Vocal Tract Discomfort and Dysphonia in Patients Undergoing Empiric Therapeutic Trial with Proton Pump Inhibitor for Suspected Laryngopharyngeal Reflux. J Voice. 2018;. [PMID: 30563730 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2018.11.002]

The Relation Between Endoscopic and Subjective Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Signs, Vocal Tract Discomfort, Voice Handicap, and Voice Disorder Type: Same Yet Different?

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the relation between subjective voice-related symptoms and endoscopic findings in patients with different etiology of voice disorder and vocally healthy subjects with and without laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cross-sectional study.

METHODS

The study involved 149 participants (106 female, 43 male) including 125 with various voice disorders (functional, structural, and neurogenic) and 24 vocally healthy individuals. For self-rating the German versions of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), Vocal Tract Discomfort (VTD) Scale, and Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) were applied, while endoscopic evaluations utilized the Reflux Finding Score (RFS) and Reflux Sign Assessment (RSA). Statistical analyses incorporated ANOVA with Bonferroni posthoc tests to identify group variations. Correlations between VTD Scale, VHI, RSI, RFS, and RSA were evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient. To examine test sensitivity and specificity for the VTD Scale and RSA, we performed a receiver operating characteristics analysis. Youden's-Index was applied to determine the cut-off-value with best discriminatory abilities. The diagnosis of LPR was assumed when the criteria of RFS > 7 AND RSI > 13 was met.

RESULTS

Significant differences for all voice diagnosis groups and vocally healthy individuals for RFS and all three self-rating questionnaires were found. Moreover, there was significant correlation between VTD Scale and VHI and RSI as well as RSI and RFS, which was moderate, negative in the group of persons with LPR. However, there was no significant difference for RSA results between the vocally healthy or any diagnosis group.

CONCLUSION

Thus, the RFS may be more suitable to predict reflux and voice-related symptoms. The VTD Scale is a useful instrument in screening voice disorders but also LPR and can therefore be used as a tool for decision-making when transferring to a specialist.

Prevalence of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Symptoms, Dysphonia, and Vocal Tract Discomfort in Amateur Choir Singers

INTRODUCTION

Vocal tract discomfort (VTD), dysphonia, and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) symptoms are complaints frequently reported by amateur singers. There are two aims of this study. The first is to evaluate the prevalence of these symptoms using validated questionnaires. The second is to correlate singing-related variables with the questionnaire responses.

METHODS

A total of 392 amateur choir singers (ACS) and 514 control subjects completed an online survey divided into four parts: (1) clinical and demographic characteristics, (2) training in singing and singing experience, (3) history of gastroesophageal reflux disease and LPR symptoms, (4) validated questionnaires. Specifically, the reflux symptom index (RSI), the vocal tract discomfort scale (VTDS), and the voice symptom scale (VoiSS) were included to analyze the actual burden related to LPR symptoms, VTD, and dysphonia.

RESULTS

ACS demonstrated a healthier lifestyle and a lower prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms in comparison with control subjects. ACS scored significantly higher in VTDS and VoiSS than control subjects, while no differences in the RSI results were found. Significant correlations among the questionnaires' results were demonstrated. Occasional professional singing was the variable influencing VTDS and VoiSS results the most.

CONCLUSION

ACS do not evidently manifest a higher impairment connected to LPR (RSI score), while they do report higher levels of voice (VoiSS score) and vocal tract (VTDS score) impairments, in comparison with control subjects. The relevant correlations among the PRO measures suggest that LPR symptoms, VTD, and dysphonia are related to each other. Given the relevant repercussion on the severity of VTD and dysphonia, providers should specifically ask about occasional professional singing when treating amateur singers.

Development of a New Self-Assessment Tool for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Screening in Singers (SVHI-12-LPR)

INTRODUCTION

The present study aimed to develop a new tool for the evaluation of singers with self-reported symptoms suggestive of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) (the SVHI-12-LPR), by correlating RSI with SVHI in a population sample of 163 subjects (both professional and amateur singers), evaluated also by videolaryngostroboscopy. This study was a cross-sectional, double-observational study.

METHODS

RSI and SVHI were administered to 159 singers (amateurs, singing students, and professional singers). All subjects underwent videolaryngostroboscopy to objectively identify four subgroups: normal subjects (41.5%), subjects with organic lesions occupying the glottic space (17.6%), subjects with functional dysphonia (18.2%), and subjects presenting solely signs suggestive of LPR (22.6%). Using the validated RSI threshold, 33.9% of participants presented an RSI total score >13, suggestive of LPR.

RESULTS

Subjects with a suspected diagnosis of LPR at videolaryngostroboscopy presented a mean RSI significantly higher than other subgroups (p < 0.001). Moreover, the SVHI-36 score did not statistically differ between pathological subgroups. A significant positive relationship was observed between RSI and SVHI total score (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient [ρ] = 0.474, p < 0.001). 12 SVHI items (items 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 20, 24, 25, 26, 30) showed a significant association with RSI pathology classification. Statistical analysis demonstrated for the 12 selected items (SVHI-12-LPR) acceptable specificity (0.691) and sensibility (0.833) for the suspected diagnosis of LPR with a cut-off of 15.

CONCLUSIONS

From the SVHI-36, 12 items were extracted that correlated with the specific impact that LPR has on the singer's voice (SVHI-12-LPR), as evaluated by RSI and videolaryngostroboscopy. Such questionnaire represents a new tool that could be applied to singers with symptoms suggestive of LPR to select which patients would benefit from a further phoniatric and videolaryngostroboscopic evaluation.

[Treatment of laryngeal pathology associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease]

OBJECTIVE

To increase the effectiveness of the treatment of laryngeal pathology associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), to determine the indications for the appointment of anti-inflammatory therapy to these patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

120 patients were examined and treated, 58 of them men and 62 women, aged 30 to 82 years with GERD-associated laryngeal pathology. Three groups of patients were formed, comparable in age and gender, in accordance with the type of pachydermia in interarytenoid region; type 1 (40 patients) - pachydermia did not go beyond the middle of the interarytenoid cartilage (according to G.F. Ivanchenko), less than 3 mm, without signs of perifocal inflammation; type 2 (40 patients) - pachydermia of large size, extending beyond the middle of the interarytenoid cartilage with a spread to the entire interarytenoid region (according to G.F. Ivanchenko), often in combination with hyperkeratosis or epithelial dysplasia; type 3 (30 patients) - pachydermia of large size in combination with severe perifocal inflammation. All patients received antireflux therapy. Each group is divided into two subgroups: patients who did not receive anti-inflammatory therapy, and patients who received anti-inflammatory therapy, the basis of which was inhalation with degassed alkaline mineral water, as well as according to indications acetylcysteine, benzyldimethylammonium chloride 0.01% or hydroxymethylquinoxalindioxide, with severe swelling of the mucous membrane - budesonide. All patients completed the questionnaire "Reflux Symptoms Scale" before and after treatment.

RESULTS

In group 2 patients (with type 2 pachydermia), the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory therapy was 75%. Of the 20 patients in this group, after inhaled therapy, 4 patients had pachydermia in interarytenoid region disappeared, 11 patients had type 1 pachydermia visualized, 5 (25%) patients had no pronounced dynamics. In group 3 patients (with type 3 pachydermia), the effectiveness of inhaled treatment was 100%, out of 15 patients after inhaled therapy, type 2 pachydermia was diagnosed in 8 patients, type 1 pachydermia - in 7 patients. In 4 patients, complex therapy led to the complete disappearance of reflux-associated laryngeal granulomas without surgical treatment. The effectiveness of inhaled therapy in relation to patient complaints after a month was 87%, while the effectiveness of treatment of patients without inhalation was 45%.

CONCLUSIONS

Indications for the appointment of inhaled anti-inflammatory therapy in patients with reflux-associated pathology of the larynx are the presence of complaints of hoarseness, dryness, tickling, lump in the throat and chronic cough, endolaryngoscopic signs of exacerbation of chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the posterior larynx.

Supraglottic Botulinum Toxin Improves Symptoms in Patients with Laryngeal Sensory Dysfunction Manifesting as Abnormal Throat Sensation and/or Chronic Refractory Cough

Laryngeal sensory dysfunction (LSD) encompasses disorders of the vagal sensory pathways. Common manifestations include chronic refractory cough (CRC) and abnormal throat sensation (ATS). This study examined clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of LSD using a novel approach of laryngeal supraglottic Onabotulinum toxin Type A injection (BTX). This was a retrospective review of clinical data and treatment outcomes of supraglottic BTX in patients with LSD. Between November 2019 and May 2021, 14 patients underwent 25 injection cycles of supraglottic BTX for treatment of symptoms related to LSD, including ATS and CRC. Primary outcome measures included the Newcastle Laryngeal Hypersensitivity Questionnaire (LHQ), Cough Severity Index (CSI), Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), and Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) at baseline and within three months of treatment. Pre- and post-treatment data were compared using a linear mixed model. After supraglottic BTX, LHQ scores improved by 2.6. RSI and CSI improved by 8.0 and 5.0, respectively. VHI-10 did not change as a result of treatment. Short-term response to SLN block was significantly associated with longer term response to BTX treatment. These findings suggest that LSD presents clinically as ATS and CRC along with other upper airway symptoms. Supraglottic BTX injection is a safe and effective technique in the treatment of symptoms of LSD.

Signs and symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux and its relation to complaints and vocal quality

PURPOSE

To verify the association between laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) with age, gender, vocal deviation and voice complaints.

METHODS

The study included patients between 18 and 70 years old, referred to the Otorhinolaryngology service for complaints of voice or reflux, of both sexes. Endolaryngeal findings were classified using the Reflux Finding Score (RFS) scale. The presence or absence of vocal and reflux complaints was verified and correlated with the RFS classification. On the same date, they were submitted to sustained vowel voice recording and chained speech. The auditory-perceptual assessment was performed by a speech therapist, classifying the general degree of vocal deviation based on the GRBASI scale.

RESULTS

Ninety-seven patients were evaluated, with a mean age of 42. 6 years, 62. 3% female, and mean RFS scores of 6. 26 points. Among the patients, 48 subjects had vocal complaints, 34 women with a mean age of 44. 9 years and an average RFS score of 6. 94 points. The other 49 individuals had no vocal complaints, and of these 27 were women, with a mean age of 41. 2 years and a mean RFS score of 5. 5 points. The variables "reflux complaint", "vocal complaint" and age were the ones that most correlated with the RFS scale scores.

CONCLUSION

There is a relationship among reflux complaints, laryngeal findings and vocal complaint.

Levodopa challenge test: indications, protocol, and guide

A drug challenge test in Parkinson's disease, such as the levodopa challenge test (LCT), is an easy and generally safe procedure, which has been used by clinicians for various indications. The results of the test have significant implications in the management of patients, from preoperative evaluation for deep brain stimulation to providing the basis for medication adjustments to address motor or non-motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. This paper reviews the different indications and protocols commonly used in an acute LCT. Potential complications of the procedure and an overview of levodopa responsiveness and unresponsiveness are also discussed.

Treatment of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease: A systematic review

BACKGROUNG

For a long time, laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) has been treated by proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) with an uncertain success rate.

AIM

To shed light the current therapeutic strategies used for LPRD in order to analysis the rationale in the LPRD treatment.

METHODS

Three authors conducted a PubMed search to identify papers published between January 1990 and February 2019 about the treatment of LPRD. Clinical prospective or retrospective studies had to explore the impact of medical treatment(s) on the clinical presentation of suspected or confirmed LPRD. The criteria for considering studies for the review were based on the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome framework.

RESULTS

The search identified 1355 relevant papers, of which 76 studies met the inclusion criteria, accounting for 6457 patients. A total of 64 studies consisted of empirical therapeutic trials and 12 were studies where authors formally identified LPRD with pH-monitoring or multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring (MII-pH). The main therapeutic scheme consisted of once or twice daily PPIs for a duration ranged from 4 to 24 wk. The most used PPIs were omeprazole, esomeprazole, rabeprazole, lansoprazole and pantoprazole with a success rate ranging from 18% to 87%. Other composite treatments have been prescribed including PPIs, alginate, prokinetics, and H₂ Receptor antagonists.

CONCLUSION

Regarding the development of MII-pH and the identification of LPRD subtypes (acid, nonacid, mixed), future studies are needed to improve the LPRD treatment considering all subtypes of reflux.