title: Vocal and ventricular fold lateralization using crossing sutures with the thyroplasty window technique for bilateral vocal fold immobility: long-term results.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Vocal and ventricular fold lateralization using crossing sutures with the thyroplasty window technique is an effective and durable procedure for the management of patients with bilateral vocal fold immobility.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the long-term results of bilateral vocal fold immobility in 26 patients treated with vocal and ventricular fold lateralization using crossing sutures with the thyroplasty window technique over a 6-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study examined patients with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. The main outcome measures used were the modified Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea scale and the assessment of voice quality pre- and postoperatively using the Likert method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up period was 23.77 ± 12.01 months. All patients reported marked symptomatic improvement in dyspnoea (p = 0.0001). The voice quality worsened as expected; however, this difference did not reach a significant level (p = 0.642). Transient microaspiration was noted in seven of the patients and resolved in 1 or 2 days. The procedure was performed for the contralateral vocal fold in one case, due to the loss of suture tension. No patient showed aspiration postoperatively or during follow-up. All patients were regularly followed up for the beginning of movement of the lateralized or contralateral vocal folds in our outpatient clinic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital , Izmir , Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Songu
authors.forename: Hale
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.forename: Ilter
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Denizoglu
authors.forename: Yilmaz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozkul
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basoglu
authors.forename: Duzgun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ates
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozturkcan
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katilmis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058753:Laryngoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000601:surgery*