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Cross‐sectional follow‐up of voice outcomes in children who have a history of airway reconstruction surgery
Author(s) -
Cohen W.,
Wynne D.M.,
Lloyd S.,
Townsley R.B.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
clinical otolaryngology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.914
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1749-4486
pISSN - 1749-4478
DOI - 10.1111/coa.13045
Subject(s) - medicine , laryngoscopy , quality of life (healthcare) , audiology , airway , laryngotracheal stenosis , voice disorder , surgery , intubation , nursing , tracheal stenosis
Objectives This study reports vocal function in a cross‐section of children with subglottic stenosis. Each child had a history of laryngotracheal reconstruction and/or cricotracheal resection surgery. Vocal function was measured using laryngoscopy, acoustic analysis, perceptual evaluation and impact of voice on quality of life. Design All patients aged >5 years with history of laryngotracheal reconstruction and/or cricotracheal resection surgery at the Scottish National Complex Airways service were invited to participate. Setting Data were gathered in the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow in a single outpatient appointment. Participants Twelve of 56 former patients (aged 5‐27) provided a voice sample and eleven consented to awake laryngoscopy. All consented for detailed evaluation of their medical records. Main outcome measures Acoustic analysis of fundamental frequency and pitch perturbation was conducted on sustained vowel [a]. Perceptual evaluation was conducted by 4 trained listeners on a series of spoken sentences. Impact on quality of life was measured using the paediatric voice‐related quality of life questionnaire. Laryngeal function was descriptively evaluated. Results Four children had normal voice acoustically, perceptually and in relation to voice‐related quality of life. One of these had vocal fold nodules unrelated to surgical history. Two other children had “near normal” vocal function, defined where most voice measurements fell within the normal range. Conclusions Normal or “near normal” voice is a possible outcome for children who have had this surgery. Where there is an ongoing complex medical condition, voice outcome may be poorer.