The Dubai Definition and Diagnostic Criteria of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux: The IFOS Consensus

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this work was to gather an international consensus group to propose a global definition and diagnostic approach of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) to guide primary care and specialist physicians in the management of LPR.

METHODS

Forty-eight international experts (otolaryngologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, and physiologists) were included in a modified Delphi process to revise 48 statements about definition, clinical presentation, and diagnostic approaches to LPR. Three voting rounds determined a consensus statement to be acceptable when 80% of experts agreed with a rating of at least 8/10. Votes were anonymous and the analyses of voting rounds were performed by an independent statistician.

RESULTS

After the third round, 79.2% of statements (N = 38/48) were approved. LPR was defined as a disease of the upper aerodigestive tract resulting from the direct and/or indirect effects of gastroduodenal content reflux, inducing morphological and/or neurological changes in the upper aerodigestive tract. LPR is associated with recognized non-specific laryngeal and extra-laryngeal symptoms and signs that can be evaluated with validated patient-reported outcome questionnaires and clinical instruments. The hypopharyngeal-esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH testing can suggest the diagnosis of LPR when there is >1 acid, weakly acid or nonacid hypopharyngeal reflux event in 24 h.

CONCLUSION

A global consensus definition for LPR is presented to improve detection and diagnosis of the disease for otolaryngologists, pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, and primary care practitioners. The approved statements are offered to improve collaborative research by adopting common and validated diagnostic approaches to LPR.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

5 Laryngoscope, 134:1614-1624, 2024.

Medialization Thyroplasty and Arytenoid Adduction for Management of Neurological Vocal Fold Immobility

Vocal fold immobility can be either unilateral or bilateral and partial or complete. The aim of this chapter is to discuss the management of unilateral paresis using medialization thyroplasty with or without arytenoid adduction as a means of treating neurogenic causes as opposed to mechanical fixation. Medialization thyroplasty is an open surgical procedure that is performed under local or general anesthesia. Essentially, it aims to close the glottic gap, approximating both vocal folds together and thereby allowing for restoration of the efficiency of the larynx. The glottic gap results from atrophy of the affected vocal fold and in so doing results in glottic insufficiency which causes voice breathiness, strain, fatigue, aspiration, and swallowing difficulties that make up the bulk of symptoms associated with this condition. Unlike injection laryngoplasty, medialization thyroplasty does not increase the "bulk" of the atrophic vocal fold but merely brings the fold closer to its unaffected partner. Besides the obvious lateralization, there is occasionally a third dimensional component to the affected fold. The slipping and prolapse forward of the arytenoid cartilage due to atrophy of the muscles supporting it and the natural declination of the facet joint it rests on cause a vertical drop of the level of the affected vocal fold that may not be remedied with the medialization procedure, hence requiring arytenoid adduction. Although attempts to medialize the vocal fold have been described in the past with limited access, the basic premise of creating a window in the thyroid cartilage remains central. The differences between materials used, their respective strengths and weaknesses, the pitfalls and pearls in achieving a good closure and improvement in voice, swallow, and safety of the airway are all discussed accordingly.

Laryngeal Leukoplakia: State of the Art Review

Objective

This state-of-the-art article reviews the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of vocal fold leukoplakia, with focus on recent advances. It focuses on the clinical challenges that otolaryngologists face balancing both oncological efficacy and functional outcomes in leukoplakia and presents the current philosophies and techniques to consider when managing such patients.

Data Sources

PubMed/MEDLINE.

Review Methods

We conducted a detailed review of publications related to vocal cord and laryngeal leukoplakia, dysplasia, hyperkeratosis, leukoplakia endoscopy, and leukoplakia management focusing specifically on oncologic outcomes, voice preservation, current and emerging diagnosis, and management techniques.

Conclusions

There has been a paradigm shift away from performing “vocal cord stripping” procedures that can cause irreversible hoarseness toward voice preservation surgery while achieving comparable oncologic control. Surgical technical and instrumental developments have been designed to maximally treat superficial disease while preserving underling vibratory mucosa. Recent improvements in histopathological grading systems and advances in biomarker classification may allow for improved oncologic risk stratification. Furthermore, improvements in endoscopic imaging capabilities and contact endoscopy are currently being studied for their potential diagnostic significance.

Implications for Practice

To optimally manage vocal fold leukoplakia, the otolaryngologist should become familiar with the oncologic implications of the disease and the importance of obtaining pathologic diagnosis to rule out malignancy. In addition, the surgeon should maintain surgical techniques and knowledge of available instruments and lasers that can assist in surgical management while prioritizing the preservation of vibratory tissue and voice quality. Finally, the surgeon and the patient should understand the clinical importance of routine endoscopic surveillance.

Future Advances in Neurolaryngology

Neurolaryngology as a subspecialty of laryngology has developed considerably in the last four decades with more laryngologists, neurologists, speech and swallow therapists, and neurophysiologists taking interest in the field. The North American and Japanese laryngology societies have increasingly focused on conditions which are mainly concerned with aberrations of the nervous system affecting the larynx directly or indirectly. In the last few years, societies in Europe and the Asia-Pacific have also recognized the need to collaborate both within their organizations and with other societies globally. Cross-border pollination of ideas has increasingly become easier and with the aid of technology - almost seamless with real-time capacity to share operating experience, lectures, and panel discussions. The future advances in neurolaryngology will require incremental improvements in processes of diagnostics, objectivization (where possible) of pathology, standardization of treatments with comparison of results using accepted patient-based tests, investigations and imaging where possible. Ultimately, from the contributions in the previous chapters, it is fairly obvious that many conditions are still poorly understood and therefore management becomes more symptom based rather than dealing with the root cause of the problem. An understanding of the physiology of vocalization, swallow, and breathing beyond a rudimentary acceptance of many towards the vagus nerve and other neural factors may help understand what has otherwise been a rather simplistic approach to one of the most complex parts of the human body, essential to life and equally important - the quality of life. In this chapter, we aim to look at where advances in neurolaryngology may and perhaps will take place. We will look at the potential of better imaging modalities, neurophysiological testing and physiology of the brain. Tests and treatments currently in use may require some refinements or be possibly abandoned and replaced with more effective ones that can demonstrate a difference in the management of various patient groups. The future is hard to predict, and the rate of advancement equally so, but given the rate at which information technology, artificial intelligence, and basic science research are progressing, neurolaryngology may indeed have its welcome boost in the not too distant future.

Using peak direct subglottic pressure level as an objective measure during medialization thyroplasty: a prospective study

Type I medialization thyroplasty (MT) was introduced by Isshiki more than 40 years ago. It is one of the most widely used surgical options to correct glottic insufficiency. Intraoperatively, the surgeon relies solely on perceptual subjective measures to help to achieve an optimal glottic closure by bringing the affected vocal fold closer to the midline in order to close the glottic gap. One of the challenges of MT is the persistence of symptoms due to incorrect choice of implant size. As of now, no standard objective measure is being used to determine the optimal implant size needed to achieve the glottic closure required. Peak direct subglottic pressure (PDSGP) is one of the aerodynamic objective measurements of vocal efficiency that significantly increases in cases of glottic insufficiency. It is easily measured during MT by inserting a catheter through the cricothyroid membrane. A prospective study was carried out on patients undergoing MT using the Montgomery Implant(®). Choice of implant size was carried out based on the standard perceptual subjective assessment by the operating surgeon and was based on degree of glottic closure and voice quality. PDSGP was recorded for each implant size and then we tested the agreement between the chosen implant size and the lowest PDSGP. The agreement between the implant size of choice and the lowest PDSGP recorded was 62.5 % [CI 44-79 %]. PDSGP was easy to measure and resulted in no complications. PDSGP is a useful tool that could assist in the choice of the correct implant size needed during MT.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

The da Vinci robotic system in head and neck surgery

Intuitive Surgical Inc. (Sunnyvale, Ca, USA) extended the use of the da Vinci robot to head and neck surgery in 2005 following the previous use in urological, gynecological and cardiothoracic surgery. It then gained wide popularity throughout the globe. Our aim is to describe the da Vinci Robot System and discuss its applications in head and neck surgery. Continued refinements and applications in robotic surgery for otolaryngology will in time be possible as new robotic procedures are developed for endolaryngeal work.

Transoral robotic surgery for base of tongue neoplasms

Surgery to the base of tongue (BOT) in the presence of neoplasm is a challenging topic for head and neck surgeons. This area is difficult to access and includes important neurovascular structures such as the hypoglossal nerve and lingual artery. The pivotal role of the tongue base in swallowing makes planning the surgical approach more challenging. The surgical approaches vary from open neck/mandibulotomy to transoral laser surgery (TLS) which have significant disadvantages. After introduction of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) to otolaryngology practice with the da Vinci Surgical system, we have in our armamentarium a new approach to the BOT. The improved exposure with new retractors, 3-dimensional (3-D) visualization and magnification and advanced motion capacity allow for increased ease to perform surgery in this difficult area. In recent years, several articles published the data about safety and feasibility of TORS for various conditions. This article presents our approach to the BOT for neoplasms including malignant and benign lesions.

A single-centre retrospective review of unilateral and bilateral Dysport injections in adductor spasmodic dysphonia

We reviewed the results and side-effect profile of the Dysport preparation of botulinum toxin A (BTA) in the management of the adductor spasmodic dysphonia. We performed 272 injection episodes in 68 patients, 42 (62%) female, 26 (38%) male. A total of 116 of these injections were unilateral, and 156 were bilateral; 94% of the injections were considered to have been successful with a voice score of 2 or higher. The mean duration of effect (injection intervals) was 128.8 days in the unilateral cohort and 118.7 days in the bilateral (P > 0.05). We injected a relatively lower dose of BTA for unilateral injection episodes in our institution compared to those reported by others to produce comparable results and side-effect profiles.

Assessment of the Formant Frequencies in Normal and Laryngectomized Individuals Using Linear Predictive Coding

The objective of this study was to assess the difference in voice quality as defined by acoustical analysis using sustained vowel in laryngectomized patients in comparison with normal volunteers. This was designed as a retrospective single center cohort study. An adult tertiary referral unit formed the setting of this study. Fifty patients (40 males) who underwent total laryngectomy and 31 normal volunteers (18 male) participated. Group comparisons with the first three formant frequencies (F1, F2, and F3) using linear predictive coding (LPC) (Laryngograph Ltd, London, UK) was performed. The existence of any significant difference of F1, F2, and F3 between the two groups using the sustained vowel /i/ and the effects of other factors namely, tumor stage (T), chemoradiotherapy, pharyngectomy, cricothyroid myotomy, closure of pharyngoesophageal segment, and postoperative complication were analyzed. Formant frequencies F1, F2, and F3 were significantly different in male laryngectomees compared to controls: F1 (P<0.001, Mann-Whitney U test), F2 (P<0.001, Student's t test), and F3 (P=0.008, Student's t test). There was no significant difference between females in both groups for all three formant frequencies. Chemoradiotherapy and postoperative complications (pharyngocutaneous fistula) caused a significantly lower formant F1 in men, but showed little effect in F2 and F3. Laryngectomized males produced significantly higher formant frequencies, F1, F2, and F3, compared to normal volunteers, and this is consistent with literature. Chemoradiotherapy and postoperative complications significantly influenced the formant scores in the laryngectomee population. This study shows that robust and reliable data could be obtained using electroglottography and LPC in normal volunteers and laryngectomees using a sustained vowel.

Analysis of formant frequencies in patients with oral or oropharyngeal cancers treated by glossectomy

AIMS

To compare voice quality as defined by formant analysis using a sustained vowel in patients who have undergone a partial glossectomy with a group of normal subjects.

METHODS & PROCEDURES

The design consisted of a single centre, cross-sectional cohort study. The setting was an Adult Tertiary Referral Unit. A total of 26 patients (19 males) who underwent partial glossectomy and 31 normal volunteers (18 males) participated in the study. Group comparisons using the first three formant frequencies (F1, F2 and F3) using linear predictive coding (Laryngograph Ltd, London, UK) were performed. The existence of any significant difference of F1, F2 and F3 between the two groups using the sustained vowel /i/ and the effects of other factors, namely age, first presentation versus recurrence, site (oral cavity, oropharynx), subsite (anterior two-thirds of the tongue, tongue base), stage, radiation, complication, and neck dissection, were analysed.

OUTCOMES & RESULTS

Formant frequencies F1, F2 and F3 were normally distributed. F1 and F2 were significantly different in normal males versus females. F1, F2 and F3 were not different statistically between male and female glossectomees. Comparison of only women showed significant differences between normal subjects and patients in F2 and F3, but none in F1. This was the opposite in men where F1 was significantly different. Age, tumour presentation, site, subsite, radiation and neck dissection showed no significant difference. Postoperative complications significantly affected the F1 formant frequency.

CONCLUSIONS

The study found that the formant values in patients following a partial glossectomy were altered significantly as compared with the normal control subjects. Only gender and complications and not the age, site, subsite, radiation and neck dissection were seen to influence the formant scores.