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The upper airways play important roles in respiratory defensive reflexes. Although solitary chemosensory cells and chemosensory cell clusters have been reported in the laryngeal mucosa of mammalian species, the distribution and cellular morphology of chemosensory cells remain unclear. In the present study, the distribution and morphology of solitary chemosensory cells and chemosensory cell clusters were examined by immunofluorescence for GNAT3 on whole‐mount preparations of the rat laryngeal mucosa. Electrophysiological experiments were performed to analyze the respiratory reflexes evoked by bitter stimuli to the laryngeal cavity. In the whole area of the laryngeal mucosa, the numbers of GNAT3‐immunoreactive solitary chemosensory cells and chemosensory clusters were 421.0 ± 20.3 and 62.7 ± 6.9, respectively. GNAT3‐immunoreactive solitary chemosensory cells were mainly distributed in the mucosa overlying epiglottic and arytenoid cartilage, and chemosensory clusters were mainly distributed on the edge of the epiglottis and aryepiglottic fold. GNAT3‐immunoreactive solitary chemosensory cells were slender with elongated processes or had a flask‐like/columnar shape. The number of GNAT3‐immunoreactive cells in chemosensory clusters was 6.1 ± 0.4, ranging between 2 and 14 cells. GNAT3‐immunoreactive cells in the cluster were variform and the tips of apical processes gathered at one point at the surface of the epithelium. The tips of apical cytoplasmic processes in solitary chemosensory cells and cells in the cluster were immunoreactive for espin, and faced the laryngeal cavity. Physiological experiments showed that the application of 10 mm quinine hydrochloride to the laryngeal cavity decreased respiratory frequency. The present results revealed the chemosensory field of the larynx and the morphological characteristics of the laryngeal chemosensory system for respiratory depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laryngeal high-speed videoendoscopy (HSV) allows objective quantification of vocal fold vibratory characteristics. However, it is unknown how the analyzed sequence length affects some of the computed parameters. To examine if varying sequence lengths influence parameter calculation, 20 HSV recordings of healthy females during sustained phonation were investigated. The clinical prevalent Photron Fastcam MC2 camera with a frame rate of 4000 fps and a spatial resolution of 512 × 256 pixels was used to collect HSV data. The glottal area waveform (GAW), describing the increase and decrease of the area between the vocal folds during phonation, was extracted. Based on the GAW, 16 perturbation parameters were computed for sequences of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 consecutive cycles. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics, version 21. Only three parameters (18.8%) were statistically significantly influenced by changing sequence lengths. Of these parameters, one changed until 10 cycles were reached, one until 20 cycles were reached and one, namely Amplitude Variability Index (AVI), changed between almost all groups of different sequence lengths. Moreover, visually observable, but not statistically significant, changes within parameters were observed. These changes were often most prominent between shorter sequence lengths. Hence, we suggest using a minimum sequence length of at least 20 cycles and discarding the parameter AVI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The intranarial epiglottis, a feature of all newborn mammals, allows suckling and breathing to continue almost simultaneously by separating an oral food stream from a nasal airstream. In contrast to other mammals, the human larynx descends in the neck between birth and six months, extending the distance between the caudal aspect of the soft palate and the cephalic tip of the epiglottis. The mechanism of airway protection changes from a pattern in which an upright epiglottis is grasped by an intact palatopharyngeal sphincter to one in which the epiglottis folds down over the laryngeal aditus and the adducted vocal folds. The comparative anatomy and anthropological literature describing laryngeal descent was reviewed. A series of MRI images were used to illustrate the normal descent of the human larynx, which take place in infants in the first six months of life. Based on this information, we hypothesize that a cleft palate, by interrupting the sphincter function of palatopharyngeus on a high neonatal epiglottis, precipitates a need for premature and rapid maturation of the neonate's airway protection pattern, particularly during feeding. This may explain why, even in the absence of Robin sequence, some babies with cleft palates suffer respiratory distress during feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasonography (TLUS) was recently developed to assess recurrent nerve palsy after thyroid/parathyroid surgery, with variable rates of efficiency. The aim of the current study was to evaluate this technique using subjective estimation and post-processing quantitative data. Methods: Fifty subjects presenting with a recurrent nerve palsy and 50 “controls” presenting with voice, swallowing, or breathing disorders following thyroid/parathyroid surgery were prospectively included. All of them underwent a flexible laryngoscopy, considered the gold standard, and a ten-second TLUS clip within the 10 days following surgery. In addition to the subjective interpretation of vocal fold motion, two quantitative criteria taking into account motion symmetry (symmetry index, SI) and amplitude (mobility index) of the two hemi-larynges were defined on TLUS acquisitions in adduction and abduction. Results: The subjective interpretation provided a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 96%, compared to the gold standard. The quantitative criteria provided a sensitivity and specificity of both 82%, when based on SI solely. When combining SI and mobility index, the sensitivity reached 94%, but the specificity fell to 66%.Conclusions: Visual assessment of recurrent nerve palsy using TLUS after thyroid/parathyroid surgery appeared a high sensitive and specific test compared to flexible laryngoscopy. Quantitative criteria are promising and need to be refined to better describe the whole TLUS video clip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We identified the most useful variables for prediction of difficult laryngoscopy in patients with cervical spondylosis according to physical indicators and preoperative skeletal X-ray and soft tissue MRI measurements. We hypothesized that there was a closer association between difficult laryngoscopy and radiologic indicators.Methods: We randomly enroled 315 patients undergoing elective cervical spine surgery and analysed the radiological and physical data in predicting difficult laryngoscopy.Results: We identified five variables that were most useful in predicting difficult laryngoscopy: the inter-incisor gap (P = 0.006), modified Mallampati test score (P = 0.004), distance from the highest point of the hyoid bone to the mandibular body (P < 0.001), most antero-inferior point of the upper central incisor tooth (P < 0.001), and length of the epiglottis (P = 0.002). Binary multivariate logistic regression analyses identified three factors that were independently associated with difficult laryngoscopy: the Mallampati score, distance from the hyoid bone to the mandibular body, and the anterior-inferior point of the upper central incisor tooth. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were 1.547 (1.029-2.327), 1.222 (1.139-1.310), and 1.224 (1.133-1.322), respectively. The AUC for hyoid bone distance to mandibular body (0.832) was larger than that of anterior-inferior point of the upper central incisor tooth (0.802, P > 0.05) and that of modified Mallampati test (0.602, P < 0.05).Conclusion: Distance from the highest point of the hyoid bone to the mandibular body appears to be the most accurate indicator for difficult laryngoscopy in patients with cervical spondylosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The C-MAC videolaryngoscope was evaluated for intubation in patients with predicted extremely difficult airway. The presented cases are patients with neoplasm tumors in larynx. In all cases, awake intubation using C-MAC videolaryngoscope was performed in patients breathing spontaneously, under local anaesthesia, with oxygen administered via nasal catheter. All intubations were successful and uneventful. The pre-surgery examination (CT scans and fiberscope laryngeal examination) was compared with view of larynx obtained during laryngoscopy. Based on my experience, I assume that C-MAC videolaryngoscope is a very useful tool for anaesthesiologists and can be applied not only for unexpected difficult intubation but also for predicted difficult airway. Moreover, it could be used as an additional diagnosis tool before larynx surgery. The view obtained with the C-MAC videlaryngoscope corresponds with larynx examination performed before surgery, and could potentially reveal more details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background GlideScope ® video-laryngoscopy is becoming increasingly used, including in paediatrics. However, to date, very few data are available on efficiency during situations involving difficult intubation. Our objective was to describe the usefulness of the GlideScope ® in children with presumed challenging airway criteria. Methods In this observational study, all children with predicted criteria of potential difficult intubation and requiring general anaesthesia with tracheal intubation were prospectively enrolled over a 12-month period. The Cormack and Lehane (CMK) grade was first assessed by direct laryngoscopy. In case of a CMK ≥ 3, the same experienced anaesthesiologist scored the CMK scale under GlideScope ® videoscopy. Data related to GlideScope ® use under difficult intubation conditions were analysed. Results Out of the sixty-one patients (median [25 th –75 th interquartile range] age of 12 [4–37] months) included, 37 (62%) patients have confirmed a high probability of difficult intubation. Compared to direct laryngoscopy, GlideScope ® video-laryngoscopy was significantly associated with an improved CMK grade ( P < 0.001). Tracheal intubation with the GlideScope ® was successful after the first attempt in almost one half of cases and ultimately in 100% of patients. The median time required for successful GlideScope ® intubation was 42.5 [30–60] s. No per procedure complications were recorded. Conclusion In children with challenging airways, GlideScope ® video-laryngoscopy resulted in a significant improvement of the glottic view with an excellent success rate and satisfactory time to intubation. How these devices are to be positioned in difficult airway management algorithms and guidelines remain to be defined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Airway management and tracheal intubation are routinely performed in paediatric anaesthesia and yet are associated with preventable adverse events. The McGrath ® MAC is a video laryngoscope with a curved blade similar to the Macintosh blade, which has not been previously described in first intention paediatric tracheal intubation. We aimed to compare direct laryngoscopy to the McGrath ® MAC video laryngoscope among novice laryngoscopists. Methods Six paediatric anaesthesia residents with novice skills in paediatric laryngoscopy were randomly assigned to perform tracheal intubation using either direct Macintosh laryngoscopy (DL) or the McGrath ® MAC video laryngoscope (MM) as the first attempted device in children weighing between 10 and 20 kg without difficult intubation. Results Our study enrolled 132 children between August 2013 and April 2015. The time to intubation was shorter in the DL group ( n = 67) compared to the MM group ( n = 65) with 42 s (35–50) versus 48 s (43–58) P = 0.002. The time to best view was similar between the two groups (10 s [7–16] versus 10 s [8–15]; P = 0.50). The tube passage time was shorter with DL (29 s [25–35] versus 35 s [30–45]; P = 0.0002) and either Cormak & Lehane grade or Percentage Of Glottis Opening (POGO) scores were similar between groups. Minor reversible respiratory adverse events were similar between groups: 12 in the DL group (17.9%) versus 12 in the MM group (18.5%). Discussion McGrath ® MAC video laryngoscopy, when performed by a novice laryngoscopist on easy-to-intubate children, is associated with longer intubation times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advancements in transnasal endoscopy enable a shift in diagnostic workup of lesions in the pharynx and larynx, from an examination with biopsy under general anesthesia to an office-based examination with flexible endoscopic biopsy under topical anesthesia. Procedural complications were evaluated to assess the safety of office-based flexible endoscopic biopsy in patients with benign and malignant laryngopharyngeal lesions. Patients who underwent flexible endoscopic biopsy from 2012 to 2016 were evaluated retrospectively. Complications were classified using the Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications. A total of 201 flexible endoscopic biopsies were performed in 187 patients. Two Clavien-Dindo grade I (laryngospasm and anterior epistaxis), one grade II (laryngeal bleeding), and one grade IIIb (laryngeal edema) complication were observed. The first complication was self-limiting and the other three required an intervention. All patients fully recovered without sequelae. Flexible endoscopic biopsy appears to be a safe office-based procedure for the diagnosis of benign and malignant laryngopharyngeal lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Anesthesia induction is often accompanied by a period of hemodynamic instability, which could be a significant problem in patients with compromised ventricular function. The aim of this study is to compare the hemodynamic responses to etomidate versus a combination of ketamine and propofol (ketofol) for anesthetic induction in patients with left ventricular dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Material and methods: In a double-blind randomized clinical study, a total of 84 patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction (EF < 40%) were randomly assigned to two groups (A and B). Patients in group A received etomidate 0.2 mg/kg and a placebo (normal saline); group B received a combination of ketamine (1 mg/kg) and propofol (1.5 mg/kg) at the induction of anesthesia. Two minutes after induction, hemodynamic variables, including systolic, diastolic, mean arterial pressure (SAP, DAP, MAP) and heart rate (HR), were measured immediately before and after the laryngoscopy, and before intubation and post-intubation at 1, 2, and 3 min. Results: The decrease in all hemodynamic parameters (SBP, DBP, MAP and HR) from induction time to laryngoscopy was greater in the ketofol group (group B) than in the etomidate group (group A) (p < 0.05). The ephedrine prescription rate due to hemodynamic changes was 24.4% (10 patients) and 5% (2 patients) in group B and group A, respectively (p = 0.03). Conclusions: We found that etomidate provides superior hemodynamic stability as compared to ketofol in patients with left ventricular dysfunction undergoing CABG surgery under general anesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluate patients with stridor expediently, as it has the potential to be life-threatening. Ensuring adequate airway patency, breathing, and circulation (ABCs) is the first priority in managing stridor. Viral croup is the most common etiology of stridor in children, and typically presents along with symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. Patients presenting to the emergency department with croup should receive 0.6 mg/kg of dexamethasone. Those who are actively stridorous also should receive nebulized Lepinephrine. Suspect possible foreign body aspiration until it can be disproven. In chronic or subacute presentations of croup, the possible etiologies are myriad, and likely will require laryngoscopy. A viral upper respiratory infection is often the first presentation of underlying airway abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has been used in adult and pediatric populations for decades. While the familiarity of its use in the neonatal population is increasing, there are few data investigating this. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of LMA placement in neonates by investigating the time and number of attempts required for successful placement and physiologic stability during the placement of the device. Methods: This study is one component of a national, multicenter, randomized controlled trial investigating surfactant administration through an LMA in neonates. Videotape of LMA placement was reviewed to determine the total procedure time and the number of attempts required to successfully place the device. Heart rate and oxygen saturation (SaO 2 ) were analyzed as change from baseline, in order to examine physiologic stability during device placement. Results: Videotape and physiologic data were analyzed for 36 infants. Gestational age ranged from 29 3/7 to 35 4/7 weeks (mean 33 ± 1.7) with the birth weight ranging from 1,290 to 3,180 g (mean 2,006 ± 482). Average total procedure time was 88 s (±136) with 64% of the procedures successfully completed in <35 s. Successful placement was achieved on the first attempt in 69% of the cases. Compared to baseline, heart rate increased by an average of 1 bpm (±4.5) and SaO 2 decreased an average of 6% (±7). Conclusions: Successful placement was achieved in the majority of patients in <35 s and required only one attempt. Physiologic parameters were maintained close to baseline, measured by minimal fluctuation in heart rate and SaO 2 during the procedure. Placement of the LMA is feasible in neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to being effective and easy to learn how to use, the ideal laryngoscope should be associated with minimal reduction in skill performance during gaps in practice over time. We compared the time taken to intubate the trachea of a manikin by novice medical students immediately after training, and then after 1 month, with no intervening practice. We designed a two-period, four-group, randomised, cross-over trial to compare the Macintosh, Venner(™) A.P. Advance(™) with difficult airway blade, C-MAC(®) with D-Blade and Airtraq(®) with wireless video-viewer. A bougie was used to aid intubation with the Macintosh and the C-MAC. After training, there was no significant difference in median (IQR [range]) intubation time using the videolaryngoscopes compared with the Macintosh, which took 30 (26.5-35 [12-118])s. One month later, the intubation time was longer using the C-MAC (41 (29.5-52 [20-119])s; p = 0.002) and A.P. Advance (40 (28.5-57.5 [21-107])s; p = 0.0003)m compared with the Macintosh (27 (21-29 [16-90])s); there was no difference using the Airtraq (27 (20.5-32.5 [15-94])s; p = 0.258) compared with the Macintosh. While skill acquisition after a brief period of learning and practice was equal for each laryngoscope, performance levels differed after 1 month without practice. In particular, the consistency of performance using the C-MAC and A.P. Advance was worse compared with the Macintosh and the Airtraq. While the clinical significance of this is doubtful, we believe that reliable and consistent performance at laryngoscopy is desirable; for the devices that we tested, this requires regular practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We sought to assess whether the GlideScope Ranger video laryngoscope may be a reliable alternative to direct laryngoscopy in the prehospital setting.Design: Multicenter, prospective, randomized, control trial with patient recruitment over 18 months.Setting: Four study centers operating physician-staffed rescue helicopters or ground units in Austria and Norway.Patients: Adult emergency patients requiring endotracheal intubation.Interventions: Airway management strictly following a prehospital algorithm. First and second intubation attempt employing GlideScope or direct laryngoscopy as randomized; third attempt crossover. After three failed intubation attempts, immediate use of an extraglottic airway device.Measurements and Main Results: A total of 326 patients were enrolled. Success rate with the GlideScope (n = 168) versus direct laryngoscopy (n = 158) group was 61.9% (104/168) versus 96.2% (152/158), respectively (p < 0.001). The main reasons for failed GlideScope intubation were failure to advance the tube into the larynx or trachea (26/168 vs 0/158; p < 0.001) and/or impaired sight due to blood or fluids (21/168 vs 3/158; p < 0.001). When GlideScope intubation failed, direct laryngoscopy was successful in 61 of 64 patients (95.3%), whereas GlideScope enabled intubation in four of six cases (66.7%) where direct laryngoscopy failed (p = 0.055). In addition, GlideScope was prone to impaired visualization of the monitor because of ambient light (29/168; 17.3%). There was no correlation between success rates and body mass index, age, indication for airway management, or experience of the physicians, respectively.Conclusions: Video laryngoscopy is an established tool in difficult airway management, but our results shed light on the specific problems in the emergency medical service setting. Prehospital use of the GlideScope was associated with some major problems, thus resulting in a lower intubation success rate when compared with direct laryngoscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Tracheal extubation in children with difficult airways may be associated with an increased risk of perioperative adverse events. Aims The aim of this study was to describe the exubation techniques used/ success rates/ adverse events related to tracheal extubation practices in children with difficult airways. Methods A retrospective analysis of tracheal extubation practices in the difficult airway population over a 78-month period was performed. Difficult airway was defined as a Cormack and Lehane Grade 3 view or greater, and/or tracheal intubation requiring ≥3 attempts, and/or the need for an alternate device to direct laryngoscopy for successful tracheal intubation, and/or difficult mask ventilation. Reasons for difficult airway, demographic/surgical data, technique(s) for tracheal extubation, success/failure of tracheal extubation, and adverse events were recorded. A failed tracheal extubation was defined as any adverse event related to the airway occurring within 6 h of extubation requiring reintubation. Results A total of 519 patients were reported to have a difficult airway during this study period in a tertiary care pediatric center. Of these, 137 patients (26%) met inclusion criteria. Tracheal extubation was successfully performed in 130 patients (95%). The majority of tracheal exubations were performed without the use of additional airway adjuncts straight onto anesthesia face mask (121/137; 88%). Extubation failure occurred in seven cases (5%). Among the failed extubations, 6/7 children (85%) had evidence of severe upper airway obstruction and were <10 kg in weight. Of these children, one child required emergency tracheostomy, and two children (one with tracheal stenosis and other with spinal muscular atrophy) suffered from hypoxemic cardiac arrest and anoxic brain damage, respectively, and eventually died. Conclusions In the studied population of children with difficult airways handled in a tertiary center environment, the majority of tracheal extubations could be performed without the use of airway adjuncts. In a minority of patients, tracheal extubation was associated with severe adverse outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Few studies have investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with glottic cancer without hoarseness. Methods This retrospective clinical study investigated 371 patients with glottic cancer. Results Thirty-two of the 371 patients (8.6%) with glottic cancer first presented to hospitals with complaints other than hoarseness. Although proportions of stage I and T1 disease were significantly higher among patients without hoarseness than among those with hoarseness ( p = .0036 and p = .0004, respectively), survival curves showed no significant differences between groups ( p = .1334). Conclusion Patients with glottic cancer without complaints of hoarseness were diagnosed at an earlier stage than those with hoarseness. Accumulation of more cases may lead to better survival of patients with glottic cancer without hoarseness compared to those with hoarseness. Checking the larynx of patients without hoarseness or encouraging internists to check the larynx when performing gastroscopic or respiratory examinations may lead to improvement of glottic cancer prognosis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E316-E320, 2016 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasonography (TLUSG) is a promising alternative to laryngoscopy in vocal cords (VCs) assessment which might be challenging in the beginning. However, it remains unclear when an assessor can provide proficient TLUSG enough to abandon direct laryngoscopy . Eight surgical residents (SRs) without prior USG experience were recruited to determine the learning curve. After a standardized training program, SRs would perform 80 consecutive peri-operative VCs assessment using TLUSG. Performances of SRs were quantitatively evaluated by a composite performance score (lower score representing better performance) which comprised total examination time (in seconds), VCs visualization, and assessment accuracy. Cumulative sum (CUSUM) chart was then used to evaluate learning curve. Diagnostic accuracy and demographic data between every twentieth TLUSG were compared. 640 TLUSG examinations had been performed by 8 residents. 95.1 % of VCs could be assessed by SRs. The CUSUM curve showed a rising pattern (learning phase) until 7th TLUSG and then flattened. The curve declined continuously after 42nd TLUSG (after reaching a plateau). Rates of assessable VCs were comparable in every twentieth cases performed. It took a longer time to complete TLUSG in 1st-20th than 21st-40th examinations. (45 vs. 32s, p = 0.001). Although statistically not significant, proportion of false-negative results was higher in 21st-40th (2.5 %) than 1-20th (0.6 %), 41-60th (0.7 %), and 61-80th (0.7 %) TLUSG performed. After a short formal training, surgeons could master skill in TLUSG after seven examination and assess vocal cord function consistently and accurately after 40 TLUSG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike laryngoscopy, laryngeal sonography is easily applicable, well tolerated by young children and less exhausting for the examiner. The aim of this study was to determine if sonography can adequately visualize the laryngeal structures and vocal fold movements of children. Synchronic video laryngoscopy and sonography of the larynx were performed in 35 children (aged 2-8 years) without a laryngeal disease. 10 investigators at differing stages of otolaryngological training were tasked with identifying vocal fold movement and specific anatomical structures after seeing (1) the sonography-only video and (2) the sonography video with a laryngoscopy video overlay. The percentage of correct identification of the structures and the vocal cord movement with and without additional video-overlay was compared. A sonographical view of the larynx could be found and the following anatomical structures were identified: subcutaneous fat tissue, left and right sternohyoid and thyrohyoid muscles, thyroid cartilage, left and right vocal folds, left and right paraglottic spaces, left and right side arytenoid cartilages, and rima glottides. Concerning the evaluation of the videos amongst the investigators: they identified >80 % of vocal fold movement and the targeted anatomical structures except the arytenoid cartilages (only up to 63 %), having the sonography only. In combination with the laryngoscopy video-overlay, investigator detection rates significantly improved (>90 % of vocal fold movement, p < 0.001; >90 % in most anatomical structures, ( p < 0,001). Laryngeal sonography is a helpful diagnostic tool to identify laryngeal structures and the movement of the vocal folds in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Computed tomography (CT) is used to evaluate the human tracheobronchial tree because of its unsurpassed ability to visualize the airway and surrounding structures. To establish an ideal animal model for studying subglottic stenosis, we assessed the size and morphology of the normal rabbit's laryngotracheal airway by helical CT. We measured luminal dimensions at the levels of the arytenoid and cricoid cartilages and the first, third, and eighth tracheal rings. At all levels, the axial slices were used to calculate the maximum anteroposterior (AP) dimension, transverse dimension, and cross-sectional areas. We measured the tracheal length from the cricoid to the third and eighth tracheal rings on sagittal reformation. We assessed the hyoid, thyroid, cricoid, arytenoid, and tracheal rings for the presence of calcific or soft tissue densities. We also addressed the presence or absence of pre-epiglottic and paraglottic fat. Results: The mean AP tracheal dimension ± standard deviation (SD) was 8.6 ± 0.5 mm at the arytenoid level, 8.2 ± 0.7 mm at the cricoid level, and 7.7 ± 0.2 mm at the first tracheal ring level. The transverse tracheal dimension ±SD was 5.3 ± 0.1 mm at the arytenoid level, 5.5 ± 0.5 mm at the cricoid level, and 6.1 ± 0.6 mm at the first tracheal ring level. The mean tracheal area ±SD was 35.7 ± 2.2 mm2 at the arytenoid level, 35.8 ± 5.1 mm2 at the cricoid level, and 39.2 ± 4.3 mm2 at the first tracheal ring level. The tracheal length ±SD was 10.7 ± 2.3 mm from the cricoid to the third tracheal ring and 19.1 ± 1.14 mm to the eighth tracheal ring. There was complete calcification of the hyoid in all rabbits. Only two rabbits showed complete thyroid, arytenoid, or tracheal ring calcification. The remaining airway components were otherwise either uncalcified or partially calcified. The uvula, epiglottis, aryepiglottic fold, vallecula, piriform sinus, true/false vocal cords, and pre-epiglottic/paraglottic fat were not seen in any rabbit. Conclusions: Helical CT investigation provides good, highly definitive anatomic details of the larynx and trachea in rabbits. Such results may be used in further evaluation of the normal airway and in cases of subglottic stenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-speed digital imaging (HSDI) of the larynx can provide important information on the vocal fold kinematics. This information is useful and may provide a better understanding of the mechanism of phonation and assist clinical assessment of voice disorders. Automatic tracing of the vocal fold vibration is a key step in the kinematic analysis and for correlative characterization of vocal fold vibrations and voice quality in normal and diseased states. In this study, we introduce a new approach for image segmentation and automatic tracing of vocal fold motion that combines the level set method and motion cue. This approach is applied to videokymogram (VKG)-form images, which are obtained from a sequence of laryngeal images captured using the HSDI. To utilize the motion cue for a more effective level set based segmentation on the VKG, we first construct a so-called standard deviation (STD) image by mapping the pixel-based measure of temporal intensity dispersion from the initial HSDI sequence. The STD image maps the extent of vocal fold motion, and followed by threshold operation, a region of interest (ROI) that encloses vocal fold motion, or glottal region, is identified. The performance and effectiveness of our approach are evaluated by using clinical datasets representing both normal and pathological voice conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The larynx and hypopharynx are common sites for head and neck cancer, which shares many risk factors with upper digestive tract disease. Patient survival with malignancies depends on stage at the time of diagnosis. Endoscopic screening of the hypopharynx is neither routinely performed in clinical practice nor has it been evaluated in a formal study. Methods: This is a prospective pilot study of patients undergoing routine EGD. Demographic data were collected from patients prior to the procedure. All patients in the study underwent an EGD and prior to performing the standard portion of the EGD procedure, the endoscopist evaluated the larynx and hypopharynx with both white light endoscopy (WLE) and narrow band imaging (NBI). Details of the procedure, including ability to see all anatomic structures, time spent, complications, and findings, were recorded. Results: A total of 111 patients were included in the study. The exam of the laryngopharynx was completed in 87 % of patients (97/111). Reasons for incomplete exam included intubated patients (2/14), inadequate sedation (9/14), and inability to see the entire hypopharynx (3/14). The mean time of the WLE was 20.2 s, while the NBI evaluation took 15.6 s for a mean and 35.8 s for the entire exam of the larynx and hypopharynx. Minor procedural complications occurred in 3/11 (2.7 %) of the patients and included hypotension, tachycardia, and hypoxia. There were 6 patients who had hypopharyngeal abnormalities seen on both WLE and NBI (5.4 %) and were subsequently referred to otolaryngology. Of the six referrals, one patient had a vocal cord biopsy showing leukoplakia, while the others were deemed normal anatomic variants. Conclusions: Evaluation of the hypopharynx can be accomplished by gastrointestinal endoscopists at the time of EGD in the vast majority of patients in a safe manner while adding only about 35 s to the overall exam time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Direct laryngoscopy (DL) has long been the gold standard for tracheal intubation in emergency and trauma patients. Video laryngoscopy (VL) is increasingly used in many settings and the purpose of this study was to compare its effectiveness to direct laryngoscopy in trauma patients. Our hypothesis was that the success rate of VL would be higher than that of DL. Methods: Data were collected prospectively on all trauma patients, from January 2008 to June 2011, who were intubated emergently in an academic level I trauma center. After intubation, the physician that performed the intubation completed a structured data collection form that included demographics, complications, and the presence of difficult airway predictors. Our primary outcome measure was overall successful tracheal intubation, which was defined as successful intubation with the first device used. Results: During the study period, 709 trauma patients were intubated by either VL or DL. VL was performed in 55 % of cases. The overall success rate of VL was 88 % compared to 83 % with DL ( P = 0.05). Cervical (C-Spine) immobilization was predictive of higher initial success with VL (87 %) than with DL (80 %) ( P < 0.05). In multivariate regression analysis DL was associated with higher risk of intubation failure compared to VL (OR 1.82, CI: 1.15-2.86). Conclusions: In trauma patients intubated emergently, VL had a significantly higher success rate than DL. These data suggest that, in select circumstances, VL is superior to DL for the intubation of trauma patients with difficult airways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrosive esophageal strictures have been primarily treated using balloon dilatation or endoscopic bougienage. However, many patients experience recurrence after dilatation, and surgical interventions such as esophageal replacement have been attempted. We have performed endoscopic cicatrectomy using a laryngoscope for corrosive esophageal stricture just below the piriform fossa to minimize surgical invasiveness. In this case reported, repeated balloon dilatation therapy failed, and the combination of endoscopic cicatrectomy and intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injections proved most effective even though multiple cicatrectomies were required. If esophageal strictures are close to the piriform fossa, endoscopic cicatrectomy could be one useful surgical option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Evidence for the predictive value of the cuff leak test (CLT) for post-extubation stridor (PES) is conflicting. We evaluated the association and accuracy of CLT alone or combined with other laryngeal parameters with PES. Methods: Fifty-one mechanically ventilated adult patients in a medical-surgical intensive care unit were tested prior to extubation using; CLT, laryngeal ultrasound and indirect laryngoscopy. Biometric, laryngeal and endotracheal tube (ETT) parameters were recorded. Results: PES incidence was 4%. CLT demonstrated 'no leak' in 20% of patients. Laryngeal oedema was present in 10% of the patients on indirect laryngoscopy, and 71% of the patients had a Grades 1-3 indirect laryngoscopic view. Mean air column width on laryngeal ultrasound was 0.66 ± 0.15 cm (cuff deflated), mean ratio of ETT to laryngeal diameter was 0.48 ± 0.07, and the calculated CLT and laryngeal survey composite was 0.86 ± 1.25 (range 0-5). CLT and the CLT and Laryngeal survey composite measure were not associated with or predict PES. Age, sex, peri-extubation steroid use, intubation duration and body mass index were not associated with PES. Conclusion: Even including ultrasonographic and indirect laryngoscopic examination of the airway, no single aspect of the CLT or combination with laryngeal parameters accurately predicts PES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of difficult intubation in patients undergoing general anaesthesia is estimated to be approximately 1-18% whereas that of failure to intubate is 0.05-0.35%.1,2,3 Various methods have been used for prediction of difficult laryngoscopy. Although, upper lip bite has been shown to be a promising test in its introductory article, repeated validation in various populations is required for any test to be accepted as a routine test. We have compared upper lip bite test (ULBT), modified Mallampati test (MMC) and thyromental distance (TMD) individually and in various combinations to verify which of these predictor tests are significantly associated with difficult glottic exposure. Methods: After obtaining institutional ethics committee approval, 402 ASA I and II adult patients undergoing elective surgical procedures requiring endotracheal intubation were included. All the three test were performed in all the patients preoperatively and their glottic exposure was recorded by Cormack-Lehane classification during intubation. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were used for comparison. Results: In our study, the incidence of difficult laryngoscopy was 11.4% and failure to intubate 0.49%. None of the three are a suitable predictive test when used alone. Combination of tests added incremental diagnostic value. Conclusion: We conclude that all three screening tests for difficult intubation have only poor to moderate discriminative power when used alone. Combinations of individual tests add some incremental diagnostic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate prognostication of the outcome of vocal fold immobility assumes great importance in the management. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic efficacy of Laryngeal electromyography in cases of vocal fold immobility. A nonrandomized prospective study was carried out from Sep 2009 to Jun 2011. Patients were evaluated using Fiberoptic laryngoscopy and Laryngeal electromyography over a period of 24 weeks. 51 subjects participated in the study, comprised of 22 males and 29 females. All patients underwent detailed clinical examination including Fiberoptic laryngoscopy on the first visit and Laryngeal electromyography testing on the second visit. Subsequent neuromonitoring was carried out at 04, 12 and 24 weeks from date of initial recording. Outcome measures of vocal fold motion were dichotomized into persistent vocal fold immobility (unilateral or bilateral) or resolved vocal fold motion (normal). Approximately 24 weeks after onset of palsy, mobility of the paralyzed vocal cord was restored in 31 (60.78 %) of 51 cases, while 20 (39.22 %) remained immobile. Sensitivity of laryngeal electromyography was 92.53 % ; specificity 93.33 %, positive predictive value 98.77 % and negative predictive value 68.29 %. This study confirmed the utility of Laryngeal electromyography in predicting prognosis for recovery of vocal fold motion after laryngeal nerve injury. The results supported the hypothesis that Laryngeal electromyography data can be used effectively to determine a prognosis for recovery of vocal fold motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Airway management in patient with restricted mouth opening is a great challenge, owing to the difficulty in laryngoscopy and visualisation of the vocal cords during the procedure of intubation. The term retrograde intubation refers to a technique in which a guide wire is passed into the trachea and then into the mouth or nose. A tracheal tube is then passed down over the guide until it enters the trachea. Material and method: A retrospective audit was undertaken to determine the success and complication associated with retrograde intubation. Results: The results show that in a sample of 20 patients in which retrograde intubation was done, only three developed sore throat and cough, one had bronchospasm and one developed infection at the site of insertion of a J-tipped catheter. Conclusion: Retrograde tracheal intubation was easy to perform and had a high success rate and a low incidence of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Miller laryngoscope blades are preferred for laryngoscopy in infants and children <2 yr of age. Despite their long history, the laryngeal view with the Miller blade size 1 has never been compared with that with the Macintosh (MAC) blade in children. This prospective, single-blinded, randomized study was designed to compare the laryngeal views with the size 1 Miller and MAC blades in children <2 yr. Methods With IRB approval, 50 ASA I and II children <2 yr undergoing elective surgery were enrolled. After an inhalation induction and neuromuscular block with i.v. rocuronium 0.5 mg kg−1, two laryngeal views were obtained with a single blade (Miller or MAC) in each child: one lifting the epiglottis and another lifting the tongue base. The best laryngeal views in each blade position were photographed with a SONY® Cyber-shot camera and rated by a blinded anaesthesiologist using the percentage of glottic opening scale. Results The scores with the Miller blade lifting the epiglottis and the MAC blade lifting the tongue base were similar. The scores with the Miller blade lifting the epiglottis and the tongue base were similar. The scores for the MAC blade lifting the tongue base were greater than those lifting the epiglottis (95% confidence interval: 7.6–26.8) (P=0.0004). Conclusions In infants and children <2 yr of age, optimal laryngeal views may be obtained with either the Miller size 1 blade lifting the epiglottis or with the Miller or MAC blades lifting the tongue base. Clinical trial registration NCT01717872 at Clinical Trials.gov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total laryngectomy removes the vocal folds which are fundamental in forming voiced sounds that make speech possible. Although implanted prosthetics are commonly used in developed countries, simple handheld vibrating electrolarynxes are still common worldwide. These devices are easy to use but suffer from many drawbacks including dedication of a hand, mechanical sounding voice, and sound leakage. To address some of these drawbacks, we introduce a novel electrolarynx that uses vibro-acoustic interference of dual ultrasonic waves to generate an audible fundamental frequency. A 3D simulation of the principles of the device is presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Single studies of video laryngoscopy (VL) use for airway management in intensive care unit (ICU) patients have produced controversial findings. The aim of this study was to critically review the literature to investigate whether VL reduces difficult orotracheal intubation (OTI) rate, first-attempt success, and complications related to intubation in ICU patients, compared to standard therapy, defined as direct laryngoscopy (DL). Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, as well as prospective and retrospective observational studies, by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and bibliographies of articles retrieved. We screened for relevant studies that enrolled adults in whom the trachea was intubated in the ICU and compared VL to DL. We included studies reporting at least one clinical outcome of interest to perform a meta-analysis. We generated pooled odd ratios (OR) across studies. The primary outcome measure was difficult OTI. The secondary outcomes were first-attempt success, Cormack 3/4 grades, and complications related to intubation (severe hypoxemia, severe cardiovascular collapse, airway injury, esophageal intubation). Results: Nine trials with a total of 2,133 participants (1,067 in DL and 1,066 in VL) were included in the current analysis. Compared to DL, VL reduced the risk of difficult OTI [OR 0.29 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.20-0.44, p < 0.001)], Cormack 3/4 grades [OR 0.26 (95 % CI 0.17-0.41, p < 0.001)], and esophageal intubation [0.14 (95 % CI 0.02-0.81, p = 0.03)] and increased the first-attempt success [OR 2.07 (95 % CI 1.35-3.16, p < 0.001)]. No statistically significant difference was found for severe hypoxemia, severe cardiovascular collapse or airway injury. Conclusions: These results suggest that VL could be useful in airway management of ICU patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to determine the inter-rater variability in assessment of laryngeal findings and whether diagnosing laryngopharyngeal reflux based on the laryngeal findings and history alone without considering allergic rhinitis leads to the overdiagnosis and overtreatment of laryngopharyngeal reflux. Patients with positive and negative skin prick tests were recruited from an allergy clinic in a tertiary teaching university hospital. All subjects completed the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and underwent laryngeal examinations by three physicians blinded to the skin prick test results and the Reflux Finding Score (RFS) was determined. RFS >7 or RSI >13 was considered reflux positive. Fleiss' kappa ( κ) was used to measure inter-rater agreement. The inter-rater agreement was low for pseudosulcus vocalis ( κ = 0.078), ventricular obliteration ( κ = 0.206), diffuse laryngeal edema ( κ = 0.204), and posterior laryngeal hypertrophy ( κ = 0.27), intermediate for laryngeal erythema/hyperemia ( κ = 0.42) and vocal fold edema ( κ = 0.42), and high for thick endolaryngeal mucus ( κ = 0.61). Although the frequency of allergy was high, there was no significant difference between allergy-positive and laryngopharyngeal reflux-positive patients. On logistic regression analysis, thick endolaryngeal mucus was a significant predictor of allergy ( p = 0.012, odds ratio 0.264, 95 % confidence interval 0.093-0.74). The laryngeal examination for reflux is subject to marked inter-rater variability and allergic laryngitis was not misdiagnosed as laryngopharyngeal reflux. The presence of thick endolaryngeal mucus should alert physicians to the possibility of allergic rhinitis/laryngitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vocal cord asymmetry (VCA) on laryngoscopic examination (LE) may suggest voice impairment after thyroidectomy, but LE may cause patient discomfort. We aimed to correlate the presence of postoperative VCA assessed by noninvasive transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasonography (TLUSG) with voice quality changes after thyroidectomy. Methods: A total of 169 patients scheduled for thyroidectomy completed two validated voice symptoms questionnaires-the GRBAS (grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, strain) scale and the voice impairment score (VIS)-and underwent TLUSG and LE at 1 day before and 7-10 days after thyroidectomy. Postoperative VCA was apparent in 51 patients on TLUSG (group I), whereas there was no VCA in the other 118 patients (group II, controls). The GRBAS scale and VIS results were compared between the groups. Results: Before operation, the two groups had comparable preoperative GRBAS and VIS status. After operation, the 'grade' and 'roughness' components on the GRBAS scale were significantly worse in group I than in group II: 0.24 versus 0.07 ( p = 0.016) and 0.33 versus 0.14 ( p = 0.022), respectively. 'Grade' and 'roughness' in the GRBAS scale significantly worsened after the operation in group I: from 0.04 to 0.24 ( p = 0.008) and from 0.02 to 0.33 ( p = 0.001), respectively. They did not change in group II. Also, the overall VIS was significantly worse after thyroidectomy in group I: 4.97 versus 12.97 ( p < 0.001). Conclusions: VCA seen on TLUSG significantly correlated with 'grade' and 'roughness' components on the GRBAS scale and the overall VIS. Thus, VCA might be used as a surrogate of postoperative voice changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "The fetal larynx and pharynx: structure and development on two and three-dimensional ultrasound," by G. Liberty and colleagues, published in a 2013 issue.

Abstract: The human larynx is an important organ for voice production and respiratory mechanisms. The vocal cord is approximated for voice production and open for breathing. The videolaryngoscope is widely used for vocal cord examination. At present, physicians usually diagnose vocal cord diseases by manually selecting the image of the vocal cord opening to the largest extent (abduction), thus maximally exposing the vocal cord lesion. On the other hand, the severity of diseases such as vocal palsy, atrophic vocal cord is largely dependent on the vocal cord closing to the smallest extent (adduction). Therefore, diseases can be assessed by the image of the vocal cord opening to the largest extent, and the seriousness of breathy voice is closely correlated to the gap between vocal cords when closing to the smallest extent. The aim of the study was to design an automatic vocal cord image selection system to improve the conventional selection process by physicians and enhance diagnosis efficiency. Also, due to the unwanted fuzzy images resulting from examination process caused by human factors as well as the non-vocal cord images, texture analysis is added in this study to measure image entropy to establish a screening and elimination system to effectively enhance the accuracy of selecting the image of the vocal cord closing to the smallest extent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: Airway management in intensive care unit (ICU) patients is challenging. The main objective of this study was to compare the incidence of difficult laryngoscopy and/or difficult intubation between a combo videolaryngoscope and the standard Macintosh laryngoscope in critically ill patients. Methods: In the context of the implementation of a quality-improvement process for airway management, we performed a prospective interventional monocenter before-after study which evaluated a new combo videolaryngoscope. The primary outcome was the incidence of difficult laryngoscopy (defined by Cormack grade 3-4) and/or difficult intubation (more than two attempts). The secondary outcomes were the severe life-threatening complications related to intubation in ICU and the rate of difficult intubation in cases of predicted difficult intubation evaluated by a specific score (MACOCHA score ≥3). Results: Two hundred and ten non-selected consecutive intubation procedures were included, 140 in the standard laryngoscope group and 70 in the combo videolaryngoscope group. The incidence of difficult laryngoscopy and/or difficult intubation was 16 % in the laryngoscope group vs. 4 % in the combo videolaryngoscope group ( p = 0.01). The severe life-threatening complications related to intubation did not differ between groups (16 vs. 14 %, p = 0.79). Among the 32 patients with a MACOCHA score ≥3, there were significantly more patients with difficult intubation in the standard laryngoscope group in comparison to the combo videolaryngoscope group [12/23 (57 %) vs. 0/9 (0 %), p < 0.01]. Conclusions: The systematic use of a combo videolaryngoscope in ICU was associated with a decreased incidence of difficult laryngoscopy and/or difficult intubation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Supraglottic Airway Laryngopharyngeal Tube (S.A.L.T) is a new airway gadget conceived as an effective device to facilitate blind oro-tracheal intubation. Literature review showed no available clinical study on human subjects. The aim of our study was to evaluate S.A.L.T as an adjunct to blind oro-tracheal intubation. Methods: Study design: Single centre, Single group, Open label, Prospective, Interventional pilot study. Study Group: 30 adult patients of either sex belonging to ASA I and II, scheduled for elective surgery under General anaesthesia. Patients were pre-medicated with inj. Glycopyrrolate 0.2 mg and inj. Midazolam 2 mg and induced with Inj. Propofol 2 mg/kg IV. After inj. Suxamethonium 1.5 mg/kg IV, S.A.L.T was inserted and a size 7.0 ID cuffed ETT was inserted through it immediately. The time period, from insertion of the S.A.L.T to the insertion of the ETT was noted. A successful intubation was defined as to insert SALT and intubate through it within 2 minutes irrespective of the number of attempts. Airway trauma, if any was recorded. Results: Only 40% of the patients were successfully intubated [(20.4% to 59.6% with 95% confidence interval (CI)]. The mean number of attempts required for intubation was 1.4 ± 0.67 (CI - 0.99 to 1.8) and the mean time for intubation was 26.3 ± 19.0 seconds (CI - 14.3 to 38.4 sec). Mallampati class I had more success rate than class III (P < 0.05). No airway trauma was recorded. Conclusion: S.A.L.T shows limited usefulness as an adjunct for aided blind oro-tracheal intubation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This prospective, observational study was performed to examine the hypothesis that if conventional 7-cm head elevation is applied, laryngoscopy is more difficult for patients with anteroposterior chest diameter (chest AP diameter) outside the average range (≥17.7 or ≤14.7 cm). Methods: Chest AP diameter at the sternal notch were measured preoperatively. All patients were placed on a surgical bed with an incompressible 7-cm pillow. During laryngoscopy, the laryngeal view was graded by use of the Cormack-Lehane classification. Difficult visualization of the larynx (DVL) was defined as a grade 3 or 4 view. Results: DVL was observed for 49 patients (18.2 %). Differences between measured chest AP diameter for each patient and the calculated median value were used for statistical analysis. In univariate analysis, the difference between chest AP diameter and the median value was significantly related to DVL. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that the difference between chest AP diameter and the median value was an independent predictor of DVL (odds ratio, 3.900; 95 % confidence interval, 2.371-6.415; p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that this test with a test threshold of 1.5 cm had reasonable diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve of 0.748). Conclusion: When using a standard pillow size of 7 cm, chest AP diameter above or below the average range (≥17.7 or ≤14.7 cm) was a strong predictor of DVL for apparently normal-sized patients. In such cases, modification of pillow height should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Failure to maintain a patent airway is one of the commonest causes of anesthesia-related morbidity and mortality. Many protocols, algorithms, and different combinations of tested methods for airway assessment have been developed to predict difficult laryngoscopy and intubation. The reported incidence of a difficult intubation varies from 1.5% to 13%. The objective of this study was to compare Mallampati test (MT) with lower jaw protrusion (LJP) maneuver in predicting difficult laryngoscopy and intubation. Materials and Methods: Seven hundred and sixty patients were included in the study. All the patients underwent MT and LJP maneuver for their airway assessment. After a standardized technique of induction of anesthesia, primary anesthetist performed laryngoscopy and graded it according to the grades described by Cormack and Lehane. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for both these tests with 95% confidence interval (CI) using conventional laryngoscopy as gold standard. Area under curve was also calculated for both, MT and LJP maneuver. A P < 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: LJP maneuver had higher sensitivity (95.9% vs. 27.1%), NPV (98.7% vs. 82.0%), and accuracy (90.1% vs. 80.3%) when compared to MT in predicting difficult laryngoscopy and intubation. Both tests, however, had similar specificity and PPV. There was marked difference in the positive and negative likelihood ratio between LJP and MT. Similarly, the area under the curve favored LJP maneuver over MT. Conclusion: The results of this study show that LJP maneuver is a better test to predict difficult laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. We recommend the addition of this maneuver to the routine preoperative evaluation of airway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Truview laryngoscope provides an indirect view of the glottis and will cause less cervical spine movement since a ventral lifting force will not be required to visualize the glottis compared to Macintosh laryngoscope. Materials and Methods: A randomized crossover study to assess the degree of movement of cervical spine during endotracheal intubation with Truview laryngoscope was conducted in 25 adult ASA-I patients. After a standard anesthetic technique laryngoscopy was performed twice in each patient using in turn both the Macintosh and Truview laryngoscopes. A baseline radiograph with the head and neck in a neutral position was followed by a second radiograph taken during each laryngoscopy. An experienced radiologist analyzed and measured the cervical movement. Results: Significant cervical spine movement occurred at all segments when compared to the baseline with both the Macintosh and Truview laryngoscopes (P < 0.001). However, the movement was significantly less with Truview compared to the Macintosh laryngoscope at C0-C1 (21%; P = 0.005) and C1-C2 levels (32%; P = 0.009). The atlantooccipital distance (AOD) traversed while using Truview laryngoscope was significantly less than with Macintosh blade (26%; P = 0.001). Truview blade produced a better laryngoscopic view (P = 0.005) than Macintosh blade, but had a longer time to laryngoscopy (P = 0.04). Conclusion: Truview laryngoscope produced a better laryngoscopic view of glottis as compared with Macintosh laryngoscopy. It also produced significantly less cervical spine movement at C0-C1 and C1-C2 levels than with Macintosh laryngoscope in patients without cervical spine injury and without manual in-line stabilization (MILS). Further studies are warranted with Truview laryngoscope using MILS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the ability of MRI to detect subglottic stenosis and to differentiate between active and inactive subglottic inflammation in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Materials and methods: MRI studies of the larynx of 18 GPA patients with suspected SGS were included. The MRI protocol included T1- and T2-weighted and STIR-sequences, dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). Two independent observers reviewed the MR images. SGS were identified and quantified, inflammatory activity was assessed using edema imaging, DCE and DWI. Final MRI diagnoses were compared to the clinical, laryngoscopic and histopathologic results. Results: MRI confirmed SGS in all GPA patients with significant narrowing of the airway lumen and thickening of subglottic wall. Assessing the subglottic inflammatory activity, MRI showed a sensitivity of 87.5 % and a specificity of 60.0 %. Interrater agreement was κ = 0.769. Of the different MR technical approaches tested, edema imaging was most sensitive and specific. DWI led to significant differences in the apparent diffusion coefficient between active and inactive subglottic inflammation. No significant differences were found with DCE imaging. Conclusion: MR imaging has shown the ability to detect and grade SGS in patients with GPA. It non-invasively assesses the status of inflammatory activity utilizing edema sensitive sequences and DWI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to advantages of imaging techniques, they are used in most endoscopic procedures. They help magnify the anatomy of structures, detect anomalies easier, and facilitate airway manipulation. Imaging during intubation helps the operator and the assistant to synchronize their movements. Therefore, imaging techniques have become the method of choice in teaching. Fiber optic guided laryngoscope has been introduced as a novel device for performing and teaching intubation. This study aimed to evaluate this new method. Methods: We evaluated 227 patients in two groups. Group A (n = 206) seemed to have normal airways and did not require difficult intubation. However, intubation in group B (n = 21) was predicted to be difficult. Findings: External laryngeal manipulation (ELM) was required in 21 (10%) patients in group A. Only one intubation was not successful at the first try in this group. In group B, direct laryngoscopy was difficult due to the subjects' anatomical conditions. All 21 cases in this group required ELM but were successfully intubated using the fiber optic guided laryngoscopy. Conclusion: Improved harmony between the anesthesiologist and his/her assistant and short learning time make fiber optic guided laryngoscopy superior to conventional laryngoscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation is invariably associated with a reflex sympathetic pressor response resulting in elevated heart rate and blood pressures. This may prove detrimental in high risk patients. Objective of this study is to compare the effects of lignocaine and fentanyl in attenuation of this pressor response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. Methods: Seventy five ASA I and II status normotensive patients scheduled for elective surgical procedures were selected randomly and divided into three groups of 25 each. All patients received premedication with pentazocine 0.05mg/kg i.v., atropine 0.01mg/kg intramuscularly and midazolam 0.01mg/kg i.v. half an hour prior to induction. Induction of anesthesia was standardized for all patients who received, thiopentone 5 mg/kg i.v. and and were relaxed with succinylcholine 2mg/kg i.v. The first group received fentanyl 4micrograms/kg i.v bolus, the second group received lignocaine 1.5mg i.v bolus and then third group received placebo (normal saline), 5 minutes before laryngoscopy and intubation. HR, systolic, diastolic blood pressure were recorded noninvasively one day priorly B, Before induction 0 postinduction, 1,2,3,4 and 5 minutes from the onset of laryngoscopy. Results: After intubation incidence of tachycardia (HR>100/min) was significantly greater in placebo and lignocaine group than in fentanyl group (p<0.05). Rise in SBP and DBP were also statistically significant in placebo and lignocaine group than in fentanyl group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Attenuation of pressor response is seen both with lignocaine and fentanyl. Of the two drugs fentanyl 4mgicrogram i.v. bolus provides a consistent, reliable and effective attenuation as compared to lignocaine 1.5mg/kg iv. bolus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. To obtain an overview of existing knowledge and research, English-language literature about LEMG was identified using Medline. Additionally, cited works not detected in the initial search were screened. Evidence-based recommendations for the performance and interpretation of LEMG and also for electrostimulation for functional evaluation were considered, as well as published reports based on expert opinion and single-institution retrospective case series. To assess the data obtained by this literature evaluation, the working group met five times and performed LEMG together on more than 20 patients. Subsequently, the results were presented and discussed at the 8th Congress of the European Laryngological Society in Vienna, Austria, September 1-4, 2010, and consensus was achieved in the following areas: (1) minimum requirements for the technical equipment required to perform and record LEMG; (2) best practical implementation of LEMG; (3) criteria for interpreting LEMG. Based on this consensus, prospective trials are planned to improve the quality of evidence guiding the proceedings of practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To review airway management with anesthesia for children with Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) and determine whether intubation was more difficult with increasing age. Background: Treacher Collins syndrome is a rare disorder of craniofacial development characterized by maxillary, zygomatic, and mandibular dysplasia. TCS is associated with difficult intubation, but reports of airway management are limited to case reports and small cases series. Children with TCS may require multiple general anesthetics, and it has been suggested that intubation becomes more difficult with increasing age. Methods: A retrospective case note review of children with TCS from birth to 18 years undergoing anesthesia from 1971 to 2011 in a single center was performed. Demographic data, procedure type, anesthesia type, method of airway management, modified Cormack-Lehane (MCL) grade of laryngoscopic view, and any other descriptions of airway difficulty or complications were collated. Results: Of 59 patients with TCS, 35 children underwent a total of 240 anesthetics, most commonly for craniofacial surgery. Final airway management consisted of face mask 17%, laryngeal mask airway 16%, endotracheal intubation 49%, and 18% had a preexisting tracheostomy. The laryngeal mask airway provided an adequate airway in all cases when it was used. MCL grade was recorded in 97 cases involving 28 patients: 7% grade 1, 9% grade 2a, 31% grade 2b, 26% grade 3, and 27% grade 4. Fifteen (54%) patients were MCL grade 4 on at least one occasion. Failed intubation occurred in 6 (5%) of 123 cases of planned intubation. The procedure was canceled in two cases (0.8%) because of failure to intubate. Intubation techniques other than conventional direct laryngoscopy were used in 41% of cases. MCL grade increased with increasing age ( P = 0.007). Conclusions: Most children with TCS have difficult laryngoscopic views with many requiring specialized intubation techniques. Direct laryngoscopy becomes more difficult with increasing age. The laryngeal mask airway is a good choice of airway when endotracheal intubation is not required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Difficult laryngoscopy in pediatric patients undergoing anesthesia. Aim: This retrospective analysis was conducted to investigate incidence and predictors of difficult laryngoscopy in a large cohort of pediatric patients receiving general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. Background: Young age and craniofacial dysmorphy are predictors for the difficult pediatric airway and difficult laryngoscopy. For difficult laryngoscopy, other general predictors are not yet described. Methods: Retrospectively, from a 5-year period, data from 11.219 general anesthesia procedures in pediatric patients with endotracheal intubation using age-adapted Macintosh blades in a single center (university hospital) were analyzed statistically. Results: The overall incidence of difficult laryngoscopy [Cormack and Lehane (CML) grade III and IV] was 1.35%. In patients younger than 1 year, the incidence of CML III or IV was significantly higher than in the older patients (4.7% vs 0.7%). ASA Physical Status III and IV, a higher Mallampati Score (III and IV) and a low BMI were all associated ( P < 0.05) with difficult laryngoscopy. Patients undergoing oromaxillofacial surgery and cardiac surgery showed a significantly higher rate of CML III/IV findings. Conclusion: The general incidence of difficult laryngoscopy in pediatric anesthesia is lower than in adults. Our results show that the risk of difficult laryngoscopy is much higher in patients below 1 year of age, in underweight patients and in ASA III and IV patients. The underlying disease might also contribute to the risk. If the Mallampati score could be obtained, prediction of difficult laryngoscopy seems to be reliable. Our data support the existing recommendations for a specialized anesthesiological team to provide safe anesthesia for infants and neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study is to establish a relation between poor oral hygiene and laryngeal dysfunction. Methods: 43 adult patients were divided into two groups according to caries activity and oral hygiene. 18 patients with oral hygiene index score (OHI-S) 0-1 were grouped as the control group (good oral hygiene). 25 patients with OHI-S 2-3 were grouped as the study group (poor oral hygiene). Larygostroboscopic examination, aerodynamic measures by defining maximum phonation time (MPT) and s/z ratio and the pitch level measurements were done. Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), previously confirmed laryngeal diseases or pathologies, systemic other diseases, or smokers were excluded from this study. Results: The average MPT values of the study group were found to be statistically very significantly lower than those of the control group (p <0.01). In the stroboscopic findings, the proportion of normal closure levels were meaningfully higher in the control group than in the study group (p <0.05). The supraglottic involvement was found statistically meaningfully higher in the study group than in the control group (p <0.05). The proportion of normal closure phase incidences were meaningfully higher in the control group than in the study group (p <0.05). Conclusion: So, our findings of high glottic closure impairment, supraglottic involvement and low MPT scores in the poor oral hygiene group correlate with LPR findings such as muscle tension dysphonia. Poor oral hygiene may aggravate potential LPR in people. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: The identification of precancerous lesions is the basis of an early diagnosis, and of a treatment that allows, in the great part of cases, the preservation of organ functions. The aims of this study were: the evaluation of the less invasive treatment for precancerous lesion of the larynx to minimize the recurrences, the estimation of number of further operation required. Methods: A prospective study was done on patients with clinical diagnosis of laryngeal precancerosis. The patients were treated by a transoral endoscopic approach with direct microlaryngoscopy (DML) doing an excision-biopsy with cold blade, consisting in excision of the whole visible lesion with vocal ligament preservation. Results: A recurrence of a clinically evident precancerous lesion was present in 13.2% of patients that had a laryngeal intraepithelial lesion (LIN) 1 lesion and in 28.95% of patients that had a LIN 2 lesion. Conclusion: In order to achieve a control of a precancerous lesion, we suggest: excisional biopsy/subepithelial cordectomy (type 1 cordectomy) for LIN 1 lesions and subligament cordectomy (type 2 cordectomy) in case of LIN 2 cases. In case of recurrences of LIN 1 lesion we suggest directly a type 2 cordectomy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Direct laryngoscopy is the most predominantly used technique in laryngology, with the fulcrum-based laryngoscope serving as the most popular instrument. The purpose of this study was to accurately calculate and measure the pressure acting on the laryngopharynx and the tongue base during microlaryngoscopy. The relationship between postoperative throat pain and the time and pressure applied during microlaryngoscopy were also investigated. Fifty patients undergoing microlaryngeal surgery were included in this prospective study. Parameters that may help predict difficult laryngeal exposure were measured in the patients before microlaryngoscopy. Using static equilibrium and the law of the lever, the pressure acting on the laryngopharynx and the tongue base were calculated and related parameters were then tested for their influence on pressure. The time and pressure applied during microlaryngoscopy of each patient were compared with postoperative throat pain grade. The mean pressure was 292 ± 109 mmHg and was significantly influenced by BMI, neck circumference and full mouth opening, whereas no gender-based differences of any kind were found. The pressure applied during microlaryngoscopy was extremely high in patients with difficult laryngeal exposure (376 ± 62 mmHg), serving as a possible reason for the presence of throat pain or complications present following surgery. However, it was found that the duration of suspension laryngoscopy, not the pressure, had the most significant correlation with postoperative throat pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: It is essential that all anaesthetists have a strategy for managing the predicted difficult paediatric airway. The majority of children who have difficult airways are identifiable preoperatively. The situation where a child is unexpectedly difficult to bag-and-mask ventilate, intubate, or both is rare. Therefore anaesthetists usually have adequate time for thought and preparation with regard to ultimately securing the airway. Inadequate airway assessment can contribute to poor airway outcomes. This article outlines the anatomical and physiological differences present in the child and describes clinical assessment of the paediatric airway. Equipment available for managing the predicted difficult airway in a child is also reviewed. Video laryngoscopy, for example, has become more popular in recent years and may increasingly be incorporated into difficult airway algorithms of the future. Emphasis is placed on planning, preparation and practice: the three Ps of the difficult paediatric airway. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]