Surgical Treatment Applied to Bilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis in Adults: Systematic Review

Surgical Management of Bilateral Abductor Paralysis: Diode Laser Versus Coblation; A Prospective Study

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to compare the results of both diode laser and coblation in the treatment of bilateral vocal fold immobility (BVFI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective clinical study was performed on 80 non-tracheostomised patients with bilateral vocal fold paralysis divided into two groups; Group A: diode laser, Group B: coblation. Medical Research Council "mMRC" Dyspnea scale, maximal phonatory time (MPT), Voice handicap index (VHI), and functional outcome swallowing scale (FOSS) were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively. Also, the VAS pain scale and operative time of both groups are recorded.

RESULTS

Within each group, there was a statistically significant decrease in the mMRC dyspnea scale and maximum phonation time and a significant increase in VHI (P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between the studied groups postoperative and regarding the percent change of the MPT ( more decrease in the coblation group). Concerning the operative time and the VAS pain score, there was a statistically significant difference between the studied groups regarding operating time and the VAS pain scale (significantly lower in the coblation group) (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Both Coblation and diode laser are effective tools in the treatment of BVFI with similar minimal voice quality affection. The maximum phonation time decreased more in the coblation group, while the voice handicap index did not significantly differ between both groups. However, Coblation may be superior to diode laser in terms of less operative pain and shorter intraoperative time. Coblation may be more favorable for patients at risk of prolonged general anesthesia duration.

Predictive Outcomes of Deep Learning Measurement of the Anterior Glottic Angle in Bilateral Vocal Fold Immobility

OBJECTIVE

(1) To compare maximum glottic opening angle (anterior glottic angle, AGA) in patients with bilateral vocal fold immobility (BVFI), unilateral vocal fold immobility (UVFI) and normal larynges (NL), and (2) to correlate maximum AGA with patient-reported outcome measures.

METHODS

Patients wisth BVFI, UVFI, and NL were retrospectively studied. An open-source deep learning-based computer vision tool for vocal fold tracking was used to analyze videolaryngoscopy. Minimum and maximum AGA were calculated and correlated with three patient-reported outcomes measures.

RESULTS

Two hundred and fourteen patients were included. Mean maximum AGA was 29.91° (14.40° SD), 42.59° (12.37° SD), and 57.08° (11.14° SD) in BVFI (N = 70), UVFI (N = 70), and NL (N = 72) groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Patients requiring operative airway intervention for BVFI had an average maximum AGA of 24.94° (10.66° SD), statistically different from those not requiring intervention (p = 0.0001). There was moderate negative correlation between Dyspnea Index scores and AGA (Spearman r = -0.345, p = 0.0003). Maximum AGA demonstrated high discriminatory ability for BVFI diagnosis (AUC 0.92, 95% CI 0.81-0.97, p < 0.001) and moderate ability to predict need for operative airway intervention (AUC 0.77, 95% CI 0.64-0.89, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

A computer vision tool for quantitative assessment of the AGA from videolaryngoscopy demonstrated ability to discriminate between patients with BVFI, UVFI, and normal controls and predict need for operative airway intervention. This tool may be useful for assessment of other neurological laryngeal conditions and may help guide decision-making in laryngeal surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III Laryngoscope, 133:2285-2291, 2023.