Objective Laryngotracheal stenosis is largely considered a structural entity, defined on anatomic terms (i.e. percent stenosis, distance from vocal folds, overall length). This has significant implications for identifying at-risk populations, devising systems-based preventive strategies, and promoting patient-centered treatment. The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that LTS is heterogeneous in regard to etiology, natural history, and clinical outcome. Study Design Retrospective cohort study of consecutive adult tracheal stenosis patients from 1998–2013. Methods Subjects diagnosed with laryngotracheal stenosis (ICD-9: 478.74, 519.19) between January 1, 1998 and January 1, 2013 were identified. Patient characteristics (age, gender, race, follow-up duration), and comorbidities were extracted. Records were reviewed for etiology of stenosis, treatment approach, and surgical dates. Stenosis morphology was derived from intraoperative measurements. The presence of tracheostomy at last follow-up was recorded. Results 150 patients met inclusion criteria. 54.7% had an iatrogenic etiology followed by idiopathic (18.5%), autoimmune (18.5%), and traumatic (8%). Tracheostomy dependence differed based on etiology (p<0.001). Significantly more patients with iatrogenic (66%) and autoimmune (54%) etiologies remained tracheostomy dependent compared to traumatic (33%) or idiopathic (0%) groups. On multivariate regression analysis, each additional point on Charlson Comorbidity Index was associated with a 67% increased odds of tracheostomy dependence (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.04 – 2.69; p=0.04). Conclusions Laryngotracheal stenosis is not a homogeneous clinical entity. It has multiple distinct etiologies that demonstrate disparate rates of long-term tracheostomy dependence. Understanding the mechanism of injury and contribution of comorbid illnesses is critical to systems-based preventive strategies and patient-centered treatment.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) is a rare and potentially life-threatening disease marked by recurrent and progressive airway obstruction frequently requiring repeated surgery to stabilize the airway. Unknown etiology and low disease prevalence have limited the ability to characterize the natural history of iSGS and resulted in variability in surgical management. It is uncertain how this variation relates to clinical outcomes. Study Design: Medical record abstraction. Methods: Utilizing an international, multi-institutional collaborative, we collected retrospective data on patient characteristics, treatment, and clinical outcomes. We investigated variation between and within open and endoscopic treatment approaches and assessed therapeutic outcomes; specifically, disease recurrence and need for tracheostomy at last follow-up. Results: Strikingly, 479 iSGS patients across 10 participating centers were nearly exclusively female (98%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 96.1–99.6), Caucasian (95%, 95% CI, 92.2–98.8), and otherwise healthy (mean age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index 1.5; 95% CI, 1.44–1.69). The patients presented at a mean age of 50 years (95% CI, 48.8–51.1). A total of 80.2% were managed endoscopically, whereas 19.8% underwent open reconstruction. Endoscopic surgery had a significantly higher rate of disease recurrence than the open approach (chi2 = 4.09, P = 0.043). Tracheostomy was avoided in 97% of patients irrespective of surgical approach (95% CI, 94.5–99.8). Interestingly, there were outliers in rates of disease recurrence between centers using similar treatment approaches. Conclusion: Idiopathic subglottic stenosis patients are surprisingly homogeneous. The heterogeneity of treatment approaches and the observed outliers in disease recurrence rates between centers raises the potential for improved clinical outcomes through a detailed understanding of the processes of care.

Objectives-1) Investigate the impact of electrode type and surgical approach on scalar electrode location in a large patient cohort; and 2) examine the relation between electrode location and postoperative audiologic performance. Setting-Tertiary academic hospital. Patients-220 post-lingually deafened adults undergoing cochlear implant (CI).Main Outcome Measures-Primary outcome measures of interest were scalar electrode location and postoperative audiologic performance.Results-In 68% of implants, electrodes were observed to be located solely in the scala tympani (ST). Multivariate analysis demonstrated perimodiolar(PM) and Mid-scala(MS) electrodes were p<0.001) times more likely to have at least one electrode in the scala vestibuli (SV) compared to lateral wall(LW) electrodes, respectively. Compared to cochleostomy(C), round window(RW) and extended round window(ERW) approaches demonstrated 70% reduction in SV insertion (OR 0.28,95%CI:0.1-0.8, p=0.01; ERW (OR O.28,95%CI:0.1-0.7, p=0.005). Examining postoperative audiometric performance, CNC score increased 0.6% with every 10° increase in angular insertion depth beyond the group minimum of 208° (Coefficient 0.0006,95%CI:0.0001-0.001, p=0.03). SV insertion was associated with a 12% decrease in CNC score (Coefficient -0.12,95%CI:-0.22--0.02, p=0.02). CNC score decreased 0.3% for every 1 year increase in age (Coefficient -0.003,95%CI:-0.006--0.0006), p=0.02). HHS Public Access Author Manuscript Author ManuscriptAuthor Manuscript Author ManuscriptConclusions-Electrode design and surgical approach were predictors of scalar electrode location. Specifically, LW electrodes showed higher rates of ST insertion compared to PM or MS. RW and ERW approaches showed higher rates of ST insertion when compared to C. In regards to performance, ST insertion, younger age, and greater angular insertion depth were predictors of improved CNC scores.

Objective. This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations on treating patients who present with dysphonia, which is characterized by altered vocal quality, pitch, loudness, or vocal effort that impairs communication and/or quality of life. Dysphonia affects nearly one-third of the population at some point in its life. This guideline applies to all age groups evaluated in a setting where dysphonia would be identified or managed. It is intended for all clinicians who are likely to diagnose and treat patients with dysphonia.Purpose. The primary purpose of this guideline is to improve the quality of care for patients with dysphonia, based on current best evidence. Expert consensus to fill evidence gaps, when used, is explicitly stated and supported with a detailed evidence profile for transparency. Specific objectives of the guideline are to reduce inappropriate variations in care, produce optimal health outcomes, and minimize harm.For this guideline update, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation selected a panel representing the fields of advanced practice nursing, bronchoesophagology, consumer advocacy, family medicine, geriatric medicine, internal medicine, laryngology, neurology, otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, pediatrics, professional voice, pulmonology, and speech-language pathology.Action Statements. The guideline update group made strong recommendations for the following key action statements (KASs): (1) Clinicians should assess the patient with dysphonia by history and physical examination to identify factors where expedited laryngeal evaluation is indicated. These include, but are not limited to, recent surgical procedures involving the head, neck, or chest; recent endotracheal intubation; presence of concomitant neck mass; respiratory distress or stridor; history of tobacco abuse; and whether the patient is a professional voice user. (2) Clinicians should advocate voice therapy for patients with dysphonia from a cause amenable to voice therapy.The guideline update group made recommendations for the following KASs: (1) Clinicians should identify dysphonia in a patient with altered voice quality, pitch, loudness, or vocal effort that impairs communication or reduces quality of life (QOL). (2) Clinicians should assess the patient with dysphonia by history and physical examination for underlying causes of dysphonia and factors that modify management. (3) Clinicians should perform laryngoscopy, or refer to a clinician who can perform laryngoscopy, when dysphonia fails to resolve or improve within 4 weeks or irrespective of duration if a serious underlying cause is suspected. (4) Clinicians should perform diagnostic laryngoscopy, or refer to a clinician who can perform diagnostic laryngoscopy, before prescribing voice therapy and document/communicate the results to the speech-language pathologist (SLP). (5) Clinicians should advocate for surgery as a therapeutic option for patients with dysphonia with conditions amenable to surgical intervention, such as su...

IMPORTANCE Surgical treatment comparisons in rare diseases are difficult secondary to the geographic distribution of patients. Fortunately, emerging technologies offer promise to reduce these barriers for research. OBJECTIVE To prospectively compare the outcomes of the 3 most common surgical approaches for idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS), a rare airway disease. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this international, prospective, 3-year multicenter cohort study, 810 patients with untreated, newly diagnosed, or previously treated iSGS were enrolled after undergoing a surgical procedure (endoscopic dilation [ED], endoscopic resection with adjuvant medical therapy [ERMT], or cricotracheal resection [CTR]). Patients were recruited from clinician practices in the North American Airway Collaborative and an online iSGS community on Facebook. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary end point was days from initial surgical procedure to recurrent surgical procedure. Secondary end points included quality of life using the Clinical COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Questionnaire (CCQ), Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10), Eating Assessment Test-10 (EAT-10), the 12-Item Short-Form Version 2 (SF-12v2), and postoperative complications. RESULTS Of 810 patients in this cohort, 798 (98.5%) were female and 787 (97.2%) were white, with a median age of 50 years (interquartile range, 43-58 years). Index surgical procedures were ED (n = 603; 74.4%), ERMT (n = 121; 14.9%), and CTR (n = 86; 10.6%). Overall, 185 patients (22.8%) had a recurrent surgical procedure during the 3-year study, but recurrence differed by modality (CTR, 1 patient [1.2%]; ERMT, 15 [12.4%]; and ED, 169 [28.0%]). Weighted, propensity score-matched, Cox proportional hazards regression models showed ED was inferior to ERMT (hazard ratio [HR], 3.16; 95% CI, 1.8-5.5). Among successfully treated patients without recurrence, those treated with CTR had the best CCQ (0.75 points) and SF-12v2 (54 points) scores and worst VHI-10 score (13 points) 360 days after enrollment as well as the greatest perioperative risk. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cohort study of 810 patients with iSGS, endoscopic dilation, the most popular surgical approach for iSGS, was associated with a higher recurrence rate compared with other procedures. Cricotracheal resection offered the most durable results but showed the greatest perioperative risk and the worst long-term voice outcomes. Endoscopic resection with medical therapy was associated with better disease control compared with ED and had minimal association with vocal function. These results may be used to inform individual patient treatment decision-making.