Evaluation of sleeping parameters with peripheral arterial tonometry in childhood sleep apnea and snoring: a clinical feasibility study.

Purpose: The influence of adenoidectomy ± tonsillotomy/tonsillectomy on objective sleep parameters in children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) was determined with the help of ambulatory polygraphy (WatchPat300, Neucomed Ltd., Vienna, Austria). These results were compared with the findings of the OSA-18 questionnaire.

Smart Artificial Soft Tissue - Application to a Hybrid Simulator for Training of Laryngeal Pacemaker Implantation.

Surgical simulators are safe and evolving educational tools for developing surgical skills. In particular, virtual and hybrid simulators are preferred due to their detailedness, customization and evaluation capabilities. To accelerate the revolution of a novel class of hybrid simulators, a Smart Artificial Soft Tissue is presented here, that determines the relative position of conductive surgical instruments in artificial soft tissue by inverse resistance mappings without the need for a fixed reference point.

Electromyography of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles: a consensus guideline.

Purpose: Since the introduction of transcutaneous-transcricoidal needle approaches, electromyography (EMG) of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle (PCA) became easier to perform and teach. Among the Neurolaryngology working group of the European Laryngological Society, several centers have adopted PCA EMG as part of their routine EMG workup in vocal fold immobility collectively gathering long-term experience. The purpose is to give an update and an extension to already existing guidelines on laryngeal EMG with specific regard to PCA EMG.

Modified vacuum-assisted closure (EndoVAC) therapy for treatment of pharyngocutaneous fistula: Case series and a review of the literature.

Background: Pharyngocutaneous fistula is a potential life-threatening complication following head and neck surgery. There is only limited evidence about the efficacy of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy and endoscopic vacuum-assisted closure (EndoVAC) therapy for the treatment of pharyngocutaneous fistulas.

Methods: In this article, we report on a consecutive case series of six male patients with pharyngocutaneous fistula treated with a modified outside-in EndoVAC technique.

Objectivation of laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) data: turn number vs. qualitative analysis.

Purpose: This paper describes a first attempt to quantify LEMG data based on turn number calculation. The results obtained for both healthy and ailing thyroarytenoid (TA) muscles of patients with unilateral vocal fold immobility (UVFI) were compared with the respective qualitative evaluation concerning volitional activity to determine whether the two types of analyses deliver similar results.

Methods: LEMG data obtained from 44 adults with UVFI were considered for the study.

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Stimulator.

Electrical stimulation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve is a safe and promising therapeutic approach with the potentiality to overcome the shortcomings of conventional surgical glottal enlargement. Although aberrant or synkinetic reinnervation is commonly considered an unfavorable condition, particularly for recovery of vocal fold movement, its presence is essential to ensure the effective clinical performance of laryngeal pacemakers. Thus, the effective selection of patients who can profit from laryngeal pacemakers implantation demands the implementation of new diagnostic tools based on tests capable of reliably detecting the presence of viable reinnervation on at least one vocal fold.

Inter-rater reliability of seven neurolaryngologists in laryngeal EMG signal interpretation.

Purpose: Laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) has been considered as gold standard in diagnostics of vocal fold movement impairment, but is still not commonly implemented in clinical routine. Since the signal interpretation of LEMG signals (LEMGs) is often a subjective and semi-quantitative matter, the goal of this study was to evaluate the inter-rater reliability of neurolaryngologists on LEMGs of volitional muscle activity.

Methods: For this study, 52 representative LEMGs of 371 LEMG datasets were selected from a multicenter registry for a blinded evaluation by 7 experienced members of the neurolaryngology working group of the European Laryngological Society (ELS).

Therapy of bilateral vocal fold paralysis: Real world data of an international multi-center registry.

Purpose: To collect data on diagnosis, treatment, patient's management, and quality of life in patient with bilateral vocal fold paralysis (BVFP).

Methods: A retrospective, observational, multicenter registry study was performed. Medical records of 326 adults with permanent BVFP (median age: 61 years; 70% female, 60% after thyroid surgery) generated between 2010 and 2017.

Use of erbium laser in the treatment of persistent post-radiotherapy laryngeal edema: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Post-radiotherapy laryngeal edema may affect the patients' quality of life, leading to repeated treatment attempts, which include massage/physical therapy, inhalations, and/or tracheostomy.

Case Presentation: We report the surgical treatment approach of a 69-year-old patient with severe persistent post-radiotherapy laryngeal edema. After multiple inpatient admissions and failed conservative therapy, we used the erbium laser to treat the arytenoid edema.

Vocal fold paresis: Medical specialists' opinions on standard diagnostics and laryngeal findings.

Purpose: There is still no clear consensus on the diagnostic value of specific laryngeal findings in patients with suspected vocal fold paresis (VFP). The aim of the study was to establish expert opinion on criteria for the diagnosis of VFP in Europe.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey using the questionnaire introduced by Wu and Sulica for US American experts was addressed to laryngeal experts in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and in a second survey wave to members of the European Laryngological Society.

Isolated choanal and gut atresias: pathogenetic role of serine protease inhibitor type 2 (SPINT2) gene mutations unlikely.

Background: Choanal (CA) and gastrointestinal atresias (GA) are an important feature of syndromic congenital sodium diarrhea (sCSD), a disorder recently associated with mutations in the gene for serine protease inhibitor type 2 (SPINT2). It is, however, not known whether isolated non-syndromic CA and GA themselves might result from SPINT2 mutations.

Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study to investigate 19 CA and/or GA patients without diarrhea ("non-sCSD") for potential sCSD characteristic clinical features and SPINT2 mutations.

[The role of laryngeal electromyography in the diagnosis of vocal cord movement disorders].

The development of the therapeutic possibilities of vocal cord immobility necessitated the parallel renewal of diagnostic methods. In the last years, laryngeal electromyography, which was first introduced more than 70 years ago, has been re-discovered. After reviewing the international literature and their own experience, the authors present the indications, technical requirements, method and, particularly, the evaluation of the results of this procedure.

Laryngeal pacing for bilateral vocal fold paralysis: Voice and respiratory aspects.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of neurostimulation with the laryngeal pacemaker (LP) system in patients with bilateral vocal fold paralysis (BVFP) in terms of voice quality and respiratory function.

Study Design: Feasibility study, first-in-human, single-arm, open-label, prospective, multicenter study with group-sequential design and 6-month follow-up period, as described in details in our previous publication.

Methods: Nine symptomatic BVFP subjects were unilaterally implanted with the LP system at three study sites in Germany and Austria.

Laryngeal pacing via an implantable stimulator for the rehabilitation of subjects suffering from bilateral vocal fold paralysis: A prospective first-in-human study.

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate the performance and safety of the newly developed Laryngeal Pacemaker System (LP System) for the treatment of bilateral vocal fold paralysis (BVFP).

Study Design: Feasibility, first-in-human, single-arm, open-label, prospective, multicenter study with a group sequential design and a 6-month follow-up period.

Methods: Nine symptomatic BVFP subjects were implanted unilaterally with the LP System.

An unusual cause of inspiratory stridor in the newborn: congenital pharyngeal teratoma--a case report.

Background: Neonatal inspiratory stridor is an important examination finding that requires immediate and adequate evaluation of the underlying etiology. Depending on the severity of the airway obstruction and the presence or absence of associated symptoms such as respiratory distress and feeding problems, early initiation of a complete diagnostic workup can be crucial. The most common cause of neonatal inspiratory stridor is laryngomalacia, however, several differential diagnoses need to be investigated.

Teaching laryngeal electromyography.

To achieve consensus in the methodology, interpretation, validity, and clinical application of laryngeal electromyography (LEMG), a working group on neurolaryngology from the European Laryngological Society (ELS) was founded in 2010. The main task of the working group was to teach key techniques like LEMG procedures. The objective of this study was to collect information on the teaching techniques used and describe them.

Laryngeal electromyography: a proposal for guidelines of the European Laryngological Society.

Although recognized as a valuable diagnostic tool for more than 60 years, many laryngologists do not routinely use laryngeal electromyography (LEMG). This may be due to a persisting lack of agreement on methodology, interpretation, validity, and clinical application of LEMG. To achieve consensus in these fields, a laryngeal electromyography working group of European neurolaryngologic experts was formed in order to (1) evaluate guidelines for LEMG performance and (2) identify issues requiring further clarification.

Evaluation of peripheral vocal cord paralysis by electromyography.

Objective: To analyze the predictive value of electromyography (EMG) after peripheral vocal cord paralysis and to estimate regeneration time.

Study Design: Retrospective study based on electromyographic data and medical chart review of university based ENT hospitals.

Methods: EMG results of 448 patients were classified into neuropraxia, axonotmesis/neurotmesis, or not classifiable and followed until final outcome.

Refractory rhinosinusitis complicating immunosuppression: application of N-chlorotaurine, a novel endogenous antiseptic agent.

Severe infections are a frequent complication in immunosuppression following transplantations. In the case reported here, a heart-transplanted patient was treated for refractory rhinosinusitis with a combination of sinus surgery and rinsing with N-chlorotaurine (NCT). The daily rinse was well tolerated and effective.