title: Improvement of respiratory compromise through abductor reinnervation and pacing in a patient with bilateral vocal fold impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether respiratory compromise from bilateral vocal fold impairment (paralysis) can be objectively alleviated by reinnervation and pacing.
  
  
  METHODS
  A patient with paramedian vocal folds and synkinesis had a tracheotomy for stridor after bilateral laryngeal nerve injury and Miller Fisher syndrome. One posterior cricoarytenoideus (PCA) received a nerve-muscle pedicle fitted with a perineural electrode for pacemaker stimulation. The airway was evaluated endoscopically and by spirometry for up to 1 year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bilateral vocal fold patency during quiet breathing was reversed to active vocal fold adduction during tracheal occlusion. Peak inspiratory flows (PIFs) were significantly higher (P < .001) after reinnervation. PIFs and glottic apertures increased further under stimulation (42 Hz, 1-4 mA, 42-400 microsec). although the differences were not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our preliminary data, PCA reinnervation and pacing offer promise for amelioration of respiratory compromise after paradoxical adduction in bilateral vocal fold impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. mbron@prodigy.net
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Broniatowski
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grundfest-Broniatowski
authors.forename: Aaron J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hadley
authors.forename: Nemath S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Anca M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Barbu
authors.forename: Sue Ann
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Phillipbar
authors.forename: Kingman P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Strohl
authors.forename: Harvey M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Dustin J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Tyler
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000294:innervation*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000503:physiopathology; D013147:Spirometry; D046608:Synkinesis / Q000503:physiopathology; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*