Multiparametric laryngeal assessment of the effect of thalamic deep brain stimulation on essential vocal tremor.

OBJECTIVE: EVT is a refractory voice disorder that significantly affects quality of life. This work aims to conduct a multiparametric assessment of the effect of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the thalamic ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) on essential vocal tremor (EVT) and investigate the relation between DBS lead location and EVT outcomes. METHODS: Nine participants underwent DBS for essential tremor and were diagnosed with co-occurring EVT in this prospective cohort study. Objective measurements including acoustic evaluation of vocal fundamental frequency (F0) and intensity modulation and subjective measurements including physiologic evaluation of the oscillatory movement of the laryngeal muscles and vocal tract and perceptual ratings of tremor severity were collected PRE and POST DBS. Finally, we investigated the relation between DBS lead location and EVT outcomes. RESULTS: Acoustic modulations of F0 and intensity were significantly improved POST DBS. Physiologic assessment showed a POST DBS reduction of oscillatory movement in the laryngeal muscles and vocal tract, but not significantly. Listener and participant perception, of EVT severity was also significantly reduced. Finally, our results indicate better EVT control with increased distance to midline of left VIM thalamic stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: By employing a battery of objective and subjective measures, our study supports the benefit of DBS for the treatment of EVT and specifies the acoustic and physiologic mechanisms that mediate its positive effect. We further provide preliminary results on the relation between lead location and EVT outcomes, laying the foundation for future studies to clarify the optimal DBS target for the treatment of EVT.

A Preliminary Study of Vocal Health Among Collegiate A Cappella Singers.

OBJECTIVE: Collegiate a cappella groups have grown significantly in popularity and prominence; however, there have been few studies that evaluate the vocal health of this subgroup of young singers. The objective of this preliminary study was to conduct a multiparametric evaluation of the vocal health characteristics of a sample of collegiate a cappella singers. We further tested whether differences in vocal health assessments exist between a cappella singers with and without vocal training and trained collegiate singers who do not participate in a cappella groups. STUDY DESIGN: Point prevalence study. METHODS: Forty-one collegiate singers participated in this study. Participants were divided into the following three groups: trained singers (TS), trained a cappella singers (ATS), and untrained a cappella singers (AUS). Participants were administered a set of surveys to assess self-perception of singing voice health and perceived access and attitudes toward voice-related health care. Acoustic and laryngoscopic assessments of participant's speaking and singing voice was performed and validated vocal health questionnaires administered as a means to objectively evaluate for the presence of voice problems. RESULTS: Overall, 87.5% of the ATS and 60% of the AUS groups reported experiencing problems with their singing voice. However, no vocal abnormalities were detected during laryngoscopic and acoustic assessments. Furthermore, minimal differences between any of the measured vocal health parameters were observed between the TS, ATS, and AUS groups. CONCLUSION: Collectively, a high percentage of collegiate a cappella singers with and without vocal training report singing voice problems. However, our sample of a cappella singers did not have increased singing voice problems as compared to vocally trained collegiate singers not in a cappella groups. We did find that a cappella singers may be more inclined to seek information about maintaining a healthy singing voice from their fellow musicians as opposed to singing teachers or other voice health professionals. Singing teachers, otolaryngologists, and speech-language pathologists may need to play a more active role in educating a cappella singers regarding maintaining good vocal health.

Phonomicrosurgery simulation: A low-cost teaching model using easily accessible materials.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To introduce the use of a new phonomicrosurgical trainer using easily accessible materials, and to establish the effectiveness of the model. STUDY DESIGN: The model uses a grape imbedded in gelatin, a microscope, and microlaryngeal instruments. The study was designed to test baseline differences in training levels, as well as improvement in performance after training with the simulation model. METHODS: Thirty subjects enrolled in the Stanford University School of Medicine otolaryngology training program performed microlaryngeal surgery tasks on a grape. Tasks were designed to model both excision of a vocal fold lesion and vocal fold injection. Anonymized video recordings comparing presimulation and postsimulation training were collected and graded by an expert laryngologist. Both objective comparison of skills and subjective participant surveys were analyzed. RESULTS: Objectively, trainees in all groups made statistically significant improvements across all tested variables, including microscope positioning, creation of a linear incision, elevation of epithelial flaps, excision of a crescent of tissue, vocal fold injection, preservation of remaining tissue, and time to complete all tasks. Subjectively, 100% of participants felt that they had increased comfort with microlaryngeal instruments and decreased intimidation of microlaryngeal surgery after completing the simulation training. This appreciation of skills was most notable and statistically significant in the intern trainees. CONCLUSION: Microlaryngeal surgical simulation is a tool that can be used to train residents to prepare them for phonomicrosurgical procedures at all levels of training. Our low-cost model with accessible materials can be easily duplicated and used to introduce trainees to microlaryngeal surgery or improve skills of more senior trainees. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 126:2528-2533, 2016.

Consultation via telemedicine and access to operative care for patients with head and neck cancer in a Veterans Health Administration population.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a telemedicine model that utilizes an audiovisual teleconference as a preoperative visit. METHODS: Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients with head and neck cancer at 2 remote locations were provided access to the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs (PAVA) Health Care System otolaryngology department via the telemedicine protocol: tissue diagnosis and imaging at the patient site; data review at PAVA; and a preoperative teleconference connecting the patient to PAVA. Operative care occurred at PAVA. Follow-up care was provided remotely via teleconference. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were evaluated. Eleven underwent surgery, 4 with high-grade neoplasms (carcinoma). Average time from referral to operation was 28 days (range, 17-36 days) and 72 (range, 31-108 days), respectively, for high-grade and low-grade groups. The average patient was spared 28 hours traveling time and $900/patient was saved on travel-related costs. CONCLUSION: A telemedicine model enables timely access to surgical care and permits considerable savings among select VHA patients with head and neck cancer. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 925-929, 2016.