title: Perceptual and instrumental evaluation of voice and tongue function after carotid endarterectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Laryngeal and tongue function was assessed in 28 patients to evaluate the presence, nature, and resolution of superior recurrent laryngeal and hypoglossal nerve damage resulting from standard open primary carotid endarterectomy (CEA).
  
  
  METHODS
  The laryngeal and tongue function in 28 patients who underwent CEA were examined prospectively with various physiologic (Aerophone II, laryngograph, tongue transducer), acoustic (Multi-Dimensional Voice Program), and perceptual speech assessments. Measures were obtained from all participants preoperatively, and at 2 weeks and at 3 months postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The perceptual speech assessment indicated that the vocal quality of "roughness" was significantly more apparent at the 2-week postoperative assessment than preoperatively. However, by the 3-month postoperative assessment these values had returned to near preoperative levels, with no significant difference detected between preoperative and 3-month postoperative levels or between 2-week and 3-month postoperative levels. Both the instrumental assessments of laryngeal function and the acoustic assessment of vocal quality failed to identify any significant difference on any measure across the three assessment periods. Similarly, no significant impairment in tongue strength, endurance, or rate of repetitive tongue movements was detected at instrumental assessment of tongue function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No permanent changes to vocal or tongue function occurred in this group of participants after primary CEA. The lack of any significant long-term laryngeal or tongue dysfunction in this group suggests that the standard open CEA procedure is not associated with high rates of superior recurrent and hypoglossal nerve dysfunction, as previously believed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Speech Pathology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. L.Cahill@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Louise M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Cahill
authors.forename: Bruce E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Murdoch
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McGahan
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lethean
authors.forename: Kirsty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020209:Cranial Nerve Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061228:Hypoglossal Nerve Injuries; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D061226:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D014059:Tongue / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014833:Voice Quality