Injection versus medialization laryngoplasty for the treatment of unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: To determine whether injection laryngoplasty or medialization laryngoplasty is more effective in the treatment of unilateral vocal fold paralysis. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study of patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis who underwent either injection or medialization laryngoplasty at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences between July 29, 2003 and March 8, 2005. METHODS: The data analyzed included patient characteristics and type of intervention, along with the pretreatment and posttreatment voice parameters of videostrobolaryngoscopy, perceptual analysis, and patients' subjective voice assessment. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were evaluated. The average time from intervention to posttreatment evaluation was 3 (range, 1-9) months. Improvements were demonstrated in all three voice parameters in both the injection and the medialization groups. No significant differences were found in the degree of improvement between the two groups. Videostrobolaryngoscopy and the perceptual analysis, both rated by the authors, correlated well with each other, but they both correlated poorly with the patients' subjective voice analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Injection and medialization laryngoplasty were comparable in their improvement of subjective and objective voice outcomes. Both treatment modalities should be included in the otolaryngologist's armamentarium for managing unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Patient versus partner perception of voice handicap.

The primary purpose of this study was to compare patient's and communication partner's perceptions of handicap secondary to dysphonia. A secondary purpose was to compare patient health-related quality of life (HRQOL) to that of speakers with normal voice. Participants were 20 adults (mean age=69.15 years) with dysphonia and their communication partners. Patients completed the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), a questionnaire of self-perceived voice handicap, and the Short-Form 36 (SF-36), a general health questionnaire. Partners completed the Voice Handicap Index-Partner (VHI-P), a questionnaire derived from the VHI for this pilot study, to gauge partner perception of voice handicap. Patients in this study viewed themselves as only moderately handicapped by their dysphonia and their partners were in close agreement. Patients and their partners were also in close agreement on each of three VHI subscales (physical, functional, and emotional), and in all cases the physical domain was perceived by both patients and their partners to be most handicapped. Patients had lower SF-36 mean scores than those of persons with normal voice from the general U.S. population on scales assessing physical functioning, physical role, general health, vitality, social functioning, emotional role, and mental health. The results of this study are consistent with previous studies examining patient-partner agreement, which consider proxy ratings to be a useful alternative or collaborative source of patient's self-perception. Further research regarding the reliability of patient and partner agreement is necessary to most effectively assess and manage patients with dysphonia.

Management of advanced premalignant laryngeal lesions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Laryngeal carcinogenesis is a multistep process with premalignant lesions progressing to invasive carcinoma over a period of years. The approach to these advanced premalignant lesions has always been early diagnosis and treatment to prevent further progression. Unfortunately, with the current means of diagnosis and a lack of consensus regarding treatment of these lesions, the incidence of advanced laryngeal malignancies continues to rise. The purpose of this article is to review the most recent contributions to the literature regarding diagnosis and management of advanced laryngeal premalignant lesions. RECENT FINDINGS: The current literature focuses on several new diagnostic procedures to improve early detection of high-risk laryngeal lesions. These procedures include autofluorescence endoscopy, compact endoscopy, and topical 5-aminolevulinic acid. One large long-term study suggests an aggressive surgical approach in the treatment of advanced laryngeal premalignancies to decrease the incidence of malignant transformation. The preliminary results of chemoprevention trials as well as potential new biomarkers are discussed. SUMMARY: There are several new promising procedures that may have an impact on the early diagnosis of laryngeal precursor lesions. In addition, we are gaining knowledge about the molecular events occurring along the continuum of laryngeal carcinogenesis. This will hopefully allow the identification of additional biomarkers and future targets for chemoprevention.

Botulinum toxin injections for new onset bilateral vocal fold motion impairment in adults.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Review of clinical experience and results using botulinum toxin type A (BTX) for the management of adult patients with respiratory compromise due to new onset bilateral vocal fold motion impairment (BVFMI). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: The records of 11 patients from two institutions with respiratory compromise due to bilateral vocal fold motion impairment were reviewed. Age, sex, etiology of motion impairment, subjective response to BTX injections, changes in pulmonary function studies pre- and postinjection when available, the dosage of botulinum toxin required to achieve response, the number of injections per patient, and complications were reported. RESULTS: All patients were over 18 years old. There were three male and eight female subjects. The etiology of BVFMI was due to previous anterior cervical surgery in nine patients and prolonged intubation in two. Ten patients reported symptomatic improvement and returned for an average of nine injections over the 10-year period of study. The most common interval between injections was 3 months. In all patients the dose required to achieve symptomatic improvement was at least 2.5 mouse units injected into each vocal fold. One patient without relief of symptoms had bilateral cricoarytenoid joint fixation. Complications were limited to moderate dysphagia in one patient and breathy dysphonia in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: BTX injection into the vocal folds provides temporary relief of symptoms in airway obstruction in adult patients with BVFMI. Patients require an average of 2.5 units of botulinum injection into each vocal fold and have an average length of response of 3 months. BTX injection may be used as a form of temporary relief of airway obstruction in patients wishing to avoid ablative surgery or tracheotomy.