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Biomedical subjects

Peak Woo

Publications and source records attributed to Peak Woo.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Office steroid injections of the larynx.

OBJECTIVE: Steroid injection into the larynx has been sporadically reported as helpful in benign lesions of the larynx. Its role in laryngology remains unclear. This study reviews the indications and results of 47 steroid injections in 34 patients in an office setting. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective review of 47 injections in 34 patients. Methylprednisolone acetate suspension, USP (40 mg/mL), was injected by indirect laryngoscopy under local anesthesia. Results were evaluated by stroboscopy and by perceptual evaluation of the GRABS scale before and after injection. Pre- versus postinjection ratings were compared by paired t test. RESULTS: Indications for injection were: 1) postoperative scar with local stiffness (12 patients), 2) vocal nodules and polyp (18 patients), and 3) sarcoidosis/granuloma (4 patients). Steroid injections were done in professional singers instead of repeated oral administration of steroids and/or to avoid surgery in patients with polyps and cysts. Improvement was noted in 28 of 34 (82%). Eleven of the 18 patients with polyps and nodules had significant improvement and avoided surgery. Vocal fold scars improved after injection with an improved voice grade (P < .01), an improved amplitude (P < .05), and improved mucosal wave (P < .05). There were no complications. Only two patients could not tolerate office injection. CONCLUSION: Office steroid injections are a valuable adjunct in management of vocal fold scars, polyps, nodules, and granulomas.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗
PubMed2005

Chronic cough as a sign of laryngeal sensory neuropathy: diagnosis and treatment.

Chronic cough is often attributed to reflux, postnasal drip, or asthma. We present 28 patients who had chronic cough or throat-clearing as a manifestation of sensory neuropathy involving the superior or recurrent laryngeal nerve. They had been identified as having sudden-onset cough, laryngospasm, or throat-clearing after viral illness, surgery, or an unknown trigger. Cough and laryngospasm were the most common complaints. Seventy-one percent of the patients had concomitant superior laryngeal nerve or recurrent laryngeal nerve motor neuropathy documented by laryngeal electromyography or videostroboscopy. After a negative workup for reflux, asthma, or postnasal drip, these patients were treated with gabapentin at 100 to 900 mg/d. Symptomatic relief was achieved in 68% of the patients. Sensory neuropathy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve or superior laryngeal nerve should be considered in the workup for chronic cough or larynx irritability. Symptomatic management of patients with cough and laryngospasm due to a suspected sensory neuropathy may include the use of antiseizure medications such as gabapentin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Use of injectable hydroxyapatite in the secondary setting to restore glottic competence after partial laryngectomy with arytenoidectomy.

Hydroxyapatite cement is a calcium phosphate putty, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, that solidifies in 20 minutes and gains bone-like stability after 4 to 6 hours. It has been used for craniofacial reconstruction, spinal stabilization, and ossicular reconstruction. This is the first report of use of injectable hydroxyapatite to rebuild soft and hard tissue defects of the larynx after partial laryngeal surgery. Hydroxyapatite was injected in 4 patients to address glottic incompetence after partial laryngectomy. The patients were dependent on tracheotomy and/or gastrostomy tubes. Some had failed prior corrective surgeries. All of the operations were performed endoscopically and gave immediate improvement of glottic incompetence. All 4 patients reported improved symptoms. Three were able to have gastrostomy tubes removed, 1 was decannulated, and 1 had improved voice. In conclusion, hydroxyapatite injection is a technically simple procedure to restore glottic competence that may obviate the need for an open procedure.

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMed2004

Aberrant recurrent laryngeal nerve reinnervation as a cause of stridor and laryngospasm.

Unilateral vocal fold paralysis rarely presents with symptoms of stridor, laryngospasm, and dyspnea. Abnormal reinnervation of abductor nerve branches into adductor fibers may be one cause. Four patients have been positively identified by laryngeal electromyography. Two patients presented after thyroid surgery for thyroid neoplasm. One presented after cervical disk surgery. One patient presented after herpes simplex infection with multiple cranial nerve involvement. All patients had new onset of dyspnea with exertion many months after the recurrent nerve injury. Fiberoptic laryngoscopy showed the affected vocal fold to be immobile. However, with hyperventilation and deep inspiration, there was paradoxical adductor motion of the paretic vocal fold. Laryngeal electromyography showed evidence of reduced but intact voluntary motor units in the thyroarytenoid muscle. These motor units fired on inspiration and not on phonation. This pattern was not seen on the normal side. These findings are consistent with paradoxical innervation and/or synkinesis. Each patient was managed by Botox injection into the adductor muscle. Periodic reinjections may be necessary to manage the condition.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Serial office-based intralesional injection of cidofovir in adult-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

Intralesional injection of cidofovir is used in the treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis as an adjuvant therapy after microsurgical excision and CO2 laser therapy. This is conventionally done in the operating room with the patient under general anesthesia. We report our experience with 5 patients with adult-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis who were treated with intralesional injections of cidofovir after recurrence of their papillomatosis. These injections were given monthly in the office without the use of general anesthesia. Before cidofovir injection, all patients required repeated CO2 laser treatments at intervals of less than 5 months. We injected 7.5 mg/mL of cidofovir transorally into the papillomas under office telescopic control. These injections were given monthly for 3 consecutive months. The patients were then followed up for 2 to 10 months after therapy to monitor the size of the papillomas. In all 5 patients, partial remission of the laryngeal papillomatosis was noted during the follow-up period. Their need for repeat microsurgery was delayed, and their vocal function improved. Intralesional injection of cidofovir in an office setting appears to be safe and effective. It might be more convenient and cost-effective than performing the same procedure in the operating room with the patient under general anesthesia.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Hypopharyngeal pharyngoplasty in the management of pharyngeal paralysis: a new procedure.

Dysphagia after a high vagal nerve injury may be associated with a patulous hypopharynx that serves as a reservoir for pharyngeal secretions, contributing to primary or secondary aspiration. We describe a new hypopharyngeal pharyngoplasty procedure for the paralyzed pharynx to improve swallow. The paralyzed pyriform sinus is resected to remove insensate and redundant mucosa. The inferior constrictor muscle is then advanced anterior to the oblique line of the thyroid cartilage to improve pharyngeal tone and prevent pharyngeal dilatation. The surgery is performed in conjunction with medialization laryngoplasty and arytenoid adduction. The utility of this procedure is reviewed retrospectively in 8 patients. They were evaluated by clinical evaluation, fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallow, and modified barium swallow study. All had significant preoperative dysphagia. Three patients were gastrostomy tube-dependent. After operation, all patients had subjective and objective improvements in swallow and progressed to peroral feeding. There were no operative complications. We conclude that hypopharyngeal pharyngoplasty diminishes pyriform sinus pooling and improves pharyngeal transit. Dysphagia patients with unilateral pharyngeal paralysis secondary to cranial nerve palsies may benefit from this new procedure.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

A preliminary report on micronized AlloDerm injection laryngoplasty.

OBJECTIVES: To report the preliminary data of voice and quality-of-life improvement after micronized AlloDerm injection laryngoplasty in patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study was conducted in patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis who underwent injection laryngoplasty with micronized AlloDerm. METHODS: Preoperative and postoperative patient evaluation consisted of videostrobolaryngoscopy, computer voice analysis, airflow, and voice handicap index (VHI) assessment. All injections were conducted with the patient under general anesthesia using the Storz injector system and a 22-gauge spinal needle. RESULTS: Fourteen patients received injection with an average amount of 0.641 mL. Twelve patients were available for evaluation. Initial results at 4 weeks (n = 12) showed significant increase in habitual phonation time from 3.84 to 6.72 seconds (P <.01) and a decrease in airflow from 0.616 to 0.295 I's (P <.01). The VHI rating improved from 62.8 to 37.5 (P <.01). Jitter and shimmer also improved significantly (P <.05). Stroboscopic findings showed complete closure of glottic gap in 10 patients with excellent return of mucosal wave on the injected side. The mucosal wave return after injection was rapid with little evidence of tissue reaction. Postoperative follow-up at 3 months (n = 8) demonstrated slight resorption of the material, but sustained excellent voice was noted in 87.5%. Minimal morbidity and tissue reaction were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Micronized AlloDerm appears to be a safe new material that is suitable for injection laryngoplasty. Long-term results are pending.

Adult↗