Normal speech for patients with laryngeal webs: an achievable goal.
Normal speech as well as an improved airway is now an achievable goal in the treatment of laryngeal webs. Seven acquired webs and 3 congenital webs were seen at the North Carolina Baptist Hospital/Bowman Gray School of Medicine. The speech of 6 patients was tested preoperatively and again postoperatively: speech was considered normal postoperatively in 5 patients without the need for speech therapy; normal in the sixth patient after 6 sessions of speech therapy. The authors' preferred method of treatment is development of an endolaryngeal mucosal flap with a variable beam CO2 laser under operating microscopic control.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007820:Laryngeal Mucosa / Q000601:surgery; D007829:Laryngostenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D007830:Larynx / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013060:Speech; D013070:Speech Therapy; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014831:Voice