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Objectives: Evaluation of trends and utilization of speech-language-pathology (SLP) services, including stroboscopy, before and after medialization laryngoplasty (ML) over 11 years., Methods: Retrospective national US database study conducted using OptumLabs Data Warehouse. Study cohort included patients (age ≥18 years) who underwent ML between January 2007 and December 2016. Primary outcomes were rates of SLP visits in the 12 months before and 12 months after ML. Linear regression analysis was performed assessing for trends utilization across years. Secondary outcomes were predictors of utilization After-ML using multivariable logistic regression., Results: 1114 patients met criteria. Services, including stroboscopy, were utilized by 774 (69%) Before-ML and 697 (63%) After-ML. SLP services, excluding stroboscopy, were utilized by 512 (46%) Before-ML and 478 (43%) After-ML. Vocal cord paralysis was the most common diagnosis, 945 (84.8%) patients. Other service billed were stroboscopy, [Before-ML 676 (60.7%); After-ML 567 (50.9%)], voice evaluation [Before-ML 431(38.7%); After-ML 366 (32.9%)], voice therapy [Before-ML 309 (27.7%); After-ML 339 (30.4%)], laryngeal function studies, [Before-ML 175 (15.7%); After-ML 164 (14.7%)], swallow evaluations [Before-ML 150 (13.5%); After-ML 90 (8.1%)], and swallow therapy [Before-ML 53 (4.8%); After-ML 47 (4.2%)]. SLP utilization Before-ML predicted SLP utilization After-ML [Odds Ratio (95% Confidence Interval): 9.31 (6.78, 12.77)]. Nearly half (49%) of visits occurred in the 6 months around ML. Of those who had voice therapy, the majority (73.7%) had a total of 1 to 5 sessions., Conclusion: Based on this retrospective US national database study, SLP services and stroboscopy are a complementary component of assessment and treatment of patients who undergo ML with the majority of services occurring in the 3 months before and after ML. Future work would benefit from outcome data., (Copyright © 2020 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury is a potential complication of cardiothoracic surgery and cause of unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). Injection laryngoplasty (IL) is an intervention offered to patients with UVFP to alleviate symptoms including dysphagia, dysphonia and weak cough. There is no definitive evidence that IL prevents pneumonia. In this study, we compare rates of pneumonia in patients with UVFP secondary to cardiothoracic surgery who did or did not undergo IL., Methods: A retrospective chart review identified patients diagnosed with UVFP by an otolaryngologist using flexible laryngoscopy following cardiothoracic surgery from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2017. Each subject was grouped by IL status and assessed for subsequent pneumonia within 6 months of their diagnosis of UVFP. The association of IL with pneumonia was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression., Results: Of 92 patients who met inclusion criteria, 35 (38%) underwent IL and 57 (62%) did not. Twenty patients developed pneumonia, four who had undergone IL and 16 who had not; 12 patients developed aspiration pneumonia including two having undergone IL and 10 who had not. Those who had IL were less likely to develop total pneumonia compared to those who had not (HR = 0.33, P  = .045). The protective effect of IL was not as clearly sustained when measuring for aspiration pneumonia, specifically (HR = 0.34; P  = .10)., Discussion: Injection laryngoplasty may reduce the risk of pneumonia in patients with UVFP secondary to cardiothoracic surgery; however, further research is needed to quantify the potential protective nature of IL in this patient population., Level of Evidence: 3 (A retrospective cohort study).