Advancing Laryngeal Adductor Reflex Testing Beyond Sensory Threshold Detection.

Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with sensory testing (FEESST) is a promising clinical tool to assess airway integrity via the laryngeal adductor reflex (LAR). The current clinical protocol relies on sensory threshold detection, as relatively little is known about the motor response of this sensorimotor airway protective reflex. Here, we focused on characterizing normative LAR motion dynamics in 20 healthy young participants using our prototype high-pressure syringe-based air pulse device and analytic software (VFtrack™) that tracks vocal fold (VF) motion in endoscopic videos. Following device bench testing for air pulse stimulus characterization, we evoked and objectively quantified LAR motion dynamics in response to two suprathreshold air pulse stimuli (40 versus 60 mm Hg), delivered to the arytenoid mucosa through a bronchoscope working channel. The higher air pressures generated by our device permitted an approximate 1 cm endoscope working distance for continual visualization of the bilateral VFs throughout the LAR. Post hoc video analysis identified two main findings: (1) there are variant and invariant subcomponents of the LAR motor response, and (2) only a fraction of suprathreshold stimuli evoked complete glottic closure during the LAR. While the clinical relevance of these findings remains to be determined, we have nonetheless demonstrated untapped potential in the current FEESST protocol. Our ongoing efforts may reveal LAR biomarkers to quantify the severity of laryngeal pathology and change over time with natural disease progression, spontaneous recovery, or in response to intervention. The ultimate goal is to facilitate predictive modeling of patients at high risk for dysphagia-related aspiration pneumonia.

High-Volume Billing and Reimbursement Trends for Endoscopic Swallowing Studies in the Medicare Population.

The aim of this study is to delineate the reimbursement trends in fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with sensory testing (FEESST) and without sensory testing (FEES) in relation to that of speech-language pathology's (SLP) portion of modified barium swallow studies (MBS), as well as to document the types of providers billing for these procedures. We performed descriptive analyses of the volume of FEES/FEESST and MBS, and total reimbursements data obtained from 2013-2018 Medicare Part B National Summary files. We also utilized the 2017 Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data to analyze the higher volume providers (> 10 procedures annually) of either FEES and/or FEESST. From 2003 to 2018, there has been an average, annual increase of approximately 318 FEES/FEESST performed within the Medicare fee-for-service population (R = 0.9505 [95% CI 0.860-0.983]; p < 0.001) covered under Part B (which is largely outpatient coverage). Similarly, there was an increase in Medicare-specific FEES/FEESST reimbursement from $302,840 in 2003 to $1.2 million in 2018 (R = 0.9721 [95% CI 0.920-0.990; p < 0.001]). Prior to 2010, FEESST was performed more frequently than FEES (maximum annual difference of 1174), though from 2010 onward, relatively more annual FEES was performed. From 2003-2018, the reimbursement per procedure increased by $16.79 and $35.36 for FEESST and FEES, respectively, and by $32.84 for the SLP portion of the MBS. Among high-volume FEES/FEESST billers, 65.4% were otolaryngologists and 32.3% were independently billing SLPs. From 2003 to 2018, there has been a significant rise in the number of performed and reimbursed FEES/FEESST. From 2014 onward, compared to SLP-involved MBS, there has been a relative increase in performance of FEES/FEESST.

Experiencia inicial en Buenos Aires con la cirugía transoral robótica (TORS) / Initial experience with transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in Buenos Aires

Antecedentes: la cirugía robótica es una alternativa a la cirugía abierta, microcirugía láser CO2, o quimiorradioterapia en vía aerodigestiva superior. El robot permite trasladar la técnica quirúrgica abierta a un abordaje mínimamente invasivo, con acceso por boca, para patología benigna y maligna. Actualmente se emplean diferentes terapéuticas con similares resultados oncológicos. Objetivo: introducir una herramienta quirúrgica para abordaje bucal. Comunicar la experiencia inicial con el uso del robot. Evaluar la preservación de respiración y deglución. Analizar variables que determinaron una disminución en la hospitalización. Material y métodos: 13 mujeres y 11 hombres. Edad entre 16 y 82 años, media de 55,08. Total 24 pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria crónica (8), tumores benignos (4) y malignos (12). Variables consideradas en cirugía robótica: tiempo y lugar de internación, complicaciones, estado respiratorio y deglutorio, uso de técnicas reconstructivas. Se realizó videoendoscopia de deglución para objetivar la seguridad del método. Resultados: tiempo medio de internación: 1,92 días. El 83,3% internado 1 día. El 79,9% en internación general. Unidad cerrada: 20,1%. Ninguna traqueostomía. Cicatrización del lecho por segunda. Sin complicaciones. Edema de lengua: 2 pacientes. Conclusiones: la cirugía robótica favorece la exéresis con baja morbilidady máxima preservación de tejidos sanos. Disminuye: edema posoperatorio, uso colgajos para reparar el lecho, traqueotomía temporaria, tiempo de internación. La videoendoscopia de deglución demuestra utilidad para determinar la deglución segura. Limitante del presente trabajo es el tamaño de la muestra. Es importante incrementar el número de pacientes para valorizar supervivencia y calidad de vida.

Background: robotic surgery is an alternative to open surgery, CO2 laser microsurgery, or chemoradiation for the upper aero-digestive tract. This system allows surgeons to use the open surgical technique in a minimally invasive approach through the mouth to treat benign and malignant disorders. Different treatments are currently used with similar oncologic outcomes. Objective: the aim of this study was to introduce a surgical tool through transoral approach, report the initial experience with the use of the robotic system, evaluate respiratory and digestive functional preservation and analyze the variables associated with shorter hospital length of stay. Material and methods: A total of 24 patients (13 women and 11 men, mean age 55.08 years [16-82]) were included. Eight patients had chronic inflammatory disease, four had benign tumors and 12 had cancer. The variables considered in robotic surgery were hospital length of stay, place of postoperative care, complications, respiratory and swallowing function and use of reconstructive techniques. Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing was performed to document safe function. Results: mean length of stay was 1.92 days; 83.3% stayed for one day; 79.9% were admitted to the general ward and 20.1% stayed in intensive or intermediate care units. None of the patients required tracheostomy. Healing of the surgical bed occurred by secondary intention. There were no complications. Tongue edema occurred in two patients. Conclusions: robotic surgery favors tumor removal with low morbidity and maximum preservation of healthy tissues while reducing postoperative edema, use of flaps for reconstruction, temporary tracheostomy and hospital length of stay. Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing is useful to determine safe swallowing function. The main limitation of our study is the sample size. It is important to increase the number of patients to evaluate survival and quality of life.

FEES-based assessment of pharyngeal hypesthesia-Proposal and validation of a new test procedure.

BACKGROUND: Intact pharyngeal sensation is essential for a physiological swallowing process, and conversely, pharyngeal hypesthesia can cause dysphagia. This study introduces and validates a diagnostic test to quantify pharyngeal hypesthesia. METHODS: A total of 20 healthy volunteers were included in a prospective study. Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and a sensory test were performed both before and after pharyngeal local anesthesia. To test pharyngeal sensation, a small tube was positioned transnasally in the upper third of the oropharynx with contact to the lateral pharyngeal wall. Increasing volumes of blue-dyed water were injected through the tube, and the latency of swallowing response (LSR) was determined by two independent raters from the endoscopic video recording. Three trials were performed for each administered volume starting with 0.1 mL and increased by 0.1 mL up to 0.5 mL. KEY RESULTS: The average LSR without anesthesia was 2.24 ± 0.80 s at 0.1 mL, 1.79 ± 0.84 s at 0.2 mL, 1.29 ± 0.62 s at 0.3 mL, 1.17 ± 0.41 s at 0.4 mL, and 1.19 ± 0.52 s at 0.5 mL. With anesthesia applied, the average LSR was 2.65 ± 0.62 s at 0.1 mL, 2.64 ± 0.49 s at 0.2 mL, 2.44 ± 0.65 s at 0.3 mL, 2.10 ± 0.80 s at 0.4 mL, and 2.18 ± 0.85 s at 0.5 mL. LSR was significantly longer following anesthesia at 0.2 mL (t = -3.82; P = .001), 0.3 mL (t = -4.65; P < .000), 0.4 mL (t = -5.77; P < .000), and 0.5 mL (t = -3.49; P = .005). CONCLUSION AND INFERENCES: Pharyngeal hypesthesia can be quantified with sensory testing using LSR. Suitable volumes to distinguish between normal and impaired pharyngeal sensation are 0.2 mL, 0.3 mL, 0.4 mL and 0.5 mL. Experimentally induced pharyngeal anesthesia represents a valid model of sensory dysphagia.

[Deliberate release of the laryngeal adductor reflex via microdroplet impulses: Development of a device]. / Gezielte Auslösung des laryngealen Adduktionsreflexes per Mikrotröpfchenabgabe: Entwicklung einer Vorrichtung.

BACKGROUND: The laryngeal adductor reflex (LAR), a reflexive vocal fold closing mechanism, includes an early, probably di- or oligosynaptic ipsilateral LAR1- and a late ipsilateral and contralateral LAR2 polysynaptic component. In a clinical evaluation of dysphagia the LAR can be triggered by air pulses or tactile stimuli and typically assessed only qualitatively. METHODOLOGY: The development and construction of a device that can selectively shoot very small water droplets (microdroplet impulse testing MIT). RESULTS: The MIT device has a water reservoir with an infinitely adjustable pressure. The opening period of the piezo-electrically operated valve determines the droplet size. With a high-speed camera system, the change in the airspeed of the drop can be determined, depending on the set water reservoir pressure. With the knowledge of the droplet size, the shooting speed and the estimation of the distance between the valve and laryngeal mucosa or airspeed can be determined the muzzle energy. By mounting the MIT device to a high speed glottography system, the time between the impact of the droplet on the laryngeal mucosa and the start of the laryngeal adduction, the LAR latency can be determined using an image by image evaluation. DISCUSSION: In dysphagia with penetration or aspiration it is presumed that the protective function of the larynx is no longer adequately ensured. The MIT-LAR device provides a valid and reliable method to assess LAR quantitatively. Furthermore, it holds the promise of being a simple to handle method that can be used clinically for routine diagnostics.