Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this prospective study was to verify whether vocal fold fat augmentation (VFFA) modifies upper airway patency. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study analyzing the impact of VFFA on laryngeal resistance to airflow. Methods: Twenty-one consecutive patients 16 to 74 years of age underwent 24 VFFA operations because of glottic incompetence due to laryngeal hemiplegia (13 patients) or vocal fold tissue defects (8 patients). Flow-volume loop spirometry and body plethysmography were performed before and 1 to 6 months after surgery. Results: There were no significant differences between preoperative and postoperative pulmonary volumes (FVC and FEV1), expiratory flows (PEF, FEF50), or inspiratory flows (PIF, FIF50), although a slight increase in inspiratory flows meant that FEF50/FIF50 slightly decreased. Specific airway resistance (sRaw) increased after VFFA, but not in a statistically significant manner (p = .078). None of the patients experienced postoperative stridor. One obese woman with laryngeal hemiplegia had postoperative effort dyspnea; her respiratory studies showed a reduction in inspiratory flows and an increase in sRaw, and demonstrated progressive improvement. Conclusions: Flow-volume loop spirometry showed that VFFA does not significantly modify respiratory airflows, although a slight increase of inspiratory airflows suggested an improvement in variable extrathoracic obstruction. Body plethysmography proved to be a sensitive procedure that highlighted the subtle increase in upper airway resistance. Hence, VFFA can be considered a relatively safe procedure for achieving vocal fold medialization, and spirometry and plethysmography can be useful for preoperative assessment and postoperative follow-up.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 810-815 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology |
| Volume | 115 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2006 |
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Keywords
- Airway resistance
- Plethysmography
- Spirometry
- Upper airway patency
- Vocal fold fat augmentation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Otorhinolaryngology
Cite this
Airway resistance and airflow dynamics after fat injection into vocal folds. / Cantarella, Giovanna; Fasano, Valter; Maraschi, Barbara; Mazzola, Riccardo F.; Sambataro, Giuseppe.
In: Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology, Vol. 115, No. 11, 11.2006, p. 810-815.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Airway resistance and airflow dynamics after fat injection into vocal folds
AU - Cantarella, Giovanna
AU - Fasano, Valter
AU - Maraschi, Barbara
AU - Mazzola, Riccardo F.
AU - Sambataro, Giuseppe
PY - 2006/11
Y1 - 2006/11
N2 - Objectives: The aim of this prospective study was to verify whether vocal fold fat augmentation (VFFA) modifies upper airway patency. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study analyzing the impact of VFFA on laryngeal resistance to airflow. Methods: Twenty-one consecutive patients 16 to 74 years of age underwent 24 VFFA operations because of glottic incompetence due to laryngeal hemiplegia (13 patients) or vocal fold tissue defects (8 patients). Flow-volume loop spirometry and body plethysmography were performed before and 1 to 6 months after surgery. Results: There were no significant differences between preoperative and postoperative pulmonary volumes (FVC and FEV1), expiratory flows (PEF, FEF50), or inspiratory flows (PIF, FIF50), although a slight increase in inspiratory flows meant that FEF50/FIF50 slightly decreased. Specific airway resistance (sRaw) increased after VFFA, but not in a statistically significant manner (p = .078). None of the patients experienced postoperative stridor. One obese woman with laryngeal hemiplegia had postoperative effort dyspnea; her respiratory studies showed a reduction in inspiratory flows and an increase in sRaw, and demonstrated progressive improvement. Conclusions: Flow-volume loop spirometry showed that VFFA does not significantly modify respiratory airflows, although a slight increase of inspiratory airflows suggested an improvement in variable extrathoracic obstruction. Body plethysmography proved to be a sensitive procedure that highlighted the subtle increase in upper airway resistance. Hence, VFFA can be considered a relatively safe procedure for achieving vocal fold medialization, and spirometry and plethysmography can be useful for preoperative assessment and postoperative follow-up.
AB - Objectives: The aim of this prospective study was to verify whether vocal fold fat augmentation (VFFA) modifies upper airway patency. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study analyzing the impact of VFFA on laryngeal resistance to airflow. Methods: Twenty-one consecutive patients 16 to 74 years of age underwent 24 VFFA operations because of glottic incompetence due to laryngeal hemiplegia (13 patients) or vocal fold tissue defects (8 patients). Flow-volume loop spirometry and body plethysmography were performed before and 1 to 6 months after surgery. Results: There were no significant differences between preoperative and postoperative pulmonary volumes (FVC and FEV1), expiratory flows (PEF, FEF50), or inspiratory flows (PIF, FIF50), although a slight increase in inspiratory flows meant that FEF50/FIF50 slightly decreased. Specific airway resistance (sRaw) increased after VFFA, but not in a statistically significant manner (p = .078). None of the patients experienced postoperative stridor. One obese woman with laryngeal hemiplegia had postoperative effort dyspnea; her respiratory studies showed a reduction in inspiratory flows and an increase in sRaw, and demonstrated progressive improvement. Conclusions: Flow-volume loop spirometry showed that VFFA does not significantly modify respiratory airflows, although a slight increase of inspiratory airflows suggested an improvement in variable extrathoracic obstruction. Body plethysmography proved to be a sensitive procedure that highlighted the subtle increase in upper airway resistance. Hence, VFFA can be considered a relatively safe procedure for achieving vocal fold medialization, and spirometry and plethysmography can be useful for preoperative assessment and postoperative follow-up.
KW - Airway resistance
KW - Plethysmography
KW - Spirometry
KW - Upper airway patency
KW - Vocal fold fat augmentation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33751031864&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33751031864&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 17165662
AN - SCOPUS:33751031864
VL - 115
SP - 810
EP - 815
JO - Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology
JF - Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology
SN - 0003-4894
IS - 11
ER -