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Biomedical subjects

Gregory N Postma

Publications and source records attributed to Gregory N Postma.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Vocal fold augmentation with calcium hydroxylapatite.

OBJECTIVES: Voice disorders affect more than 3% of the general population. Vocal fold atrophy is a part of the normal aging process, with up to 60% of 60-year-old individuals displaying evidence of glottal insufficiency. A safe, effective, and durable substance for injection augmentation of the vocal folds is not currently available. The purpose of this investigation was to describe our preliminary experience with calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) for vocal fold augmentation. METHODOLOGY: All patients undergoing injection augmentation of the vocal folds with CaHA between January 1, 2002 and June 1, 2003 were prospectively evaluated. Data concerning indications, technique, functional outcome, and complications were collected. In addition, the larynx donated from a woman who underwent vocal fold augmentation with CaHA and subsequently died from terminal cancer was histologically examined. RESULTS: A total of 39 vocal folds in 23 individuals were injected with CaHA. The mean age of the cohort was 62. Fifty-two percent were male. The indications for augmentation were unilateral vocal fold paralysis (9/23), unilateral vocal fold paresis (5/23), presbylarynx (3/23), Parkinson's (3/23), bilateral vocal fold paresis (2/23), and abductor spasmodic dysphonia (1/20). There were no adverse reactions. All individuals reported improvement on a self-administered disease-specific outcome measure (P < 0.001). The pathology from the donated larynx 3 months after injection revealed intact CaHA spherules in good position with a minimal, monocellular inflammatory reaction to the gel carrier and no evidence of implant rejection. CONCLUSIONS: Initial experience with vocal fold augmentation using CaHA is promising. Long-term safety and efficacy needs to be established.

Durapatite↗
PubMed2004

Effects of viscosity, taste, and bolus volume on swallowing apnea duration of normal adults.

OBJECTIVE: The effects of viscosity, taste, and nectar-thick liquid bolus volume on swallowing apnea duration (SAD) were examined. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Twenty-two adults, comprised of 10 males and 12 females, participated. SAD was assessed via nasal airflow during swallow conditions of viscosity (thin liquid, thick liquid, and puree), taste (water, apple juice, lemon concentrate), and nectar-thick liquid bolus volumes (5, 10, 15, and 20 mL) across three trials. RESULTS: A significant main effect of nectar-thick liquid bolus volume was found (P < 0.05). Viscosity and taste were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: SAD increased with increases in bolus volume; however, neither changes in bolus viscosity nor changes in taste affected SAD. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings indicate that since viscosity was not significant, the normative data previously published (by this PI) with 60 healthy adults stratified by age and gender can be utilized for comparison to disordered swallowing without regard to the bolus viscosity being used. EBM RATING: D.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Cricoid chondrosarcoma presenting as arytenoid hypertelorism.

BACKGROUND: Arytenoid hypertelorism (arytenoid cartilages spaced too widely apart) appears to be the most common initial recognizable physical finding of cricoid chondrosarcoma. Nine cases from the Center for Voice Disorders are presented. With arytenoid hypertelorism caused by cricoid chondrosarcoma, usually the posterior larynx is open. In fact, patients with arytenoid hypertelorism caused by cricoid chondrosarcoma may be aphonic even though the anterior membranous vocal folds make contact during attempted phonation. METHODS: Between 1991 and 2002, nine patients were diagnosed with cricoid chondrosarcoma. Patients' charts and video examinations were retrospectively evaluated for symptoms and the presence of arytenoid hypertelorism on endoscopic evaluation. Two were women, and seven were men, with a mean age of 70 (range 53-72) years at diagnosis. RESULTS: Eight (88%) patients had aphonia or dysphonia caused by arytenoid hypertelorism as their presenting symptom. Six were diagnosed after failed medialization laryngoplasty or other laryngeal rehabilitation surgery. All nine patients had a low-grade tumor. The initial treatment in eight patients was hemicricoidectomy, and one patient had a total laryngectomy. In four cases, a second procedure was needed 1 to 6 years later because of recurrence. Seven patients are alive without clinically significant disease; one is alive with moderate disease, and one has died from an unrelated cause. CONCLUSIONS: Severely dysphonic, elderly patients presenting with arytenoid hypertelorism of unknown cause should be evaluated by fiberoptic laryngoscopy and by computed tomography scan to rule out cricoid chondrosarcoma. Because these tumors behave so benignly, the authors recommend conservative surgery (unilateral hemicricoidectomy) as the diagnostic/treatment modality of choice.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

The laryngeal and esophageal manifestations of Sjögren's syndrome.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is the syndrome caused by the backflow of gastric contents into the upper aerodigestive tract. Acid and pepsin in the pharynx, larynx, oral cavity, and trachea have been associated with dysphonia, chronic cough, reactive airway disease, middle ear effusion, throat pain, excessive throat mucus, postnasal drip, dental caries, and laryngeal cancer. The symptoms of LPR frequently occur in the absence of heartburn and esophagitis, and, thus, the diagnosis may be elusive. Individuals with Sjögren's syndrome are predisposed to reflux, and a high index of suspicion for LPR must be maintained in all individuals with the disease. This manuscript describes the laryngeal, pharyngeal, and esophageal manifestations of reflux in patients with Sjögren's syndrome and reviews state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Esophagoscopy↗
PubMed2003

Topical nasal anesthesia for transnasal fiberoptic laryngoscopy: a prospective, double-blind, cross-over study.

BACKGROUND: Transnasal fiberoptic laryngoscopy (TFL) is frequently performed by otolaryngologists, speech language pathologists, and various other health care providers. Historically, topical sprays have been administered to patients to decongest and anesthetize the nasal mucosa, thus minimizing the discomfort of the procedure. Recently, it was reported that patients undergoing TFL with topical anesthesia experienced no improvement in comfort compared with those who received oxymetazoline or saline. This observation is in direct opposition to our clinical experience that patients tolerate the procedure better with topical anesthesia. PURPOSE: We sought to compare patient comfort levels during TFL after the administration of cocaine, oxymetazoline, or saline. METHODS: Fifteen subjects undergoing TFL were prospectively evaluated. Each had TFL performed on 3 separate occasions. Before TFL, each patient received either 4% cocaine, 0.05% oxymetazoline, or saline topically administered via an atomizer to both nasal cavities (1 spray of 2-second duration). By the conclusion of the study, each patient had undergone TFL with each of the test agents. The subjects rated the discomfort they experienced on a scale ranging from 1 (minimal discomfort) to 5 (severe discomfort). Both patient and examiner were blinded to the test agent used. RESULTS: The mean nasal discomfort score for saline was 2.8 +/- 1.1. The scores for oxymetazoline and cocaine were 3.4 +/- 0.9 and 2.0 +/- 0.9, respectively. Compared with saline and oxymetazoline independently, TFL with topical cocaine appeared to provide more comfort (P < 0.05 and P < 0.005). CONCLUSION: The continued routine use of topical anesthetics such as cocaine before the performance of TFL is justified because it significantly decreases the patient's discomfort.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2003

Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Approximately 8 million people in the United States report some degree of dysphagia annually; as the population continues to age, this will become a greater problem. A comprehensibly performed and interpreted fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing provides invaluable information for the evaluation and management of individuals with dysphagia or aspiration, or both. STUDY DESIGN: Review. METHODS: The state-of-the-art technique, interpretation, predictive value, and safety of fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing was reviewed.

Deglutition↗
PubMed2003

Hemicricoidectomy as the primary diagnosis and treatment for cricoid chondrosarcomas.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The objective was to present a new approach for the diagnosis and treatment of chondrosarcoma involving the cricoid cartilage. The technique involved an extramucosal resection of the ipsilateral half of the involved cricoid cartilage, providing enough tissue to be sent for pathological study, and resulted in good laryngeal function without jeopardizing patients' long-term survival. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: A retrospective study of eight patients who underwent hemicricoidectomy for cricoid chondrosarcoma was performed at the Center for Voice Disorders, Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC). One patient was a woman and seven were men. The mean age at diagnosis was 64 years (age range, 53-72 y). RESULTS: All patients had a low-grade tumor. Primary treatment included hemicricoidectomy in all cases. In six (75%) of the patients, tracheotomy was required at the initial surgery. The mean time for decannulation was 3.2 months (range, 5 d-1 y). In four cases a second procedure was required because of recurrence. The second procedure included two total laryngectomies and two endoscopic carbon dioxide laser excisions. The mean follow-up time was 3 years (range, 2 mo-10 y). At the time of writing, six patients were alive without recurrence, one patient was alive with disease; and one patient had died of unrelated causes. CONCLUSION: The authors recommended unilateral hemicricoidectomy as the diagnosis and treatment of choice. This procedure allows sufficient tissue for histological study and provides good long-term breathing and phonatory function without compromising long-term survival. This procedure is appropriate for patients with 1) mobility of one vocal fold, 2) dysphonia or aphonia, and 3) an adequate subglottic airway.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Topical nasal anesthesia and laryngopharyngeal sensory testing: a prospective, double-blind crossover study.

Laryngopharyngeal sensory discrimination testing (LPSDT) has become a popular means of detecting sensory deficits in patients with voice and/or swallowing complaints. During this procedure, transnasal fiberoptic laryngoscopy (TFL) using a specialized fiberoptic scope is performed in order to deliver discrete pulses of air to the laryngopharyngeal mucosa. Historically, topical anesthesia has been applied to the nasal mucosa to lessen discomfort during TFL. Because of the concern that topical nasal anesthesia could also anesthetize the laryngopharynx, it is usually not used during sensory testing. To prospectively compare LPSDT scores after the nasal administration of cocaine hydrochloride, oxymetazoline hydrochloride, and saline solution, we prospectively evaluated 15 subjects undergoing LPSDT. Each had the procedure performed on 3 separate occasions. Before examination, each patient was administered either 4% cocaine, 0.05% oxymetazoline, or saline solution by atomizer (2 sprays of 1-second duration to each naris). By the conclusion of the study, each patient had undergone sensory testing with each of the test agents. During each examination, the minimal air pulse eliciting the laryngeal adductor reflex was recorded for both sides of the laryngopharynx. Both patient and examiner were blinded to the test agent used. The mean sensory score for saline solution was 3.9 mm Hg. The sensory scores for oxymetazoline and cocaine were 3.4 and 3.5 mm Hg, respectively. When compared to saline solution and oxymetazoline independently, sensory testing of the laryngopharynx during which the nose was anesthetized with cocaine resulted in similar thresholds for eliciting the laryngeal adductor reflex (p = .40 and p = .85). We conclude that topical anesthesia can be applied to the nasal cavity during LPSDT without altering laryngeal sensation.

Administration, Intranasal↗