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Objectives: Patients with lingual thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) can present as symptomatic with obstructive airway and feeding difficulties., Methods: We present 3 cases of symptomatic lingual TGDC., Results: All 3 patients were diagnosed with laryngomalacia and underwent further concurrent or delayed airway intervention, in addition to cyst removal., Conclusions: We reason that there is a phenotype of laryngomalacia in the symptomatic lingual thyroglossal duct cyst patients who present with symptoms due to disruption in laryngeal anatomy rather than the cyst itself causing obstructive symptoms. Distinguishing this phenotype, especially in comparison to other pathologies such as vallecular cysts, may better allow for planning of concurrent or delayed airway procedures and overall counseling of parents.

Objectives: Prophylactic flexible bronchoscopy immediately following open airway reconstruction allows for directed clearance of the distal airways, potentially reducing the rate of certain postoperative respiratory complications. In this investigation, we sought to determine if prophylactic flexible bronchoscopy at the conclusion of pediatric open airway reconstruction has any benefit over blind flexible suctioning of the trachea., Methods: A retrospective, single-center study at an urban tertiary care hospital was completed. From January 2010 to April 2013, patients underwent open airway reconstruction, immediately followed by blind flexible suctioning of the trachea for distal airway clearance. From May 2013 through December 2016, sequential patients underwent prophylactic flexible bronchoscopy immediately following airway reconstruction., Results: A total of 29 patients (age: 3.6 months-6.2 years) met inclusion criteria. Sixteen sequential patients underwent simple blind flexible suctioning and 13 sequential patients underwent directed, prophylactic flexible bronchoscopy. Demographics and comorbidities between the groups were equivalent other than slightly older age in the prophylactic bronchoscopy group. All clinical outcomes analyzed were equivalent other than faster time to room air ( P < .002) and a decrease in the number of chest physical therapy sessions ( P < .02) in a subset of patients who did not undergo prophylactic bronchoscopy., Conclusion: This investigation suggests that the use of prophylactic flexible bronchoscopy immediately following open airway reconstruction may not be superior to blind flexible suctioning of the trachea in limiting postoperative pulmonary complications. Further studies of greater power are needed to better elucidate any small differences that may exist between these two interventions.

We present the first known instance of type 1 laryngeal cleft (T1LC) in a set of triplets. Individuals with T1LC typically present on a spectrum, from asymptomatic to recurrent aspiration pneumonias and failure to thrive. Each of the triplets in this family had a unique clinical presentation and treatment plan. Management of T1LC should be influenced by the severity of symptoms rather than the presence or absence of the anomaly itself. These three cases also support the notion that severity of symptoms may be independent of shared biological parents, home environment, and age., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: We sought to determine whether serial intraoperative laryngeal electromyography (L-EMG) or evoked L-EMG predicts vocal fold (VF) recovery following iatrogenic injury., Methods: Six beagles were sedated, and bipolar needle electrodes were inserted into each thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle. Endotracheal tube surface electrodes were also placed. As the sedation lightened, L-EMG activity was recorded from all electrodes with an intraoperative nerve monitoring system. The neck was opened, and direct recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) stimulation was performed. Subsequently, 4 animals underwent crush injury of the left RLN,and 2 animals underwent nerve transection. The L-EMG procedures were repeated every 1 to 2 weeks until left VF motion was observed in the dogs that suffered RLN crush injury. At each time point, the neck was opened and both RLNs were stimulated., Results: Fibrillation potentials were detected in all animals after RLN injury. A change to electrical silence was seen in the animals in the crush injury group that were evaluated during the week preceding VF recovery. Fibrillation potentials and VF immobility persisted in the transection group throughout the complete time course of these experiments. The first appearance of an evoked response coincided with or occurred after the return of left VF motion in the crush injury group. The threshold, latency, and amplitude differed from those of the controls and approached normal values over time. No response was detected in the transected nerves., Conclusions: The disappearance of fibrillations on intraoperative L-EMG was noted in the animals tested the week before the return of VF motion, and the return of motor unit action potentials was seen along with return of VF function. Evoked L-EMG was not helpful in predicting the return of VF mobility, but it may help quantify degrees of RLN injury and predict the speed of recovery.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to determine whether a simplified technique for intraoperative laryngeal electromyography was feasible using standard nerve integrity monitoring electrodes and audiovisual digital recording equipment. Our secondary objective was to determine if laryngeal electromyography data provided any additional information that significantly influenced patient management., Methods: Between February 2006 and February 2007, 10 children referred to our institution with vocal fold immobility underwent intraoperative laryngeal electromyography of the thyroarytenoid muscles. A retrospective chart review of these 10 patients was performed after institutional review board approval., Results: Standard nerve integrity monitoring electrodes can be used to perform intraoperative laryngeal electromyography of the thyroarytenoid muscles in children. In 5 of 10 cases reviewed, data from laryngeal electromyography recordings meaningfully influenced the care of children with vocal fold immobility and affected clinical decision-making, sometimes altering management strategies. In the remaining 5 children, data supported clinical impressions but did not alter treatment plans. Two children with idiopathic bilateral vocal fold paralysis initially presented with a lack of electrical activity on one or both sides but went on to develop motor unit action potentials that preceded recovery of motion in both vocal folds., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that standard nerve monitoring equipment can be used to perform intraoperative laryngeal electromyography and that electromyographic data can assist clinicians in the management of complex patients. Additionally, there may be a role for the use of serial intraoperative measurements in predicting recovery from vocal fold paralysis in the pediatric age group.

Objectives: Arthrogryposis is a rare, congenital condition characterized by joint contractures of the extremities with muscle weakness and fibrosis. The otolaryngological manifestations of this disorder may include stridor, chronic aspiration, and Pierre Robin sequence, among others. Prior reports of vocal fold immobility associated with arthrogryposis have attributed it to recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, rather than to cricoarytenoid joint restriction. The objective of this study was to determine whether children with arthrogryposis and vocal fold immobility demonstrated laryngeal elec- tromyography (L-EMG) findings consistent with recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis or with cricoarytenoid joint restriction. Methods: A retrospective, institutional chart review of children with otolaryngological manifestations of arthrogryposis was performed; 6 children were identified. Three patients had vocal fold immobility documented by flexible laryngos- copy. These 3 children were prospectively evaluated with direct laryngoscopy and intraoperative L-EMG. Results: The 3. children with arthrogryposis and vocal fold dysfunction had laryngoscopy-confirmed vocal fold immobility or significant restriction of motion. The intraoperative L-EMG tracings obtained from all 3 patients demonstrated motor unit action potentials without evidence of denervation. Conclusions: This series, albeit small, suggests that the vocal fold dysfunction related to arthrogryposis may be attributable to cricoarytenoid joint restriction or poor laryngeal coordination, rather than to nerve paralysis, as originally postulated. ' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]