Nora Siupsinskiene

Quality of Life in Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Patients

Objectives: To evaluate and compare quality of life (QL) parameters in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) versus healthy controls, to determine the impact of clinical signs to QL, and to assess changes in QL parameters after treatment.

Thyroid surgery: Changing patterns of practice

Objective: The practice of thyroidectomy has evolved over the past 10 years with the introduction of minimally invasive surgery, laryngeal nerve monitoring, and outpatient surgery. We sought to investigate corresponding trends in the disciplines performing thyroid surgery.

A Rare Case of Large Schwannoma of the Parapharyngeal Space

Schwannoma originating from the peripheral nerves is a rare lesion of the parapharyngeal space. The special traits of the presented case included the following: the patient presented with slowly progressing dysphagia, speech difficulties, jaw numbness, and taste dysfunction. A dislocated lateral pharyngeal wall with mild inflammatory changes of the oropharyngeal mucosa was observed during pharyngoscopy. The radiological and histological characteristics of the neoplasm are consequently presented. Special emphasis is placed on the surgical treatment of the tumor.

Speech Range Profile for Moderate-to-Severe Hearing Impaired Persons

Objectives: Analyze the differences between speech range profile (SRP) parameters in moderate-to-severe hearing impaired and well-hearing persons and to establish the key parameters for speech discrimination. Methods: Data were analyzed in a retrospective study of SRPs in combination with voice range profiles (VRP) recorded at a university hospital during 2001-2004.Standard protocols were derived from 80 adult patients (26 males, 54 females) with moderate-to-severe hearing loss without hearing-aids or laryngeal pathology. Ninety-eight non-hearing impaired age and gender matched persons (33 males, 65 females) with normal voices were also analyzed. Eight SRP parameters were assessed: fundamental frequency (F0), maximum speaking frequency and speaking tone range; habitual intensity, maximum speaking intensity and speaking intensity range; location of F0 within VRP pitch range, and slope of speaking curve. Results: When compared to -normal hearing persons, both genders of hearing impaired individuals exhibited significantly decreased mean values of speaking intensity range and increased in percent of location of F0 within the VRP pitch range (P < 0.05). Overall discrimination accuracy of these two SRP key parameters was 93.3%. Conclusions. Moderate-to-severe hearing impaired persons demonstrated restricted speaking capabilities in comparison to non-hearing impaired persons. Key parameters of speech range profile may be useful for assessment of hearing and speech rehabilitation efficacy.

S299 – Videolaryngoscopy in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Objectives To evaluate symptoms and videolaryngoscopic findings common in reflux in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to determine the relationship between laryngeal inflammation and OSA severity. Methods Data of 38 adult outpatients with first-proven OSA verified in overnight polysomnography during 2006–2007 were prospectively analyzed. Symptoms common in laryngopharyngeal reflux were self-rated using reflux symptoms index (RSI). Videolaryngoscopic laryngeal changes were evaluated with reflux finding score (RFS). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for all patients. Results 30 males and 8 females with mean age of 49.5 years were assessed. BMI of patients ranged from 23.1 to 46.6 kg/cm2 showing 86.8% of patients overweight. 52.6% of selected patients had mild OSA, 10.5%- moderate, 36.8- severe. Mean value of self-rated RSI was 13.8 points. Abnormal RSI was detected in 52.6% of patients. The most common symptoms indicated medium to severe problem were chronic throat clearing-; 48.6% of patients, increased amount of mucus coming into the nasopharynx-; 40.5%, and globus sensation-; 35.1%. The inflammation of the larynx was diagnosed for 78.9% of patients with mean RFS value of 10.1 points. The pronounced findings were vestibular folds hypertrophy-; 81.6%, posterior commissure hypertrophy- 73.7%, thick endolaryngeal mucus-; 63.2%, and vocal folds edema-; 44.7% of patients. Only diffuse laryngeal edema showed significant positive correlation with increasing of AHI. Conclusions A high prevalence of laryngeal symptoms and inflammation indicating reflux in OSA patients was identified. Direct significant correlation between laryngeal inflammation and OSA severity was not determined.