title: Electrical pacing of the paralyzed human larynx.
abstract: This study represents the first attempt to electrically pace the paralyzed human larynx. The goal was to determine if electrical stimulation of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle could produce functional abduction of the vocal fold in pace with inspiration. An external apparatus was used to sense inspiration and reanimate the unilaterally paralyzed larynx of a thyroplasty patient. Stimuli were delivered through a needle electrode to locate and pace the abductor muscle. The magnitude of electrically induced abduction was comparable to spontaneous movement on the normal side. The abduction was appropriately timed with inspiration: this finding demonstrated that this simple pacing system could effectively modulate stimulation with patient respiration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Zealear
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Rainey
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Herzon
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Netterville
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Ossoff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*