title: Transnasal flexible laryngo-oesophagoscopy: an evaluation of the patient's experience.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the patient's experience of transnasal flexible laryngo-oesophagoscopy under local anaesthetic in an out-patient setting. This was a clinical observational study using a patient questionnaire and visual analogue score. Subjects were 50 patients seen in the hospital's ENT outpatient clinic between March and August 2004 in whom transnasal flexible laryngo-oesophagoscopy was performed and who completed pain discomfort questionnaires. Any patient undergoing transnasal flexible laryngo-oesophagoscopy, for either diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, was included in the study. Patients in whom transnasal flexible laryngo-oesophagoscopy was not necessary as part of their investigation or treatment were excluded. Patients completed a questionnaire, providing a simple visual analogue score for discomfort during the procedure. Any operative complications were noted by the surgeon. All patients completed transnasal flexible laryngo-oesophagoscopy, and the upper aerodigestive tract was clearly visualized. The procedure is well tolerated, with mean score of <1 out of 10 for all forms of discomfort. There was a complication rate of 2 per cent (one patient with epistaxis); no other complications occurred. Transnasal flexible laryngo-oesophagoscopy is a new diagnostic and therapeutic technique which is well tolerated by patients. It compares favourably with other flexible endoscopic techniques. This report documents for the first time a detailed description of patients' experience of this technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK. aloksharma@mac.com
authors.forename: Alok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mierzwa
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: Asad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Qayyum
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bradnam
mesh_terms: D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D007830:Larynx; D009666:Nose; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013270:Stomach; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires