BID PPI appears to be more effective than QD PPI in achieving clinical symptom response in suspected LPR. More response was achieved at 4 months compared with 2 months. Therefore, aggressive acid suppression with BID PPI for at least 4 months is warranted for treatment of LPR.

Several signs of posterior laryngeal irritation (e.g., interarytenoid bar, erythema of the medial wall of the arytenoids), which are generally considered to be signs of laryngopharyngeal reflux, are present in a high percentage of nonsymptomatic individuals, raising question about their diagnostic specificity. In addition, these signs were more often detected with flexible than with rigid laryngoscopes, suggesting that flexible laryngoscopy is more sensitive but less specific in identifying laryngeal tissue irritation.

There appears to be poor correlation between signs and symptoms of LPR, particularly when monitoring therapeutic outcomes. In patients unresponsive to twice-daily proton-pump inhibitor therapy for 4 months, further aggressive therapy is unlikely to bring additional symptomatic benefit.

Ansa-RLN reinnervation should be considered as a treatment for unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

This technique for treating UVFP results in significant improvements in patients' voice and on visual examination.

No abstract

(1) Globus and throat clearing were considered the most useful symptoms in diagnosing GERD-related laryngitis, while laryngeal erythema and edema were considered the most useful signs for diagnosis and treatment of this condition by ENT physicians. However, these symptoms and signs may represent the least specific markers for reflux. (2) Many gastroenterologists perform pre-therapy testing which has low sensitivity in GERD-related laryngitis. (3) There is a dichotomy in treatment dose, duration, and perceived patient response to therapy between the two specialists. (4) Our study highlights a need for cross communication and education between these two disciplines in understanding and treating GERD-related laryngitis better.

Results: Twenty patients (7 male, 13 female; 14 with left-sided paralysis, 6 with right-sided paralysis) were identified in the study population. Cymetra injection was performed an average of 45.1 months after onset of vocal fold paralysis (range -216 months), and average follow-up postinjection was 11.2 (range -35) months. Comparing pre-and postoperative measures, voice quality (P < .0001), glottal closure (P < .0001), and degree of vocal fold bowing (P < .0001) were all improved by injection. Quality of life measures and patients' self-perceptions of vocal quality were also improved (P < .01). Fifteen (75%) patients showed longlasting results. Eight patients showed improvement for more than 12 months after injection. Conclusion: Cymetra injection laryngoplasty offers improved vocal and vibratory function to patients with unilateral true vocal fold paralysis. The benefits of such medialization may be longer lasting than previously reported, and further long-term study is warranted. Key Words: Vocal fold paralysis, injection laryngoplasty, vocal fold medialization, voice quality, quality of life.