to mammoth proportions, ranging across a panorama of features like chronic laryngitis, indolent laryngeal ulcers or granulomas, onto life-threatening glottic/sub-glottic stenosis and laryngeal malignancies very rarely. With the advent of videostroboscopy, laryngologists have now acquired a ‘cutting-edge’ sensitive tool to look into the intricacies of the larynx and thereby study the pathological effects of laryngopharyngeal reflux in great detail. Objective To assess the efficacy of videostroboscopy with voice analysis, as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in a cohort of patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux disorder. Study method This prospective study was conducted over a two-year period, among 50 patients with hoarseness of voice and features of reflux laryngitis, who underwent videostroboscopy with voice analysis at initial diagnosis and at routine follow-up, to objectively study the response and outcome of anti-reflux therapy on the larynx. Observation and result Videostroboscopy provided a vivid picture of the changes in larynx due to chronic acid reflux and proved efficacious in precisely judging the treatment responses. Conclusion Our study reflects the recent concept highlighted in world literature that videostroboscopy is an ideal, sensitive tool for early diagnosis and in prognosis of acid induced laryngeal disorder.