Diagnosis Of Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis Research Articles

Cardiothoracic Patients with Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis: Pneumonia Rates Following Injection Laryngoplasty.

Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury is a potential complication of cardiothoracic surgery and cause of unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). Injection laryngoplasty (IL) is an intervention offered to patients with UVFP to alleviate symptoms including dysphagia, dysphonia and weak cough. There is no definitive evidence that IL prevents pneumonia. In this study, we compare rates of pneumonia in patients with UVFP secondary to cardiothoracic surgery who did or did not undergo IL. A retrospective chart review identified patients diagnosed with UVFP by an otolaryngologist using flexible laryngoscopy following cardiothoracic surgery from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2017. Each subject was grouped by IL status and assessed for subsequent pneumonia within 6 months of their diagnosis of UVFP. The association of IL with pneumonia was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Of 92 patients who met inclusion criteria, 35 (38%) underwent IL and 57 (62%) did not. Twenty patients developed pneumonia, four who had undergone IL and 16 who had not; 12 patients developed aspiration pneumonia including two having undergone IL and 10 who had not. Those who had IL were less likely to develop total pneumonia compared to those who had not (HR = 0.33, P = .045). The protective effect of IL was not as clearly sustained when measuring for aspiration pneumonia, specifically (HR = 0.34; P = .10). Injection laryngoplasty may reduce the risk of pneumonia in patients with UVFP secondary to cardiothoracic surgery; however, further research is needed to quantify the potential protective nature of IL in this patient population. 3 (A retrospective cohort study).

Early-injection laryngoplasty may lower risk of thyroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

To determine whether injection laryngoplasty within 6 months following the onset of unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) decreases the rate of permanent thyroplasty in adults. Search strategies created by a medical librarian were implemented in multiple online research databases. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were designed to capture randomized clinical trials and cohort studies examining adults with UVFP who received injection laryngoplasty early in the course of treatment, within 6 months of onset, or who were observed. The primary outcome was the rate of thyroplasty. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess quality of included cohort studies. Random effects meta-analysis was used to calculate an overall relative risk (RR). Heterogeneity was evaluated with the I2 statistic. The search strategy resulted in 1,177 studies, of which four cohort studies remained for meta-analysis after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. All studies were rated as 9 of 9 on the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Meta-analysis of 275 patients with UVFP revealed that the overall pooled RR of undergoing thyroplasty in those receiving an early injection was 0.25 (95% confidence interval 0.14-0.45) compared to conservative management (late or no injection). The I2 overall was 62.4%. Otolaryngologists should offer injection laryngoplasty to patients with a diagnosis of UVFP within 6 months of diagnosis (recommendation based on grade C evidence with a preponderance of benefit over harm). Laryngoscope, 128:935-940, 2018.

Unilateral vocal fold paralysis: quality of voice after speech therapy

Background. To describe demographic factors and voice quality parameters of patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) after a voice therapy protocol. Methods. Forty-seven patients with a diagnosis of UVFP by video-laryngoscopy were included. Voice therapy was applied to all patients during 15 sessions that were structured in three progressive stages. The objective was to train patients in vocal techniques, phonic-breathing coordination, blow control, vocal exercises for glottic closure and vocal setting. Glottal closure, Voice Handicap Index-10 for perception of voice impairment and GRBAS scale were used before and after the speech therapy. Results. The average age was 51 years (range 20-80), 60% women. Surgery was the most frequent cause (72%), and 40% had a profession related to voice use. Median time from diagnosis to treatment was 5 months (2-12). After voice therapy, 80% had complete glottal closure, previously this had been 34% (p<0.001), the score of VHI-10 decreased from 24.24 to 16.09 points (p<0.001) and GRBAS values improved in all the qualities of voice (p<0.001). Only 8.5% of the patients required surgical intervention after treatment. Conclusions. Voice therapy is effective as first line therapy in patients with UVFP, reserving medialization with non-absorbable material or thyroplasty surgery for those with a poor outcome. However, it is necessary to reduce the time it takes the patient to reach the Voice Unit after laryngoscopic diagnosis. Keywords. Unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Voice therapy.

Unilateral vocal fold paralysis: quality of voice after speech therapy

To describe demographic factors and voice quality parameters of patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) after a voice therapy protocol. Forty-seven patients with a diagnosis of UVFP by video-laryngoscopy were included. Voice therapy was applied to all patients during 15 sessions that were structured in three progressive stages. The objective was to train patients in vocal techniques, phonic-breathing coordination,blow control, vocal exercises for glottic closure and vocal setting. Glottal closure, Voice Handicap Index-10 for perception of voice impairment and GRBAS scale were used before and after the speech therapy. The average age was 51 years (range 20-80), 60%women. Surgery was the most frequent cause (72%), and 40% had a profession related to voice use. Median time from diagnosis to treatment was 5 months (2-12). After voice therapy, 80% had complete glottal closure, previously this had been 34% (p<0.001), the score of VHI-10 decreased from 24.24 to 16.09 points (p<0.001) and GRBAS values improved in all the qualities of voice (p<0.001).Only 8.5% of the patients required surgical intervention after treatment. Voice therapy is effective as first line therapy in patients with UVFP, reserving medialization with non-absorbable material or thyroplasty surgery for those with a poor outcome. However, it is necessary to reduce the time it takes the patient to reach the Voice Unit after laryngoscopic diagnosis.

Effect of temporary vocal fold injection medialization on the rate of permanent medialization laryngoplasty in unilateral vocal fold paralysis patients

To determine whether temporary vocal fold injection affects the need for permanent medialization laryngoplasty in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). Retrospective chart review. A total of 175 patients with dysphonia resulting from UVFP were identified. Patients with documented recovery of vocal fold mobility, <9 months of follow-up after diagnosis of UVFP, previous treatment at other institutions, neoplastic disease involving the larynx, or history of radiation to the larynx were excluded. Fifty-four patients met all inclusion/exclusion criteria. Rates of permanent medialization laryngoplasty in patients undergoing vocal fold injection were compared with those of patients who chose observation or voice therapy. A total of 35% of patients underwent temporary injection medialization, and the remaining 65% chose conservative management. Five of 19 of the temporary injection medialization patients subsequently underwent permanent intervention compared to 23 of 35 of the conservative management group (P = .0131). UVFP patients who underwent vocal fold injection with an agent intended to provide temporary medialization were statistically significantly less likely to undergo permanent medialization laryngoplasty compared to those patients who were treated with conservative management only.