Airway and Voice Outcomes After Thyroarytenoid Myomectomy for Bilateral Vocal Fold Immobility.

Type 4 posterior glottic stenosis and bilateral vocal fold paralysis are clinically challenging causes of bilateral vocal fold immobility (BVFI) that result in glottic airway obstruction. Established procedures for BVFI typically worsen dysphonia. We hypothesize the use of thyroarytenoid myomectomy (TAM) in the setting of BVFI will improve dyspnea with decreased detriment to voice. Eleven unilateral TAM procedures were performed between April 2021 and June 2023 at a single institution. Pre- and postoperative patient reported outcomes were compared. Representative images of maximal glottic opening were analyzed in ImageJ to calculate ipsilateral bowing index (BI), total BI, maximum glottic surface area (MGSA), and maximum opening angle (MOA). Statistical comparisons were performed with paired t-tests when normality was confirmed with Shapiro-Wilk test and otherwise with Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, with threshold for significance of α = 0.05. Interrater reliability for objective glottal measures was compared with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Dyspnea Index improved from mean (standard error) of 24.1 (3.8) to 9.1 (3.3), p = 0.004. Voice Handicap Index-10 improved from 20.0 (4) to 10.3 (3.8), p = 0.011. Glottal Function Index improved from 9.6 (1.4) to 6.3 (1.3), p = 0.017. There was no significant difference in ipsilateral BI, total BI, MOA, and median MGSA. There was good to excellent ICCs for all comparisons (0.83-0.95). TAM demonstrated significant improvement in symptoms from BVFI while not significantly altering glottal structure. These data suggest TAM improves dyspnea in patients with BVFI without significantly impairing voice. 4 Laryngoscope, 134:4307-4312, 2024.

Yang ZM ，Malka R ，Erwin DZ ，Postma G ... -  《-》

Voice Outcomes Following Posterior Cordotomy With Medial Arytenoidectomy in Patients With Bilateral Vocal Fold Immobility.

Hillel AT ，Giraldez L ，Samad I ，Gross J ，Klein AM ，Johns MM 3rd ... -  《-》

Quantitative Analysis of Unilateral and Bilateral Vocal Fold Immobility.

To analyze the correlation between clinical and video laryngoscopy findings for 89 patients with bilateral vocal fold immobility (BVFI), unilateral vocal fold immobility (UVFI), and healthy controls by quantitative analysis of normalized laryngeal outlet (NLO), bowing index (BI), and supraglottic compression (SGC). Laryngoscope pictures were taken by two reviewers, and all pictures were standardized by scaling and calibrating to the same width and height in Image J. Three reviewers used quantitative measures to calculate BI, NLO, and SGC in Image J. We assessed reliability for each measurement by two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) without replication to calculate the interclass correlation coefficient. Analysis was broken down for each measurement in each group of interest by using a one-way test. The total glottic area was obtained by calculating the normalized glottal gap area from each image of maximum glottal closure during phonation. Overall reliability of all the measurements was 0.69 (IQ 0.58-0.83). Mean NLO from UVFI, BVFI, and control groups differed significantly. There was no significant difference between control and BVFI. The total glottic area did not consistently predict normalized laryngeal outlet values. Mean normalized laryngeal outlet values of UVFI and BVFI were significantly smaller in the BVFI groups compared with controls and UVFI. BI values consistently predicted total glottic area in the BVFI group. Static SGC measurement did not predict a difference between groups. This is a reliable novel technique, which can be utilized in clinical settings. These measurements have clinical relevance for managing voice disorders. NLO is the most accurate measurement correlating with glottal incompetence. BI findings are sufficiently specific to identify between UVFI and BVFI.

Candelo E ，Menton S ，Rutt A 《-》

Transverse Cordotomy with Thyroarytenoid Myectomy for Bilateral Vocal Fold Immobility.

We propose a modification of the transverse cordotomy procedure which improves the predictable airway outcome and allows for better voice. Laryngoscope, 134:2790-2792, 2024.

Laitman BM ，Rivera GR ，Woo P 《-》

Impact of BMI on Dyspnea and Need for Surgical Intervention in Bilateral Vocal Fold Immobility.

Bilateral vocal fold paralysis (BVFP) and posterior glottic stenosis (PGS) are causes of bilateral vocal fold immobility (BVFI) and may cause shortness of breath, stridor, and need for surgical intervention. Although increased body mass index (BMI) is associated with restrictive breathing patterns in patients with normal upper airways, it is unclear how BMI impacts dyspnea and need for surgical intervention in BVFI patients. Retrospective cohort study. Three tertiary academic centers in the United States. Demographics, BMI, Dyspnea Index (DI), etiology, presence of tracheostomy and surgical intervention (dilation, tracheostomy, cordotomy, arytenoidectomy, open reconstruction) were collected. Primary outcomes included dyspnea measured by DI and need for surgery to improve airway. Linear regressions were performed to assess continuous outcomes. Mann-Whitney U-test was utilized to assess categorical outcomes. Among 121 patients, 52 presented with BVFP and 69 with PGS. Previous neck surgery was the most common cause of BVFI (40.2%). 44.3% of patients received a tracheostomy. Through multivariate linear regression, increased BMI was significantly associated with increased DI in the entire cohort (β = .43, P = .016). Increased BMI was also associated with need for any surgical intervention (odds ratio [OR] = 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.01-1.13]) in the overall cohort. When stratifying our data, BMI was only significantly associated with DI in BVFP (β = .496) and need for surgical intervention in PGS (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = [1.01-1.21]), although a positive trend was seen in all analyses. Increased BMI may correlate with worsening dyspnea symptoms and need for surgical intervention in patients with BVFI. Weight-loss-related counseling may benefit symptom management.

Elsamna ST ，Lin ME ，Smith T ，Johns M ，Rutt A ，Bensoussan Y ... -  《-》