Effects of suture tension during unilateral cricoarytenoid lateralization on canine laryngeal resistance in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of abduction suture tension for unilateral arytenoid lateralization on laryngeal resistance.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
Canine cadaver larynges (n=16).


METHODS
Laryngeal resistance was calculated in all specimens with the epiglottis in open and closed positions. Left cricoarytenoid lateralization was performed under low or high suture tension, and laryngeal resistance was re-calculated. The effects of suture tension on laryngeal resistance were evaluated by repeated measures ANOVA.


RESULTS
Cricoarytenoid lateralization under low or high suture tension significantly reduced laryngeal resistance with the epiglottis in an open or closed position. There was no difference in laryngeal resistance with an open epiglottis between the low-tension (1.00+/-0.0001 cm H(2)O/L/s) and high-tension (1.10+/-0.35 cm H(2)O/L/s) groups (P=.33). The low-tension group (22.80+/-14.20 cm H(2)O/L/s) had significantly greater laryngeal resistance than the high-tension group (8.45+/-4.00 cm H(2)O/L/s) with a closed epiglottis (P=.016). There was no difference in laryngeal resistance with a closed epiglottis for the low-tension group before (34.30+/-36.50 cm H(2)O/L/s) and after (22.80+/-14.20 cm H(2)O/L/s; P=.42) arytenoid lateralization.


CONCLUSIONS
Cricoarytenoid lateralization under low suture tension significantly reduced laryngeal resistance with an open epiglottis, but resulted in a significantly greater resistance with a closed epiglottis than cricoarytenoid lateralization under high suture tension.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinically, use of a low-tension suture for cricoarytenoid lateralization may provide an adequate decrease in open-epiglottis laryngeal resistance to alleviate clinical signs, while maintaining enough closed-epiglottis laryngeal resistance to reduce the risk of postoperative aspiration pneumonia.
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
Marc J
MJ
Greenberg
Stephane
S
Bureau
Eric
E
Monnet
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001193:Arytenoid Cartilage / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002102:Cadaver; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005931:Glottis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D013537:Sutures; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*