Voice and respiratory outcomes after permanent transoral surgery of bilateral vocal fold paralysis

Abstract

2b.

Laryngeal pacing for bilateral vocal fold paralysis: Voice and respiratory aspects

“…The authors considered various respiratory as well as objective and subjective voice‐quality parameters . The results of this study showed an expected and statistically significant improvement of the key spirometric parameters (e.g., PEF and PIF) 6 months after the surgery, which was accompanied by an objective worsening of the voice quality . Notably, the patients included in that study showed an already compromised voice quality before surgery, a characteristic that we also observed in our study.…”

“…Recently, Nawka et al published the results of a study concerning the evaluation of the endoscopic glottic enlargement within a postoperative follow‐up period of 6 months. The authors considered various respiratory as well as objective and subjective voice‐quality parameters . The results of this study showed an expected and statistically significant improvement of the key spirometric parameters (e.g., PEF and PIF) 6 months after the surgery, which was accompanied by an objective worsening of the voice quality .…”

“…The most common symptom of BVFP is a considerable impairment of the respiratory function, which is in turn accountable for significant limitations in the physical activity and worsening of the patients' quality of life . The effects of the BVFP on voice quality are still controversial .…”

“…Because BVFP patients are a niche population, and due to the limited number of clinical investigations aiming to systematically evaluate the outcomes of surgical glottic enlargement, it is very difficult to determine which treatment is likely to ensure the best results for the patients in terms of both respiratory function and voice quality . Generally, expert phoniatricians identify substantial voice impairment associated with improved respiratory function upon surgical glottic enlargement, whereas the patients judge the resultant voice impairment less severely.…”

Continuous versus intermittent intraoperative neuromonitoring in complex benign thyroid surgery: A retrospective analysis and prospective follow‐up

“…If the symptoms cannot be relieved by conservative therapies, these established, safe and long‐term effective microlaryngoscopic and transcervical medialisation procedures were shown to significantly improve the voice and quality of life . While tracheostomy is still the choice in life‐threatening BVFP, subsequent implementation of surgical glottal enlargement should be considered for decannulation and closure of the tracheostoma . Alternative methods to regain respiratory functionality after BVFP onset by means of more physiological treatments include the development of laryngeal pacemakers, which have, in contrast to current surgical therapies, the potential to improve respiration while preserving voice quality …”