Preprocedural Paracetamol Reduces Pain Scores in Patients Undergoing in-Office Laryngeal Procedures.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the utility of preprocedural paracetamol on reducing pain scores post office-based laryngeal procedures. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, controlled before-after comparative study. SETTING: Controlled prospective before-after study. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of 100 patients who underwent office-based laryngeal procedures without preprocedural analgesia at our center to establish a control group. Age, sex, procedure type, and amount of substance used were documented as well as postprocedural pain score. Pain scores were recorded every 5 minutes for 30 minutes following office-based laryngeal procedures. A prospective arm of this study was then performed in which every patient undergoing office-based laryngeal procedures at our center between September 2019 and December 2020 was administered 1000 mg of paracetamol prior to their procedure. The postprocedure pain scores of the 2 groups were then compared. RESULTS: A hundred patients were included in the retrospective arm and 75 patients were included in the prospective arm, receiving 1000 mg of paracetamol a median of 45 (interquartile range: 30-53) minutes prior to their procedure. The 2 groups were matched for age, sex, and type of laryngeal procedure. Both nonanalgesia and analgesia groups demonstrated a similar proportion of patients who experienced any pain (47% and 48%, respectively) postprocedurally. The prospective arm of this study however reported a statistically significant reduction in the magnitude of their pain scores at all points postprocedurally (P = .005). CONCLUSION: Paracetamol preprocedurally reduces the severity of pain in office-based laryngeal procedures and would be a useful consideration for patients who are likely to experience significant postprocedural pain. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3.

Diagnostic Utility of Salivary Pepsin as Compared With 24-Hour Dual pH/Impedance Probe in Laryngopharyngeal Reflux.

OBJECTIVE: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is defined as the retropulsion of gastric contents into the larynx, oropharynx, and/or nasopharynx. The 24-hour combined hypopharyngeal-esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance with dual pH probe (24h-HEMII-pH) is currently the gold standard in LPR diagnosis; however, it is invasive, user dependent, and not always tolerated. This study assesses the diagnostic utility of salivary pepsin (Peptest) at different thresholds and during symptomatic periods as compared with the 24h-HEMII-pH probe in diagnosing LPR. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Private laryngology clinic in Melbourne, Australia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients with a clinical history and endoscopic findings of LPR were recruited and simultaneously evaluated for LPR via 24h-HEMII-pH probe and salivary pepsin analysis at 5 key time points over the same 24-hour period. RESULTS: Salivary pepsin was 76.9% sensitive and had a positive predictive value (PPV) of 87.0% at a threshold of 16 ng/mL when compared with the 24h-HEMII-pH probe. If the pathologic pepsin threshold was raised to 75 ng/mL, salivary pepsin had a sensitivity of 57.7%, a specificity of 75.0%, and a PPV of 93.8%. Symptomatic testing conferred a superior specificity at 16 ng/mL (66.7%) and 75 ng/mL (100.0%) and a superior PPV at 16 ng/mL (92.3%) and 75 ng/mL (100.0%). CONCLUSION: Salivary pepsin detection is a simpler, more cost-effective, and less traumatic universal first-line alternative to 24h-HEMII-pH probe in diagnosing LPR. Superior specificities conferring greater diagnostic value may be achieved with higher thresholds and symptomatic testing. If clinical suspicion remains high following negative salivary pepsin analysis, a 24h-HEMII-pH study could provide further diagnostic information.

What is the truth about proton pump inhibitors?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review explores the recent evidence and established scientific literature surrounding proton pump inhibitors in the context of laryngology. RECENT FINDINGS: Proton pump inhibitors are often associated with gastroenterology; however, they also have a place in laryngology. Several laryngopharyngeal disorders are treated with proton pump inhibitors, though limited evidence regarding effectiveness, dosing and length of treatment exists. With the recent influx of articles reporting possible adverse effects of proton pump inhibitors, the appropriate prescribing of them has come under scrutiny. These reported risks include cancer, stroke, myocardial infarction, kidney disease and cognitive decline. It should be noted though that many of these studies by nature, are fraught with potential confounding. Regardless, clinicians ought to be aware of any risks associated with treatment regimens and prescribe the optimal dosage and duration. SUMMARY: Proton pump inhibitor treatment should be dose-appropriate and for a limited duration. Concerning potential adverse effects, the limitations of retrospective cohort studies must be taken into consideration when reviewing the evidence.

Identifying Type III Sulcus: Patient Characteristics and Endoscopic Findings.

OBJECTIVE: Type III sulcus is a pathologic structural deformity of the vocal folds that is challenging to accurately diagnose without endoscopic examination under anesthesia. This study aims to further define the clinical presentation and examination features shared among a patient cohort intraoperatively diagnosed with type III sulcus. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: Tertiary laryngology practice. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All patients diagnosed intraoperatively with type III sulcus from 2002 to 2014 at a tertiary laryngology practice were included. Clinical history of presenting symptoms, videostroboscopy, and intraoperative and histologic findings were reviewed. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were included in the study. A majority were female (77%) and had a mean age of 32.4 years. All patients endorsed hoarseness, and 86% were defined as professional voice users. Endoscopic examination revealed bilateral type III sulcus in 23% of patients. The most common preoperative stroboscopic findings included decreased mucosal wave (100%), dilated vessel (95%), phase asymmetry (91%), additional benign lesion (91%), and cyst (82%). Histology revealed epithelial changes of atypia and keratosis. CONCLUSION: Both the severity of dysphonia and the difficulty observing structural malformations of the vocal folds make type III sulcus challenging to preoperatively diagnose. This study reports the clinical and endoscopic features seen within a cohort of patients with type III sulcus.

Quality-of-Life Metrics Correlate With Disease Severity in Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: Idiopathic subglottic stenosis (ISGS) can have significant impacts on quality of life (QOL), but it remains unclear how patients' subjective responses correlate with objective measurement of disease severity. Peak expiratory flow percentage (PEF%) has been shown to be an effective measure of disease severity in subglottic stenosis. This study aims to identify the key QOL questions correlated with PEF% and proposes a statistical model for prediction of disease severity. METHODS: Patients with ISGS presenting to an academic laryngologist were included retrospectively from 2012 to 2016. Peak expiratory flow percentage (age, sex, and height adjusted) was recorded for each visit, along with four validated QOL instruments (European QOL-Five Dimensions; RAND 36-Item Health Survey; Clinical COPD [Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease] Questionnaire; and the Airway, Dyspnea, Voice, and Swallowing Summary Assessment). A stepwise multiple linear regression was used to identify statistically significant independent variables correlated with PEF%, and a model was built with these variables. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were included, with a total of 271 patient encounters. Overall scores from each of the four QOL instruments were correlated with PEF% values recorded each visit (P < 0.05). Question responses correlating most positively included overall breathlessness, difficulty catching breath, cough within the past week, dyspnea with moderate activity, perception that voice changes are restricting social life, and overall general health (all P < 0.01). A model constructed using six nonoverlapping questions yielded an adjusted R2 of 0.58. CONCLUSION: Quality of life is correlated to PEF% in ISGS. Using a limited number of QOL questions, clinicians can predict objective worsening or improvement of disease severity, as measured by spirometry. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b. Laryngoscope, 2017.

Diagnostic Yield of Computed Tomography in the Evaluation of Idiopathic Vocal Fold Paresis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic yield of computed tomography (CT) in establishing an etiology in patients with idiopathic unilateral vocal fold paresis (IUVFP). To determine the proportion of CT scans yielding incidental findings requiring further patient management. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: Tertiary laryngology practice. SUBJECTS: Laryngology clinic patients under the care of the 2 senior authors. METHODS: All clinic patients were identified who had a diagnosis of IUVFP and underwent CT of the skull base to the upper mediastinum from 2004 to 2014. Demographic, historical, examination, and investigation data were extracted. CT reports and endoscopic recordings were reviewed. Patients were excluded if there were insufficient clinical findings recorded or if there was a known neurologic disorder, complete vocal fold immobility, or bilateral involvement. RESULTS: A total of 174 patients with IUVFP who had also undergone contrast-enhanced CT were identified. Of the 174 patients, 5 had a cause for their paresis identified on CT. This equated to a diagnostic yield of 2.9% (95% confidence interval, 0.94% to 6.6%). Of the 174 patients, 48 had other incidental lesions identified that required further follow-up, investigation, or treatment. This equated to an incidental yield of 27.6% (95% confidence interval, 21.1% to 34.9%). CONCLUSION: This is the second and largest study to evaluate the diagnostic yield of CT in the evaluation of IUVFP. It demonstrates a low diagnostic yield and a high incidental yield. These findings suggest that the routine use of CT in the evaluation of idiopathic vocal fold paresis should be given careful consideration and that a tailored approach to investigation with good otolaryngologic follow-up is warranted.

Development and Validation of a High-Fidelity Porcine Laryngeal Surgical Simulator.

OBJECTIVE: Design and validate a laryngeal surgical simulator to teach phonomicrosurgical techniques. STUDY DESIGN: Device development and prospective validation. SETTING: Tertiary medical center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A novel laryngeal fixation device and custom laryngoscope were produced for use with ex vivo porcine larynx specimens. Vocal fold lesions such as nodules and keratotic lesions were simulated with silicone injections and epithelial markings. A prospective validation using postsimulation surveys, global rating scales, and procedure-specific checklists was performed with a group of 15 medical students, otolaryngology residents, fellows, and attending laryngologists. Three procedures were performed: vocal fold augmentation, excision of a simulated vocal fold nodule, and excision of a simulated vocal fold keratosis. RESULTS: Participants overwhelmingly agreed that the simulator provided a realistic dissection experience that taught skills that would transfer to real operating scenarios. Expert performance was statistically superior to novice performance for excision of simulated vocal fold nodules and keratotic lesions, while no difference was observed for injection laryngoplasty. CONCLUSION: The ability to learn and rehearse surgical procedures in a safe environment is invaluable, particularly for delicate and highly technical phonomicrosurgical operations. We have developed a high-fidelity laryngeal surgical simulator complete with pathological lesions such as nodules and keratoses to teach these procedures. A prospective study demonstrated validity of our global rating scale and checklist assessments for vocal fold nodule and keratosis excision procedures, allowing them to be confidently incorporated into phonomicrosurgical training programs for surgeons of all levels of expertise.