Superior Laryngeal Nerve Block for Microlaryngoscopic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

To assess the safety and efficacy of superior laryngeal nerve block (SLNB) for microlaryngoscopic surgery (MLS).

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Ovid Medline, Cochrane Library, CNKI database, VIP database, Wanfang database, and trial registry databases.

METHODS

PICOS principles were performed: adults undergoing MLS receiving SLNB compared with no-SLNB in randomized controlled trials were included. Primary outcome included the incidence of severe postoperative sore throat (POST). Secondary outcomes included perioperative mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR), incidence of severe postoperative cough, and anesthesia recovery time.

RESULTS

Eleven articles with 728 patients were included. Results indicated that SLNB provides lower incidence of severe POST in post-extubation 30 min (relative ratio [RR] = 0.13; 95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 0.05 ~ 0.34), 2 h (RR = 0.09; 95% CI: 0.02 ~ 0.36), 4-6 h (RR = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.03 ~ 0.41), and 24 h (RR = 0.15; 95% CI: 0.03 ~ 0.83); lower MAP (tracheal intubation: standardized mean difference [SMD] = -1.59; 95% CI: -1.69 to -0.42); suspension laryngoscope insertion: (SMD = -0.98; 95% CI: -1.49 to -0.46); tracheal extubation: (SMD = -0.78; 95% CI:-1.24 to -0.31); post-extubation 5 min: (SMD = -0.95; 95% CI: -1.41 to -0.49); lower HR (tracheal intubation: mean difference [MD] = -9.71; 95% CI: -17.16 to -2.27); suspension laryngoscope insertion: (MD = -8.64; 95% CI: -16.79 to -0.49); tracheal extubation: (MD = -10.13; 95% CI: -17.86 to -2.39); post-extubation 5 min: (MD = -13.44; 95% CI: -22.53 to -4.35); lower incidence of severe postoperative cough in post-extubation 30 min (RR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.06 ~ 0.57) and 2 h (RR = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.02 ~ 0.69); and shorter anesthesia recovery time (MD = -5.34; 95% CI: -8.81 to -1.86) compared to controls.

CONCLUSIONS

SLNB could provide lower incidence of severe POST, more stable perioperative MAP and HR, lower incidence of severe postoperative cough, and shorter anesthesia recovery time for MLS.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

I Laryngoscope, 134:3437-3446, 2024.

Design and Study of a Next-Generation Computer-Assisted System for Transoral Laser Microsurgery

Objective

To present a new computer-assisted system for improved usability, intuitiveness, efficiency, and controllability in transoral laser microsurgery (TLM).

Study Design

Pilot technology feasibility study.

Setting

A dedicated room with a simulated TLM surgical setup: surgical microscope, surgical laser system, instruments, ex vivo pig larynxes, and computer-assisted system.

Subjects and Methods

The computer-assisted laser microsurgery (CALM) system consists of a novel motorized laser micromanipulator and a tablet- and stylus-based control interface. The system setup includes the Leica 2 surgical microscope and the DEKA HiScan Surgical laser system. The system was validated through a first-of-its-kind observational study with 57 international surgeons with varied experience in TLM. The subjects performed real surgical tasks on ex vivo pig larynxes in a simulated TLM scenario. The qualitative aspects were established with a newly devised questionnaire assessing the usability, efficiency, and suitability of the system.

Results

The surgeons evaluated the CALM system with an average score of 6.29 (out of 7) in ease of use and ease of learning, while an average score of 5.96 was assigned for controllability and safety. A score of 1.51 indicated reduced workload for the subjects. Of 57 subjects, 41 stated that the CALM system allows better surgical quality than the existing TLM systems.

Conclusions

The CALM system augments the usability, controllability, and efficiency in TLM. It enhances the ergonomics and accuracy beyond the current state of the art, potentially improving the surgical safety and quality. The system offers the intraoperative automated scanning of customized long incisions achieving uniform resections at the surgical site.

Robotic microlaryngeal phonosurgery: Testing of a "steady-hand" microsurgery platform

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

To evaluate gains in microlaryngeal precision achieved by using a novel robotic "steady hand" microsurgery platform in performing simulated phonosurgical tasks.

STUDY DESIGN

Crossover comparative study of surgical performance and descriptive analysis of surgeon feedback.

METHODS

A novel robotic ear, nose, and throat microsurgery system (REMS) was tested in simulated phonosurgery. Participants navigated a 0.4-mm-wide microlaryngeal needle through spirals of varying widths, both with and without robotic assistance. Fail time (time the needle contacted spiral edges) was measured, and statistical comparison was performed. Participants were surveyed to provide subjective feedback on the REMS.

RESULTS

Nine participants performed the task at three spiral widths, yielding 27 paired testing conditions. In 24 of 27 conditions, robot-assisted performance was better than unassisted; five trials were errorless, all achieved with the robot. Paired analysis of all conditions revealed fail time of 0.769 ± 0.568 seconds manually, improving to 0.284 ± 0.584 seconds with the robot (P = .003). Analysis of individual spiral sizes showed statistically better performance with the REMS at spiral widths of 2 mm (0.156 ± 0.226 seconds vs. 0.549 ± 0.545 seconds, P = .019) and 1.5 mm (0.075 ± 0.099 seconds vs. 0.890 ± 0.518 seconds, P = .002). At 1.2 mm, all nine participants together showed similar performance with and without robotic assistance (0.621 ± 0.923 seconds vs. 0.868 ± 0.634 seconds, P = .52), though subgroup analysis of five surgeons most familiar with microlaryngoscopy showed statistically better performance with the robot (0.204 ± 0.164 seconds vs. 0.664 ± 0.354 seconds, P = .036).

CONCLUSIONS

The REMS is a novel platform with potential applications in microlaryngeal phonosurgery. Further feasibility studies and preclinical testing should be pursued as a bridge to eventual clinical use.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA. Laryngoscope, 128:126-132, 2018.