title: The effect of voice rest on the outcome of phonosurgery for benign laryngeal lesions: preliminary results of a prospective randomized study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  According to the literature, voice rest following phonosurgery, as recommended in clinical practice, varies between 3 and 7 days. However, up until now, no randomized trials have been published comparing voice rest of short versus long duration.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an ongoing prospective randomized study, comparing strict voice rest of 5 versus 10 days on the voice following phonosurgery. Thirty-one elective patients operated on for benign laryngeal lesions were randomized. They completed pre- and postoperative assessments, including perceptual voice quality (Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, Strain, Instability scale), Voice Handicap Index total score, and voice analysis with both acoustic and aerodynamic measurements. Additional factors such as smoking, vocal abuse, reflux, and preoperative speech therapy were also taken into account.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen patients were randomized to follow 5 days' voice rest and 15 patients were randomized to 10 days' voice rest. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in pre- or postoperative measurements between the 2 groups. However, multilinear regression analysis for the effect of voice rest duration on postoperative values showed a significant improvement in maximum phonation time (MPT) with 10 days' voice rest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary results show a benefit of prolonged voice rest (10 days' duration) on MPT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Louvain University Hospital of Mont Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium info@dkiagiadaki.gr.
authors.forename: Devora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kiagiadaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Louvain University Hospital of Mont Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Remacle
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Louvain University Hospital of Mont Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Louvain University Hospital of Mont Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bachy
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Louvain University Hospital of Mont Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van der Vorst
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D064706:Vocal Cord Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: benign laryngeal lesions; phonosurgery; voice rest