Biomedical subjects

C R Eisenbach

Publications and source records attributed to C R Eisenbach.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1984

Comparing the unaided visual exam to lateral cinefluorography in estimating several parameters of velopharyngeal function.

Retrospectively, the medical records of patients with known velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) were reviewed for comments based on an unaided visual examination regarding their velopharyngeal function. These comments were compared to objective findings obtained from the cinefluorographic evaluations performed on each of the patients. A total of 68 recorded comments (47 patients) were identified and fell into four broad categories: (1) velar length, (2) depth of the nasopharynx, (3) velopharyngeal closure, and (4) velar mobility. The results revealed an agreement level of 60% between judgements made from visual examinations and cinefluorographic evaluations. This relatively poor agreement suggests that management decisions concerning VPI must include some method of objectively assessing velopharyngeal form and function during connected speech.

Cineradiography↗

PubMed1982

A long term study on treating velopharyngeal insufficiency by teflon injection.

Thirty-five individuals with velopharyngeal insufficiency, including eight with failed pharyngeal flaps, were treated with injectable Teflon and followed postoperatively for an average of three years. The patients' speech and voice quality were evaluated pre- and postoperatively, and an outcome was judged successful only if there was total elimination of the preoperative symptoms of hypernasality and inappropriate nasal air emission. All patients were evaluated preoperatively with cinefluorography, and an attempt was made to obtain serial postoperative films in order to determine the stability of the Teflon pad with time. An overall success rate of 74% was achieved. Success for patients with VPI, excluding those patients with pharyngeal flaps was 78%. In treating the failed pharyngeal flap cases we achieved a 62% success rate. The stability of the implanted Teflon was assessed over time as determined from measurements made on patients who received two or more postoperative cine films. Statistical analysis revealed no significant change in thickness of the pad over a period of time. Our conclusions are that with careful case selection, the injectable Teflon procedure is safe, effective and that the implant remains stable with time.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1981

Assessing VP function: the lateral still technique vs. cinefluorography.

Thirty consecutive patients with clinical manifestations of velopharyngeal insufficiency were evaluated by the radiographic techniques of 70 mm lateral stills and lateral cinefluorography. The purpose of this study was to make retrospective comparisons between the actual decisions on velopharyngeal competency or incompetency which were originally made on the basis of cinefluorographic findings with those which we believe would have been made from that information obtained from lateral stills alone had the lateral stills been the only radiographic information available. The results of the comparison between the two techniques suggests that one is apt to misdiagnose the presence or absence of velopharyngeal insufficiency on the order of 30% of th time when relying on the lateral still X-ray technique alone. We attribute this potential error rate to the very limited speech sample that can be employed with the lateral still technique. With the increasing number of secondary procedures available for treating VP dysfunction it is our opinion that cine- or videofluoroscopy allows the clinician to examine additional aspects of the patient's palatal function that are as important in the final management decision as simply the identification of closure or the lack of closure of the velopharyngeal sphincter.

Adolescent↗