Blue light laser recontouring for pediatric benign fibrovascular vocal fold lesions

INTRODUCTION

Up to 40% of children with hoarseness due to benign fibrovascular vocal fold lesions do not respond to voice therapy and could benefit from further intervention to improve their communication abilities. Currently there are limited surgical options for children too young to comply with post-operative voice rest. We have begun using the 445 nm laser to recontour benign fibrovascular vocal fold lesions without post-operative voice rest in young children with hoarseness due to vocal fold nodules that is unresponsive to voice therapy. This report presents pilot data on the effect of this treatment on pediatric voice-related quality of life.

METHODS

Pediatric patients with benign fibrovascular lesions and severe subjective dysphonia (per parents or teachers) were given the option of undergoing surgery or continuing voice therapy. Those that opted for surgery underwent 445 nm laser recontouring of their vocal folds. They were discharged home the same day with no voice rest required. Pre- and post-demographic, acoustic measures, auditory perceptual assessments, and validated patient quality of life measures were collected.

RESULTS

Four patients (ages 3-8y, all male) were selected for surgery. The mean pre- and post-op PVRQOL scores were 59.4 (range: 22.5-80) and 98.1 (range: 97.5-100), respectively (low scores suggest lower voice-related QOL), and a mean change of 38.8 (previously established minimum clinically important difference: 12). Pre- and post-acoustic and aerodynamic measures similarly reflected this improvement.

CONCLUSION

This pilot case series addresses a commonly seen population (children with benign fibrovascular lesions and significant dysphonia despite voice therapy) where the best practice for timing and types of surgical intervention is unclear. Photoangiolytic lasers (including the 445 nm laser) are gaining popularity for the treatment of benign laryngeal pathologies, and their use may expand treatment possibilities for children with severe dysphonia due to benign vocal fold lesions that do not respond to voice therapy. Further longitudinal investigations are necessary to confirm the safety and efficacy.

Development and Content Validity of a Novel Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Total Laryngectomy: The LARY-Q

OBJECTIVES

To develop a patient-reported outcomes measure (PROM) for total laryngectomy.

STUDY DESIGN

Qualitative interviews with a purposive sample of patients with total laryngectomy, followed by cognitive debriefing interviews with patients and expert feedback.

METHODS

Concept elicitation was performed using in-depth qualitative interviews with a purposive sample of patients who had undergone total laryngectomy. Patients were recruited from head and neck surgery and speech-language pathology clinics as well as via laryngectomy support groups. Interviews were conducted, recorded, transcribed, and coded, resulting in a conceptual framework and item pool. Using the item pool, preliminary scales were drafted. The scales were revised iteratively over 5 rounds using feedback from cognitive interviews with patients and multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary expert feedback.

RESULTS

A total of 15 patients with total laryngectomy (mean age 68 years, range 57-79) were interviewed resulting in 1555 codes. The codes were used to form a conceptual framework grouped into top-level domains of stoma, function, health-related quality of life, devices, and experience of care. Items were used to form 15 preliminary scales that were revised over five rounds of cognitive debriefing interviews (n = 9 patients) and expert feedback (n = 17 experts). The field-test version of the LARY-Q has 18 scales and 277 items in total.

CONCLUSIONS

The LARY-Q is a novel PROM designed to assess outcomes associated with total laryngectomy. The next step involves a field test study with a heterogenous sample of patients to assess the psychometric properties of the LARY-Q and perform item reduction.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of using the heat and moisture exchangers compared with alternative stoma covers in laryngectomy rehabilitation: US perspective

BACKGROUND

This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) vs alternative stoma covers (ASCs) following laryngectomy in the United States.

METHODS

A cost-effectiveness and budget impact analysis were conducted including uncertainty analyses using real-world survey data with pulmonary events and productivity loss.

RESULTS

HME use was more effective and less costly compared with ASCs. Quality-adjusted life years were slightly higher for HME-users. Total costs per patient (lifetime) were $59 362 (HME) and $102 416 (ASC). Pulmonary events and productivity loss occurred more frequently in the ASC-users. Annual budget savings were up to $40 183 593. Costs per pulmonary event averted were $3770.

CONCLUSIONS

HME utilization in laryngectomy patients was cost-effective. Reimbursement of HME devices is thus recommended. Utilities may be underestimated due to the generic utility instrument used and sample size. Therefore, we recommend development of a disease-specific utility tool to incorporate in future analyses.

Indirect vs Direct Voice Therapy for Children With Vocal Nodules: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Benign vocal fold nodules affect 12% to 22% of the pediatric population, and 95% of otolaryngologists recommend voice therapy as treatment. However, no randomized clinical trials that we are aware of have shown its benefits.

Objective

To determine the impact of voice therapy in children with vocal fold nodules according to pretherapy and posttherapy scores on the Pediatric Voice-Related Quality of Life (PVRQOL) survey; secondary objectives included changes in phonatory parameters.

Design, Setting, and Participants

For this multicenter randomized clinical trial, 114 children ages 6 to 10 years with vocal fold nodules, PVRQOL scores less than 87.5, and dysphonia for longer than 12 weeks were recruited from outpatient voice and speech clinics. This age range was identified because these patients have not experienced pubertal changes of the larynx, tolerate stroboscopy, and cooperate with voice therapy. Participants were blinded to treatment arm.

Interventions

Participants received either indirect or direct therapy for 8 to 12 weeks. Indirect therapy focused on education and discussion of voice principles, while direct treatment used the stimulus, response, antecedent paradigm.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome measure was PVRQOL score change before and after treatment. Secondary phonatory measures were also compared.

Results

Overall, 114 children were recruited for study (mean [SD] age, 8 [1.4] years; 83 males [73%]); with 57 randomized to receive either indirect or direct therapy. Both direct and indirect therapy approaches showed significant differences in PVRQOL scores pretherapy to posttherapy. The mean increase in PVRQOL score for direct therapy was 19.2, and 14.7 for indirect therapy (difference, 4.5; 95.3% CI, -10.8 to 19.8). Of 44 participants in the direct therapy group, 27 (61%) achieved a clinically meaningful PVRQOL improvement, compared with 26 of 49 (53%) for indirect therapy (difference, 8%; 95% CI, -12 to 28). Post hoc stratification showed robust effects in the direct therapy group for older children (Cohen d = 0.50) and the latter two-thirds of participants (Cohen d = 0.46). Vocal fold nodules reduced in size in 31% (22 of 70) and completely resolved in 11% (8 of 70) of participants who consented to a second set of images after going through the recruitment process.

Conclusions and Relevance

Both direct and indirect voice therapy improved voice-related quality of life in children with vocal fold nodules, although there was no significant difference between approaches. Future studies may focus upon which voice therapy approaches are effective in treating age-defined populations.

Trial Registration

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01255735.

The Study of Laryngoscopic and Autonomic Patterns in Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction

OBJECTIVES

(1) Identify laryngeal patterns axiomatic to exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) and (2) investigate the role of autonomic function in EILO.

METHODS

Twenty-seven athletic adolescents (13 EILO, 14 control) underwent laryngoscopy at rest and exercise. Glottal configurations, supraglottic dynamics, systolic blood pressure responses, and heart rate recovery were compared between conditions and groups.

RESULTS

Inspiratory glottal angles were smaller in the EILO group than the control group with exercise. However, group differences were not statistically significant ( P > .05), likely due to high variability of laryngeal responses in the EILO group. Expiratory glottal patterns showed statistically greater abductory responses to exercise in the control group ( P = .001) but not the EILO group ( P > .05). Arytenoid prolapse occurred variably in both groups. Systolic blood pressure responses to exercise were higher in the control group, and heart rate recovery was faster in the EILO group. However, no significant differences were seen between the 2 groups on either autonomic parameter ( P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

"Paradoxical" inspiratory and blunted expiratory vocal fold pattern responses to exercise best characterize EILO. Group differences were only seen with exercise challenge, thus highlighting the utility of provocation and control groups to identify EILO.

Consistency of Voice Frequency and Perturbation Measures in Children

Objective

Evaluate normal pediatric voice frequency and perturbation measures with Voice Evaluation Suite (VES) and Multi Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP), determine the consistency of these measures over time, and understand which measures might be most useful for evaluating children with voice disorders.

Study Design

Prospective, longitudinal study of normal voices of 50 children aged 4 to 17 years.

Setting

Pediatric otolaryngology clinic within tertiary hospital.

Subjects and Methods

Two tests of sustained utterances from each child were evaluated by 2 computerized voice analysis programs for frequency and perturbation. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess the reliability between the samples.

Results

Children (male/female, 1.08:1) with a mean age of 8.34 years were tested on an average of 54.2 minutes apart. Each test included 4 utterances; 1 was analyzed by MDVP, and 3 grouped utterances were averaged and evaluated by VES. Fundamental frequency had excellent reliability (ICC = 0.95) in both VES and MDVP. Jitter, shimmer, and noise to harmonic ratio were poorly reliable (ICC ≤0.4) in MDVP but had good to excellent reliability (ICC 0.66-0.8) in VES.

Conclusion

Single, sustained utterances in children provide consistent measures of frequency. Perturbation is not reliably measured by such testing, but averaging multiple samples yields improved consistency. Evaluating acoustic measure stability in spontaneous speech and in sustained utterances cued by a tuning frequency can provide further insight on pediatric voice consistency.

Pediatric paradoxical vocal-fold motion: presentation and natural history

OBJECTIVES

To describe (1) a cohort of children with paradoxical vocal-fold motion (PVFM) who were referred to a multidisciplinary airway center and (2) the outcomes of various treatment modalities including speech therapy, gastroesophageal reflux disease treatment, and psychiatric treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a case series with chart review of children younger than 18 years with PVFM evaluated at a tertiary care pediatric airway center over a 36-month period.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine children with PVFM were evaluated. The cohort had a mean age of 13.64 years (range: 8-18 years) and a female-to-male ratio of 3:1. Speech therapy as an initial treatment resulted in a 63% (24 of 38) success rate after an average of 3.7 treatment sessions. Speech therapy was a more successful treatment than antireflux therapy (P = .001). Ten percent (6 of 59) of the children presented with a known psychiatric diagnosis, and 30% (18 of 59) of children in the cohort were ultimately diagnosed with a psychiatric condition. Children with inspiratory stridor at rest had a lower initial success rate with speech therapy (56%), a higher rate of underlying psychiatric disorders (75%), and a high rate of success after psychiatric treatment (100%) that required, on average, 3 sessions over a 2-month period.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the largest study to date on pediatric PVFM. The majority of children with PVFM improve with speech therapy. Children with PVFM at rest may be better treated with psychiatric therapy than speech therapy. Furthermore, children who present with symptoms at rest may have a higher likelihood of underlying psychiatric disease.

Pediatric laryngeal diadochokinetic rates: establishing a normative database

OBJECTIVE

Laryngeal diadochokinetic (L-DDK) rate is a measure of laryngeal neural integrity. The objectives for this study included the following: (1) establish the first comprehensive pediatric normative database for L-DDK rates (DDK) using the Voice Evaluation Suite, a computerized voice analysis program; and (2) analyze normal L-DDK rates for age and gender differences.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study with planned data collection.

SETTING

Outpatient pediatric otolaryngology clinic.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Three hundred seven children aged 4 to 18 with normal voices. L-DDK rates were collected during a 6-month period. Main outcome measures included age, gender, and L-DDK rates.

RESULTS

Three hundred seven children (151 girls and 156 boys) were evaluated. There was no statistically significant difference between the overall mean L-DDK rate of boys (2.69 syllables/s) compared to girls (2.55 syllables/s; P > .05). Further analysis of all individual age groups did not reveal any statistical significance between boys and girls. There was a statistically significant difference among children aged 4 to 11 compared to those 12 to 18 years old. Among boys aged 4 to 11, the mean rate was 2.49 syllables per second, whereas among 12- to 18-year-olds, the rate was 2.95 syllables per second (P < .01). The mean rate was 2.40 syllables per second among girls aged 4 to 11 and 2.74 syllables per second for those aged 12 to 18 (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

This is the largest normative pediatric L-DDK analysis in the English literature. The findings suggest that neurolaryngeal development approaches adult maturation at the beginning of the teenage years. These data have the potential application for objective measurement of neurolaryngeal coordination in children with neurologic impairment and also in children who have undergone nerve reinnervation procedures.

Pediatric Diadochokinetic Rates: Establishing a Normative Database

Objective: 1) Establish the first comprehensive pediatric normative database for diadochokinetic rates (DDK) using the Voice Evaluation Suite, a computerized voice analysis program. 2) Analyze normal DDK rates for age and gender differences.

Method: Observational design analyzing DDK rates on 335 children ages 4 to 18 years with normal voices. Data was collected over a 6-month period from July to December 2010 in a pediatric otolaryngology clinic. Main outcome measures included age, gender, Pediatric Voice Related Quality of Life screening, and DDK rates.

Results: The mean DDK rates of each age and gender are presented. There was no statistically significant difference between boys and girls of the same age ( P < .05). There was a statistically significant difference in children ages 4 to 11 years when compared with children ages 12 to 18 years ( P < .001).

Conclusion: Pediatric DDK rate is similar between boys and girls of the same age. Faster DDK rates are seen in children over 12 years of age, regardless of gender, when compared with those children younger than 12 years. The normative data presented represents the most comprehensive DDK database in the English language.

The Effect of Singing on Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

Objective: While there has been widespread conjecture regarding the role of laryngopharyngeal reflux in singing, there remains no objective data demonstrating that voice use causes increased reflux. We attempted to objectively analyze pharyngeal pH changes during singing to better understand how it is affected by singing.

Method: Eight singers underwent 24-hour pharyngeal pH probe testing with the Restech Dx-pH measurement systemTM, one hour of which was spent singing. The mean pH and number of pH drops were recorded. A one-tailed t test was used to compare the mean pH of the time singing with the 2 control values.

Results: The mean pH for the control time was 6.8347, for the control time without the time supine was 6.9164, and for the time singing was 7.0286. We were thus able to reject the null hypothesis that singing decreases laryngeal pH ( P = .035). There was an increase in mean pH during the time singing as compared with the 2 control groups.

Conclusion: While singers may have increased reflux complaints, our data suggest that the singing itself does not cause an increase in acid exposure to the laryngopharynx.

Stroboscopic assessment of vocal fold keratosis and glottic cancer

Disruption of the normal viscoelastic properties of the superficial lamina propria (SLP) results in aberrant vocal fold vibration and mucosal wave propagation. Therefore, an investigation was performed to determine whether stroboscopy is a reliable method for 1) differentiating invasive glottic carcinoma from intraepithelial atypia or 2) determining the depth of cancer invasion. An analysis was done on the preoperative vocal fold vibration characteristics of 62 keratotic (intraepithelial, 45; cancer, 17) lesions that were subsequently resected by means of microlaryngoscopy. Histopathology and intraoperative mapping were used to specify the depth of invasion. A panel of 4 blinded judges was used to assess the amplitude of vocal fold vibration and the magnitude of mucosal wave activity in the region of the lesion from videostroboscopic recordings. The final comparative data set comprised only those ratings that achieved at least 75% interjudge agreement. Of the 28 intraepithelial lesions that could be reliably evaluated for amplitude of vocal fold vibration, only 2 were normal, with the amplitude reduced in 24 and absent in 2. Of the 30 intraepithelial lesions in which mucosal wave activity could be reliably assessed, only 2 were normal, with the wave reduced in 24 and absent in 4. Furthermore, amplitude of vocal fold vibration and magnitude of mucosal wave propagation were absent in 2 of 4 carcinomas in which the depth of microinvasion did not reach the vocal ligament. According to the findings herein, reduced amplitude of vocal fold vibration and/or mucosal wave propagation associated with keratosis did not reliably predict the presence of cancer or the depth of cancer invasion into the laminae propriae. However, the presence of a flexible mucosal wave probably indicates that there is not extensive vocal ligament invasion. Reductions in the amplitude of vocal fold vibration and in mucosal wave magnitude were usually noted in intraepithelial atypia, despite the fact that there was no invasion into the SLP. The reduced epithelial pliability could be due to bulky keratosis and/or alteration of the SLP occurring as a result of inflammation or fibrovascular scarring.

Addressing children's oral health inequalities in Northern Ireland: a research-practice-community partnership initiative

OBJECTIVE

Northern Ireland has a high prevalence of childhood dental caries, reflecting heavy consumption of cariogenic snack foods. To develop a policy to promote and facilitate healthier eating, researchers, practitioners, and the school community formed a partnership, together creating the Boost Better Breaks (BBB) school-based policy. The policy was developed with and supported by dieticians, health promotion officers, teachers, school meal advisors, and local suppliers of school milk. Eighty percent of primary schools and preschool groups within the Southern Health and Social Services Board are involved in the program, which permits the consumption of only milk and fruit at break time.

METHODS

The authors assessed the effectiveness of the partnership using data from its first two years.

RESULTS

Results of the first two years of evaluation are positive. Initial findings indicate that the program had a positive effect in increasing the mean number of sound teeth in children attending schools in areas in which socioeconomic conditions are poor.

CONCLUSION

This initiative suggests that collaboration can facilitate improvement in children's dental health and that careful targeting of the policy to schools in poor areas has the potential to narrow disparities.

Montgomery Thyroplasty Implant for vocal fold immobility: phonatory outcomes

Forty-three patients with a diagnosis of unilateral vocal fold immobility underwent thyroplasty type I with the Montgomery Thyroplasty Implant System. Preoperative and postoperative evaluations were completed by means of videostroboscopic, acoustic, and aerodynamic measures. Clinicians' perceptions of vocal quality and patients' satisfaction with the surgery and vocal quality were determined. Improvements after surgery were observed for glottal closure, vocal fold amplitude, mucosal wave activity, average intensity, maximum intensity range, maximum phonation time, glottal airflow, average sound pressure, and subglottal pressure. Average postsurgical fundamental frequency values fell within normal limits and did not display significant changes relative to presurgical values. The clinicians' perceptual evaluations indicated an improvement in voice quality for most patients. A majority of patients expressed satisfaction with the surgery and resulting voice quality. The results of the present study, in combination with the surgical advantages that have been described for the Montgomery Thyroplasty Implant System, support the view that this approach offers an attractive alternative for treating unilateral vocal fold immobility.