Preoperative Laryngoscopy Research Articles

Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Larynx: Case Report and Literature Review

Primary malignant melanoma of the larynx is extremely rare. This paper reports a case of a patient with primary malignant melanoma of the larynx. Preoperative laryngoscopy revealed a cauliflower-like mass in the supraglottic region, and a CT scan of the pharynx suggested laryngeal cancer with cervical lymph node metastasis. The patient underwent a total laryngectomy with lymph node dissection, and postoperative pathology confirmed a malignant melanoma in the supraglottic region of the larynx.

Patterns and indications of intraoperative nerve monitoring usage during thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy in Spain: results of a national survey of endocrine surgeons

We investigated the use patterns and indications of intraoperative neural monitoring (IONM) among endocrine surgeons in Spain. We sent an anonymous web-based survey to endocrine surgeons’ members of the Spanish Association of Surgery by email. We analysed 79/ 269 surveys. Respondents had a median age of 52 years and 13 years of surgical experience. Only 32% of respondents performed routinely preoperative laryngoscopy in all thyroidectomies and 19% in all parathyroidectomies. Seventy-five percent of respondents used the intermittent-IONM, and 9.7% used the continuous-IONM. All respondents identified recurrent laryngeal nerve during surgery, and 40% of surgeons routinely identified external branch superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) during thyroidectomy. Seventy-eight percent of respondents used IONM always for all thyroidectomies. Only 11% stimulated EBSLN in all cases. Forty-nine percent used IONM always for all parathyroidectomies. The most frequent reasons for not using IONM were the unavailability of IONM, the high cost, and the lack of adding value to their clinical practice. Almost 10% declared not having IONM. The IONM is a reality in Spain, especially the intermittent mode. Its use is superior in thyroid surgery than in parathyroid. Its standardized use is not yet fully established, and routine adherence to standardized guidelines should increase.

Clinical characteristics and efficacy of vocal fold epidermoid cysts coexisting with sulcus vocalis

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and voice outcomes after laryngeal microsurgery for vocal fold epidermoid cysts coexisting with sulcus vocalis. Methods: The clinical data of 115 vocal fold epidermoid cysts coexisting with sulcus vocalis patients in Shandong provincial ENT hospital, were retrospectively analyzed, including 49 males and 66 females, aged 17-70 years old, and the duration of hoarseness ranged from 6 months to 30 years. All patients underwent surgery through suspension laryngoscope and microscope under general anestgesia. Ninety-four patients were treated with microflap excision of sulcus vocalis, cyst wall, and contents.And 21 patients that occulted with mucosal bridges were applied mucosal bridges resection (2 cases) and mucosal bridges reconstruction (19 cases) respectively. Videolaryngoscopy, subjective voice evaluation (GRBAS), objective voice evaluation, and Voice Handicap Index(VHI) were performed before and after surgery. All patients underwent histopathologic examination and follow-up after the procedure. The preoperative acoustic parameters of patients with vocal fold epidermoid cysts coexisting with sulcus vocalis were compared with those of vocal fold mucus retention cysts and simple vocal fold epidermoid cysts by independent samples t-test. The patients were compared by paired t-test for preoperative and postoperative parameters. Results: Significant reduction or lack of mucosal waves were shown via videolaryngostroboscopy in all 115 cases.In addition, vascular changes including dilation, tortuousness, increased branches, and abrupt direction change were shown on the cystic area. Eighty-one patients were detected cysts and/or sulcus vocalis by preoperative laryngoscopy, and intraoperative microscopic findings in the remaining 34 patients. The intraoperative microscopic examination revealed a focal pouch-like deficit plunging into the vocal ligament or muscle. The deep surface of the mucosal bridges was sulcus vocalis, and that in 89 cysts was lined with caseous content. Histopathology demonstrated a cystic cavity structure lined with squamous epithelium and caseous keratin desquamation inside the cystic cavity. Four of 115 patients were lost at follow-up and excluded from the analysis of voice outcomes after surgery. There was no significant mucosal wave and the voice quality in all but 14 patients 1month after surgery. Except for the fundamental frequency and noise harmonic ratio, all other voice parameters[ G, R, B, A, VHI-10, jitter, shimmer, maximum phonatory time (MPT) ]showed a significant improvement 3 months after surgery(t=15.82, 20.82, 17.61, 7.30, 38.88, 7.84, 5.88, -6.26, respectively, P<0.05). Then mucosal waves and the voice quality were gradually improved and became steady in 6 months after surgery. The subjective and objective voice parameters[G, R, B, A, VHI-10, jitter, shimmer, noise to harmonic ratio(NHR), MPT], except for the fundamental frequency, were all significantly improved(t=23.47, 25.79, 18.37, 9.84, 54.45, 10.68, 8.07, 3.24, -9.08, respectively, P<0.05). In addition, there were 2 patients with no significant improvement after the operation. Steady function with no complications was observed during the 12 months (up to 3 years in 34 patients) follow-up period in 111 patients. Conclusion: Ruptured vocal fold epidermoid cysts can result in sulcus vocalis and mucosal bridges. Characteristics changes in preoperative videolaryngoscopy are effective diagnostic tools. The complete excision of the cyst wall and repair of the lamina propria can lead to satisfactory long-term effects.

Atrophy of the Posterior Cricoarytenoid Muscle as an Indicator of a Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury History Before Revision Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery.

Retrospective study. In our recent study, we observed some cases of symptomatic normal vocal cord motility instead of asymptomatic vocal cord palsy (VCP) in preoperative laryngoscopy of a revision anterior cervical spine surgery (ACSS) cohort. We assumed the intrinsic muscle atrophy caused by recurrent laryngeal nerve injury could cause vocal cord-related symptoms. Thus, radiological examinations were reviewed in relation to the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle, one of the intrinsic muscles. We retrospectively analyzed 64 patients who underwent a revision ACSS. Patients with vocal cord-related symptoms were classified as symptomatic group (group S, n = 11), and those without symptoms as asymptomatic group (group AS, n = 53). The bilateral size and signal intensity of the PCA muscles in these patients were measured in the axial view with preoperative computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluations. Since the size and signal intensity values were different on each image, the ratios of the contralateral and ipsilateral muscle values were analyzed for each modality. There was no VCP on laryngoscopy study. However, the mean ratio of the PCA muscle size on CT was 1.40 ± .37 in group S and 1.02 ± .12 in group AS (P = .007). These values on the MRI were 1.49 ± .45 in group S and 1.02 ± .14 in group AS, which was also a significant difference (P = .008). Evaluating the size of the PCA muscle before revision ACSS may predict a previous recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Careful planning for the appropriate approach should be undertaken if vocal cord-related symptoms and atrophy of PCA muscle are evident.

The airway management and treatment of newborns with micrognathia and laryngomalacia

Objective:To explore the perioperative airway management and treatment of newborns with micrognathia and laryngomalacia. Methods:From January to December 2022, a total of 6 newborns with micrognathia and laryngomalacia were included. Preoperative laryngoscopy revealed concomitant laryngomalacia. These micrognathia were diagnosed as Pierre Robin sequences. All patients had grade Ⅱ or higher symptoms of laryngeal obstruction and required oxygen therapy or non-invasive ventilatory support. All patients underwent simultaneous laryngomalacia surgery and mandibular distraction osteogenesis. The shortened aryepiglottic folds were ablated using a low-temperature plasma radiofrequency during the operation. Tracheal intubation was maintained for 3-5 days postoperatively. Polysomnography（PSG） and airway CT examination were performed before and 3 months after the surgery. Results:Among the 6 patients, 4 required oxygen therapy preoperatively and 2 required non-invasiveventilatory support. The mean age of patients was 40 days at surgery. The inferior alveolar nerve bundle was not damaged during the operation, and there were no signs of mandibular branch injury such as facial asymmetry after the surgery. Laryngomalacia presented as mixed type: type Ⅱ+ type Ⅲ. The maximum mandibular distraction distance was 20 mm, the minimum was 12 mm, and the mean was 16 mm. The posterior airway space increased from a preoperative average of 3.5 mm to a postoperative average of 9.5 mm. The AHI decreased from a mean of 5.65 to 0.85, and the lowest oxygen saturation increased from a mean of 78% to 95%. All patients were successfully extubated after the surgery, and symptoms of laryngeal obstruction such as hypoxia and feeding difficulties disappeared. Conclusion:Newborns with micrognathia and laryngomalacia have multi-planar airway obstruction. Simultaneous laryngomalacia surgery and mandibular distraction osteogenesis are safe and feasible, and can effectively alleviate symptoms of laryngeal obstruction such as hypoxia and feeding difficulties, while significantly improving the appearance of micrognathia.

Place of laryngoscopy and neuromonitoring in thyroid surgery. Recommendations of the AFCE (Association francophone de chirurgie endocrinienne) with the SFE (Société française d’endocrinologie) and the SFMN (Société française de médecine nucléaire)

Preoperative laryngoscopy is mandatory when there is a history of cervical or thoracic surgery, dysphonia, posteriorly developed thyroid carcinoma, or significant lymph node involvement in the central compartment. Postoperative laryngoscopy should be performed for any postoperative dysphonia, swallowing difficulties, respiratory symptoms, or loss of signal during neuromonitoring of the recurrent and/or vagus nerve. Neuromonitoring can be useful in thyroid surgery because it lowers the rate of transient recurrent palsy (RP), although no impact on permanent RP has been demonstrated. It facilitates location of the recurrent nerve. Continuous neuromonitoring of the vagus nerve can, in some situations, allow early detection of a signal drop during dissection near the recurrent nerve.

Prevalence and Predictors of Post-Thyroidectomy Voice Dysfunction in a Nigerian Cohort.

Advances in surgical techniques have significantly improved the safety of thyroidectomy. Quality of life issues, such as voice changes, however continue to be important considerations. This study evaluated the prevalence and determinants of voice changes following thyroidectomies for non-malignant goiters in a Nigerian Hospital. Consecutive adults who had thyroidectomy for non-malignant goiters were evaluated. Preoperatively, each participant had laryngoscopy and voice assessment using the Voice Handicap Index-10. At surgery, the intubation difficulty score, size of endotracheal tubes, and duration of operation were recorded. Laryngoscopy and VHI-10 assessments were repeated 1week, 1month, and 3months after surgery. Pre and postoperative assessments were compared. Fifty-four patients completed the study. Subtotal thyroidectomy was the commonest operation performed in 17 patients (31.48%), with 14 (25.93%) having total thyroidectomy. Baseline median VHI-10 score was 6.5(IQR-10). Five patients had abnormal preoperative laryngoscopy findings (benign vocal cord lesions). Postoperatively, seven patients had endoscopic evidence of vocal cord paralysis, six were unilateral while one was bilateral. Ten patients (18.5%) had early voice changes. Median VHI-10 score at one week was significantly higher than baseline (10 vs. 6.5, p = 0.01). At 3months, VHI-10 reverted back to baseline in five of the ten patients while five patients (9.3%) had persistent voice changes. Abnormal endoscopic findings predicted the occurrence of early postoperative voice changes. Thyroidectomy for non-malignant goiters is associated with transient voice changes, many of which revert to normal over time. Abnormal endoscopic findings predict its occurrence.

Intraoperative Monitoring and Preservation of Anatomic Integrity of Palsied Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve is Extremely Meaningful During Redo Thyroid Surgery.

Redo thyroid surgery on patients with unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy certainly poses a great surgical challenge. We present a case of a patient with unilateral vocal cord (VC) palsy who underwent redo thyroid surgery under intraoperative neuromonitoring. The patient's normal speaking voice was maintained after the primary surgery, even though preoperative laryngoscopy showed an immobile right VC with a normal structure. During reoperation, surgical exploration revealed the anatomical integrity of palsied RLN with extralaryngeal terminal bifurcation. The electrophysiological stimulation of the vagus nerve and palsied RLN generated wave amplitudes (V1: 242, R1: 347, R2: 352 and V2: 152 µV). Despite positive amplitudes, postoperative laryngoscopy confirmed RLN palsy and corresponding VC paralysis but preserved the structure of the immobile VC. Even palsied RLN should be monitored during redo surgery. A positive signal delineates at least partial neural transmission despite VC palsy. The preservation of anatomical integrity of palsied RLN for eventual partial conductivity may be vital in preserving the normal structure of VC and maintaining the patient's voice despite its immobility. Key Words: Surgery, Redo thyroidectomy, Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, Vocal cord palsy.

Selective laryngoscopy before thyroidectomy: a risk assessment

Patients presenting for thyroidectomy may have an unrecognized pre-existing vocal cord palsy (VCP). This raises the danger of bilateral VCP if a patient sustains an injury to the RLN on the sole functioning side. Part of the rationale for routine preoperative laryngoscopy is to eliminate such a risk. This paper endeavours to quantify the relevant potential risk. Patients who underwent laryngoscopy prior to thyroid or parathyroid surgery in an endocrine surgical unit over a 5 year period were identified. Literature review revealed four papers in which VCP prevalence in patients without risk factors was reported. Using our data, combined with that of these other authors, the background rate of pre-existing VCP was ascertained, and the subsequent risk of bilateral VCP estimated. Of our 632 patients who underwent preoperative laryngoscopy, there were four patients (0.63%) who were found to have a unilateral VCP, but all had voice symptoms or previous neck surgery. When patients with these risk factors are excluded, our data combined with the published data provides a pre-existing VCP rate of 0.2%. Calculations estimate that if preoperative laryngoscopy is omitted in patients with no risk factors, the risk of bilateral VCP, due to the nerve on the sole functioning side being injured, would be between 1/50000 and 1/150000, depending on an individual surgeon's level of experience. Selective use of laryngoscopy prior to thyroidectomy would result in an acceptably low statistical risk of bilateral VCP. Routine laryngoscopy for all patients is not necessary.

Laryngoscopic Screening Before Revision Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery: Is Vocal Cord Palsy a Relevant Factor in Deciding the Approach Direction?

Retrospective study. The aim was to evaluate the exact incidence of vocal cord palsy (VCP) caused by previous anterior cervical spine surgery (ACSS) and aid surgeons in deciding the approach direction in revision ACSS. The incidence of VCP detected by preoperative laryngoscopic screening before revision ACSS appeared to be much higher in previous reports than in our experience. We reviewed the data of 64 patients who underwent revision ACSS. Preoperative laryngoscopy was performed in all patients to detect VCP and/or structural abnormalities of the vocal cords. The patients' characteristics, laryngoscopy results, and symptoms before revision surgery that were potentially caused by previous recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries (voice change, foreign body sensation, and chronic aspiration) were recorded. Laryngoscopy demonstrated no complete VCP or decreased vocal cord motility. Eleven patients (17.2%) showed vocal cord-related symptoms and 13 patients (20.3%) showed abnormal laryngoscopic findings without VCP. Four patients (6.2%) showed vocal cord-related symptoms and abnormal laryngoscopic findings simultaneously. At the initial operative level, no significant differences in vocal cord-related symptoms were observed between the upper and lower levels (C3-4-5 vs. C5-6-7). However, the frequency of vocal cord-related symptoms was significantly high at the larger number of levels (≥3 segments) (P=0.010). In contrast to previous reports, this study demonstrated that VCP is rarely detected before revision ACSS. Therefore, deciding the approach direction with only vocal cord motility can be dangerous, and more attention is required in setting the approach direction in patients who show both vocal cord-related symptoms and abnormal laryngoscopic finding. In other cases, a contralateral approach which has a low risk of bilateral VCP could be utilized if necessary.

Development and validation of the nomogram for predicting preoperative vocal cord palsy in thyroid cancer patients.

Low incidence of preoperative vocal cord palsy (VCP) promotes a diagnosis model to eliminate patients without the necessity of preoperative laryngoscopy assessments, avoiding medical costs and discomfort. However, previous studies lacked a comprehensive strategy and external validation data to effectively detect VCP in thyroid cancer patients. This study aimed to develop a VCP scoring system that could calculate cumulative VCP risks and determine preoperative laryngeal examinations based on the clinical characteristics of VCP patients from the Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. A retrospective study recruited 5,354 thyroid cancer patients was performed. Preoperative VCP incidence was recorded, and a prediction table was constructed using independent, significant risk factors for preoperative VCP. The visualized nomogram, including five parameters, was proportionally assigned 0 to 100 points. Finally, the diagnostic performance was confirmed by verifying the nomogram in the internal and external cohort. The incidence of preoperative VCP by preoperative laryngoscopy assessment was 1.57%. Age at diagnosis (OR: 1.04; P=0.006), history of neck surgery (OR: 11.57; P<0.001), voice symptoms (OR: 32.75; P<0.001), large nodule diameter (OR: 1.04; P<0.001) and suspicious neck lymph nodes (OR: 3.25; P<0.001) were identified as independent risk factors. The nomogram was proven to be acceptable discrimination in internal and external sets, and the cut-off value was 94.7. We identified clinical risk factors related to preoperative VCP and established a nomogram for VCP clinical discrimination with an excellent performance in the external cohort.

Surgeon-performed ultrasound analysis of the status of the vocal cords of post-thyroidectomy patients with intraoperative neuromonitoring in a tertiary referral center

Objectives: Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy constitutes one of the dreaded complications of thyroid surgery. Sequelae of RLN injury may affect quality of life and can sometimes be life threatening. Pre-, intra-, and post- operative monitoring of the RLN is desirable for safe thyroid surgery. Surgeon-performed transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasound (TLUS) may become a substitute for laryngoscopy in the evaluation of vocal cords after thyroidectomy and may be used for prognostic correlation of intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM). In this study, a retrospective cohort of patients who underwent thyroidectomy with monitoring of the RLN by intermittent IONM (I-IONM) was subjected to post-operative ultrasound assessment of vocal cords for the evaluation of RLN integrity. Material and Methods: This was a prospective study of a retrospective cohort in a tertiary care endocrine surgery unit. Fifty-six patients who underwent thyroidectomy with RLN monitoring from March 2017 to March 2019 were analyzed. Patients were analyzed during follow-up either when they arrived at the endocrine surgery outpatient department or through a telephone call. All patients underwent pre-operative laryngoscopy, intraoperative monitoring with I-IONM and Nerve Integrity Monitor 3.0 monitor, and post-operative TLUS evaluation of vocal cords. Results: Of the 56 patients evaluated in this study, 112 vocal cords and 102 nerves at risk were analyzed. The incidence of vocal palsy was 7.84%. The sensitivity of ultrasonography for vocal cord analysis was 85%, specificity was 95.23%, positive predictive value was 85%, and negative predictive value was 95.23% in that series. The vocal cord visualization rate was 93.5%. Conclusion: Surgeon-performed ultrasound may be used to assess RLN integrity in post-thyroidectomy patients to enhance post-operative care.

Cost-effectiveness of fiberoptic laryngoscopy prior to total thyroidectomy for low-risk thyroid cancer patients.

Flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy is performed prior to thyroid surgery to evaluate the function of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. We assess the cost-effectiveness of preoperative laryngoscopy prior to total thyroidectomy for a low-risk thyroid cancer patient without dysphonia. A decision tree analysis was performed from a third-party payer perspective. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of fiberoptic laryngoscopy prior to total thyroidectomy for T2N0M0 papillary thyroid carcinoma, such that an ipsilateral vocal fold paralysis alters the surgical plan to hemi-thyroidectomy, when permissible, to avoid the risk of bilateral vocal fold paralysis. Performing preoperative laryngoscopy to assess vocal fold function has an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of 45 193 USD/QALY compared to no laryngoscopy. At a willingness-to-pay of 100 K/QALY, the intervention is cost-effective if the incidence of vocal fold paralysis is at least 0.57%, or when the permissible rate of hemithyroidectomy in cases of incidental paralysis is at least 41%. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis shows that laryngoscopy is cost-effective in 90.9% of cases. Fiberoptic laryngoscopy is a cost-effective prior to total thyroidectomy in asymptomatic, low-risk thyroid cancer patients.

Laryngeal paralysis detected in preoperative laryngoscopy in malignant and benign thyroid disease. Systematic review and meta-analysis

There is controversy regarding the performance of preoperative laryngoscopy (LP) in thyroid surgery, with different recommendations being made, based on observational studies, in various publications.The aim of the study was to know the prevalence of laryngeal paralysis found in the LPs of patients who underwent thyroidectomy in benign and malignant pathology.A systematic review was carried out with 29 articles included for the qualitative study and a meta-analysis of 13 articles in which the data could be obtained to evaluate the same effect (in all patients in which an LP was carried out, those with preoperative laryngeal paralysis were included, and assigned to malignant or benign postoperative histology groups).The pooled prevalence of preoperative paralysis in benign pathology was 1.1% (95% CI 0.7 to 1.7%, 71% I2) and in 6.3% malignant pathology (95% CI 3.8 to 9.4%; I2 85%). The prevalence was significantly higher among patients with malignant pathology with an estimated effect RR 5.66, 95% CI [2.48, 12.88].The studies analyzed present biases that will need to be corrected in future research, eliminating blinding biases in the selection and allocation of patients or in the laryngoscopy technique used. The LP in thyroid surgery evaluates possible disorders of laryngeal motility. The prevalence of laryngeal paralysis in thyroid pathology found in LPs in patients with a postoperative diagnosis of malignant pathology was higher than in the benign pathology group. This information is necessary for interpreting the intraoperative neuromonitoring signal and for making informed decisions.

Recurrent head and neck tumors in the setting of previous reconstructive surgery and radiation

The approach to a difficult airway in patients presenting with recurrent head and neck tumors in the setting of previous surgery or radiation poses challenges to both anesthesiologists and otolaryngologists. Multidisciplinary planning with close communication is required for effective and safe care. It is critical to understand how each patient's prior surgery and radiation distorts the baseline airway anatomy and what complications may arise when deciding on the primary airway management and back-up plans. Preoperative imaging, flexible laryngoscopy, and airway ultrasound may be incorporated into the decision-making process in addition to the traditional airway exam. While awake airway management techniques will be very common in this patient population, anticipating potential problems, back-up planning, flexibility, and teamwork are essential for optimal patient outcomes. This article will review the common challenges encountered during airway management in this population.

Parálisis laríngea detectada en la laringoscopia preoperatoria en enfermedad de tiroides maligna y benigna. Revisión sistemática y metaanálisis

There is controversy regarding the performance of preoperative laryngoscopy (LP) in thyroid surgery, with different recommendations being made, based on observational studies, in various publications.The aim of the study was to know the prevalence of laryngeal paralysis found in the LPs of patients who underwent thyroidectomy in benign and malignant pathology.A systematic review was carried out with 29 articles included for the qualitative study and a meta-analysis of 13 articles in which the data could be obtained to evaluate the same effect (in all patients in which an LP was carried out, those with preoperative laryngeal paralysis were included, and assigned to malignant or benign postoperative histology groups).The pooled prevalence of preoperative paralysis in benign pathology was 1.1% (95% CI 0.7 to 1.7%, 71% I2) and in 6.3% malignant pathology (95% CI 3.8 to 9.4%; I2 85%). The prevalence was significantly higher among patients with malignant pathology with an estimated effect RR 5.66, 95% CI, 2.48, 12.88.The studies analyzed present biases that will need to be corrected in future research, eliminating blinding biases in the selection and allocation of patients or in the laryngoscopy technique used. The LP in thyroid surgery evaluates possible disorders of laryngeal motility. The prevalence of laryngeal paralysis in thyroid pathology found in LPs in patients with a postoperative diagnosis of malignant pathology was higher than in the benign pathology group. This information is necessary for interpreting the intraoperative neuromonitoring signal and for making informed decisions.

Routine Preoperative Laryngoscopy for Thyroid Surgery Is Not Necessary Without Risk Factors.

Background: Routine preoperative vocal cord (VC) assessment with laryngoscopy in patients undergoing thyroidectomy allows clear documentation of baseline VC function, aids in surgical planning in patients with palsies, and facilitates interpretation of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) findings. We aimed to determine the incidence of preoperative vocal cord palsy (VCP); to evaluate the associated risk factors for preoperative VCP; and to calculate the cost-savings potential of implementing a selective approach. Methods: Patients with a pre-thyroidectomy VC assessment by fiberoptic laryngoscopy were retrospectively recruited from the Monash University Endocrine Surgery Unit database from 2000 to 2018. Cases with preoperative VCP were reviewed for potential contributing factors and compared with a non-palsy cohort. Results: Of the 5987 patients who had preoperative laryngoscopy, VCP was documented in 41 (0.68%) patients. Four clinical parameters were found to be potential indicators of VCP, including: age (p < 0.001), nodule ≥3.5 cm recorded on ultrasound imaging (p = 0.01), presence of voice symptoms (p < 0.001), and previous neck surgery (p < 0.001). Malignant cytology (p = 0.5) and exposure to head and neck irradiation were not different between the groups. Utilizing these risk factors, 2354 (39%) patients had at least one feature that may raise suspicion for preoperative VCP. By performing preoperative laryngoscopy only on this subset of patients, the potential cost savings exceeds 400 Australian Dollars per patient. Conclusions: Using this large dataset, we have established that a VCP is rare in the absence of a large nodule, hoarseness, or previous neck surgery. Therefore, in the era of IONM, we support a selective approach to preoperative laryngoscopy by using the aforementioned criteria.

Application of incremental sevoflurane concentration approach in the strategy selection of patients with suspected difficult airway caused by laryngopharyngeal lesions: an observational study

Objective To observe the application of incremental sevoflurane concentration approach in the strategy selection of patients with suspected difficult airway caused by laryngopharyngeal lesions. Methods Patients [American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA) Ⅰor Ⅱ] who underwent laryngopharyngeal surgery under general anesthesia with difficult airway risks from May 2014 to May 2018 were enrolled. The risk factors included degree Ⅰ to Ⅱ laryngeal obstruction or without symptoms of laryngeal obstruction but with the presence of laryngeal neoplasms which occluded more than 1/2 of the glottis through preoperative electronic laryngoscopy. All the enrolled patients were inhaled, sevoflurane, and airway assessment was performed and recorded from grades 1 to 3 when the sedation level reached 5 Ramsay score. All the patients at grades 2 or 3 were the formal participates and then these 110 patients were randomly divided into a fast induction group and a slow induction group (n=55). Intravenous anesthetics and muscle relaxants were used for intubation in the fast induction group, while incremental concentrations of sevoflurane were inhaled for intubation in the slow induction group without muscle relaxants. Both groups were compared for the intubation tool selection, intubation times, duration of intubation, successful rate and the incidence of hypoxic events during intubation. Results Compared with the fast induction group, the slow induction group showed a higher successful rate of one-time intubation, shorter intubation time and a lower incidence of hypoxia(P<0.05). Conclusions Incremental sevoflurane concentration approach is a relatively satisfactory tracheal intubation strategy for patients with suspected difficult airway caused by laryngopharyngeal lesions. Key words: Anesthesia; Induction of anesthesia; Endotracheal intubation; Laryngopharyngeal lesions; Difficult airway

Factors influencing the quality of clinical trials on traditional Chinese medicine—Qualitative interviews with trial auditors, clinicians and academic researchers

Multi-institutional data describing remedial parathyroidectomy compared with index parathyroidectomy are scarce.Using data in the Collaborative Endocrine Surgery Quality Improvement Program (2014–2017), baseline characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing remedial parathyroidectomy versus index parathyroidectomy were examined using bivariate and multivariate methods. Rates of hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia at ≥ 180 days were assessed.Among 6,795 patients, 367 (5.4%) underwent remedial parathyroidectomy. A single localization study was done in 24.8% versus 26.9% of remedial parathyroidectomy versus index parathyroidectomy (P = .37). Patients undergoing remedial parathyroidectomy had higher rates of preoperative laryngoscopy (45.5% versus 6.2%, P < .001), intraoperative nerve monitoring (57.5% versus 34.5%, P < .001), and < 50% drop in hyperparathyroidism than those undergoing index parathyroidectomy (9.6% versus 3.3%, P < .001). Among patients with ≥ 180 days follow-up, none of the remedial parathyroidectomy versus three index parathyroidectomy patients (0.3%) had vocal cord dysfunction. Hypercalcemia rates for remedial parathyroidectomy and index parathyroidectomy were 10.5% versus 5.0 (P = .07), and hypocalcemia rates were 10.5% versus 2.4% (P < .001). After multivariate adjustment, failure to cure was 4.0 times more likely in remedial parathyroidectomy than index parathyroidectomy (P < .001).This is the first multi-institutional examination of remedial parathyroidectomy outcomes in the Collaborative Endocrine Surgery Quality Improvement Program. Nerve injury rates are low; high rates of hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia suggest potential opportunities to refine the preoperative and intraoperative management of patients undergoing remedial parathyroidectomy.

The devil is in the details: Assessing treatment and outcomes of 6,795 patients undergoing remedial parathyroidectomy in the Collaborative Endocrine Surgery Quality Improvement Program

Multi-institutional data describing remedial parathyroidectomy compared with index parathyroidectomy are scarce. Using data in the Collaborative Endocrine Surgery Quality Improvement Program (2014-2017), baseline characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing remedial parathyroidectomy versus index parathyroidectomy were examined using bivariate and multivariate methods. Rates of hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia at ≥ 180 days were assessed. Among 6,795 patients, 367 (5.4%) underwent remedial parathyroidectomy. A single localization study was done in 24.8% versus 26.9% of remedial parathyroidectomy versus index parathyroidectomy (P = .37). Patients undergoing remedial parathyroidectomy had higher rates of preoperative laryngoscopy (45.5% versus 6.2%, P < .001), intraoperative nerve monitoring (57.5% versus 34.5%, P < .001), and < 50% drop in hyperparathyroidism than those undergoing index parathyroidectomy (9.6% versus 3.3%, P < .001). Among patients with ≥ 180 days follow-up, none of the remedial parathyroidectomy versus three index parathyroidectomy patients (0.3%) had vocal cord dysfunction. Hypercalcemia rates for remedial parathyroidectomy and index parathyroidectomy were 10.5% versus 5.0 (P = .07), and hypocalcemia rates were 10.5% versus 2.4% (P < .001). After multivariate adjustment, failure to cure was 4.0 times more likely in remedial parathyroidectomy than index parathyroidectomy (P < .001). This is the first multi-institutional examination of remedial parathyroidectomy outcomes in the Collaborative Endocrine Surgery Quality Improvement Program. Nerve injury rates are low; high rates of hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia suggest potential opportunities to refine the preoperative and intraoperative management of patients undergoing remedial parathyroidectomy.