To report the outcome of 18 patients with a tracheostomy secondary to bilateral vocal fold immobility, who were managed using reconstructive transoral laser microsurgical techniques.

A retrospective review was conducted of the surgical outcome of 18 patients with bilateral vocal fold immobility and a tracheostomy resulting from different aetiologies. Follow-up duration ranged from one to five years.

A total of 18 patients had a tracheostomy at presentation because of bilateral true vocal fold immobility and stridor. All cases were treated using reconstructive transoral laser microsurgery with arytenoidectomy and vocal fold lateralisation. All patients were successfully decannulated by eight weeks after surgery.

Reconstructive transoral laser microsurgery using partial arytenoidectomy with vocal fold lateralisation is minimally invasive, feasible, safe and effective for airway reconstruction in patients who present with stridor due to bilateral true vocal fold immobility.

This retrospective study was undertaken to assess the outcome of the medical and/or surgical management of patients presenting with clinical features of arytenoid granuloma.

The records of 53 males and 9 females were reviewed for predisposing factors, types of treatment received and recurrence following the treatment.

Most of the patients (48 out of 62, 77.4 per cent) were treated conservatively with medical management and voice therapy, which resulted in complete resolution of arytenoid granuloma in over two-thirds of the patients treated (32 out of 48, 66.6 per cent). Overall, 28 patients (out of 62, 45.1 per cent) required surgery (14 failed medical treatment cases and 14 surgery as first-line treatment cases). Of these, five patients (out of 28, 17.9 per cent) had recurrence, and were managed with revision surgery and concurrent local injection of Botox.

Anti-reflux medication and voice therapy are effective first-line management options. Pre- and post-surgery adjuvant treatment improves the results of surgery. Local injection of Botox was successful in the treatment of failed surgical cases.

Selective lateral laser thyroarytenoid myotomy is a conceptually sound, simple, minimally invasive, repeatable and predictable new surgical procedure for treating adductor spasmodic dysphonia. This paper aims to introduce and describe the surgical technique, and to present a clinical case series and its outcomes.

A prospective, clinical case series treated with selective lateral laser thyroarytenoid myotomy, with follow up of 2.5 years.

Pre- and post-operative data were collected prospectively for patients undergoing selective lateral laser thyroarytenoid myotomy. These data included patient demographics, previous interventions for adductor spasmodic dysphonia, technical aspects of surgery and clinical outcome. Outcome data included clinical assessment, voice handicap index, need for further intervention, and patient satisfaction assessed by subjective improvement (detailed subjectively by the patients themselves and objectively using the Glasgow benefit inventory).

Four patients (two men and two women; mean age 65 years; age range 41–80 years) were included. The mean duration of adductor spasmodic dysphonia was 11 years. All patients had previously been treated with botulinum toxin A. All patients reported improvement in voice quality, fluency, sustainability and elimination of voice breaks over 2.5 years' follow up. Clinical assessment revealed no alteration in mucosal wave, and complete relief of hyperadduction was observed on phonation. No patients required supplementary botulinum toxin treatment during follow up.

Selective lateral laser thyroarytenoid myotomy seems to represent a curative procedure for adductor spasmodic dysphonia, a chronic, debilitating condition. This procedure is conceptually simple, minimally invasive and repeatable. It also seems to offer a safe and lasting alternative to botulinum toxin therapy.

We present the largest recorded case series of holmium:YAG laser use in otolaryngology. This laser's hand-held delivery device is easier to manipulate compared with other ENT lasers, and its pulsed delivery mode gives it enhanced cutting and coagulation properties.

We conducted a 12-year, retrospective study of holmium:YAG laser use in a tertiary referral centre. Sixty-eight patients were included. Nineteen received primary laser treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract (nine with simultaneous neck dissection), and 49 underwent either palatine or lingual tonsillectomy for benign disease. One cancer patient developed a pharyngo-cutaneous fistula, and a second suffered a secondary haemorrhage. No other complications were recorded. There were no local recurrences.

The holmium:YAG laser is safe and effective for benign and malignant otolaryngological conditions. In cancer treatment, it may be best to delay neck dissection until the primary site has healed, in order to avoid fistula formation.

Recently, the 532 nm pulsed potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser has emerged as an effective angiolytic laser for treating mucosal lesions of the larynx in the operating theatre and clinic. We sought to assess the current impact of potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser on our laryngeal surgery practice.

Retrospective review of 710 patients undergoing endoscopic laryngeal surgery over a one-year period.

Medical records of the endoscopic laryngeal procedures were reviewed; 386/710 had been performed in the clinic and 324/710 in the operating theatre under general anaesthesia. Indications for the procedures were classified by pathology.

Pulsed potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser was used in 209/386 clinic procedures. The indications for these procedures were: dysplasia (114/209 procedures), papillomatosis (89/209), varices or ectasia (three of 209), and ‘other’ (three of 209). Pulsed potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser was used in 178/324 operating theatre endoscopic laryngeal procedures. The indications for these procedures were: cancer (54/178 procedures), dysplasia (52/178), papillomatosis (38/178), varices or ectasia (13/178), polyps (six of 178), nodules (six of 178), stenosis (five of 178), granulation (three of 178), and amyloid (one of 178).

Due to its versatility, the 532 nm pulsed potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser is our most commonly utilised instrument for performing endoscopic laryngeal surgery.

Oral submucous fibrosis is a chronic disease characterised by progressive inability to open the mouth. Various treatment modalities are available for its management, but these have largely been ineffective.

Nine cases of oral submucous fibrosis underwent a release procedure using a KTP-532 laser, from March 2005 to January 2006, within the ENT – head and neck surgery department of a tertiary centre.

Pre- and post-operative mouth-opening was compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test, and a significant difference observed (Z = −2.690, p = 0.007). Follow up over an average period of 12 months showed encouraging results.

This preliminary study indicated that adequate release of oral submucous fibrosis can be achieved by using a KTP-532 laser release procedure, with minimal morbidity and satisfactory results. These promising results should encourage more widespread use of this technique in the management of this condition.

Airway fires pose a risk during laser microlaryngoscopy, and neurosurgical cotton patties, used to prevent tissue injury from stray laser beams, are a potential ignition source. Using a configuration approximating clinical practice, we experimentally assessed the relative impact of changing different ‘fire triad’ components on the occurrence of airway fires, in order to better inform patient care.

The relative effects of wet vs dry neurosurgical patties, oxygen concentration and laser power setting on the patty ignition time were studied in a cadaveric porcine model. Data were analysed using t-test and two-way analysis of variance.

Dry patties ignited after 2.3 ± 1.2 seconds (average ± standard deviation) of continuous 5 W laser fire at 50 per cent oxygen concentration, compared with 63.9 ± 27.8 seconds for wet patties under the same laser and oxygen settings (p < 0.0001). There was a statistically significant reduction in the time to patty ignition when laser power settings were increased from 5 to 7.5 W, but no further reductions occurred when the power was further increased to 10 W (p < 0.05; Tukey test for multiple comparisons; two-way analysis of variance). There was no significant reduction in the time to ignition between oxygen concentrations of 50 and 75 per cent, but the time to ignition fell significantly when the oxygen concentration was further increased to 100 per cent.

We suggest that surgical patties should always be soaked and should be used for relatively short periods, in order to prevent drying. If at all possible clinically, prolonged laser use at high power settings and ventilation with 100 per cent oxygen should be avoided.

We report the case of an osteoblastoma of the larynx arising from the vocal fold, which presented with acute airway obstruction and cardiopulmonary arrest.

The histopathological findings, differential diagnoses and a novel method of treating laryngeal osteoblastoma, using transoral laser therapy, are discussed.

Benign osteoblastoma is a rare primary bone tumour usually presenting in young patients in the spine and sacrum. Its occurrence in the larynx is very rare, with only three similar case reports in the literature, none involving tumour arising from the vocal fold. Differential diagnoses must be considered and excluded using both histopathological and clinical features. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, successful treatment is achieved with surgical excision.

Osteoblastoma of the larynx is rare, and the clinical features can vary with the anatomical site of the lesion. The recommended treatment is surgical excision which, if available, may be achieved by transoral laser microsurgery. Due to its potential rapid growth, careful follow up is essential in order to detect recurrence.

Vocal results after endoscopic cordectomy have not yet been well defined. The aim of this study was to assess the vocal function of patients who had undergone CO2 laser cordectomy.

Retrospective, observational and control group study, conducted in a tertiary care medical department.

One hundred and thirty-five male patients (age range 36–83 years) underwent different types of endoscopic cordectomy. Forty age-matched, euphonic male subjects were selected as controls. Patients were classified according to the main site of the phonatory neo-glottis. Outcome measures were maximum phonation time, vocal intensity and harmonic/noise ratio. Mann–Whitney and rank Spearman tests were used for statistical analysis.

Findings indicated statistically significant differences for all parameters, comparing patients and controls (p<0.001), and a direct positive relation between type of functional compensation and outcome measures in the study patients (p<0.001).

The results indicate that functional compensation and outcome measures were related, and that no functional compensation enabled the study patients to achieve a voice quality comparable with that of controls.

Endoscopic sinus surgery has been widely performed to treat nose and paranasal diseases. However, it is difficult to manipulate anterior wall lesions of the maxillary sinus using conventional surgical instruments. This paper presents a method of performing endoscopic surgery for anterior wall lesions of the maxillary sinus, using a 135° reflective CO2 laser.

A CO2 laser with a 135° reflective tip on the pipe-guide handpiece and a CO2 laser angulated to the same degree were used. The pipe-guide handpiece with reflective tip was inserted into the nasal cavity and the base of the maxillary sinus anterior wall lesion was vaporised and removed via an enlarged natural ostium. During the procedure, the maxillary antrum was visualised with a 70° endoscope. Ten cases of maxillary sinus anterior wall lesion underwent this surgical procedure.

In all cases, the base of the maxillary sinus anterior wall lesion was removed completely and recurrence avoided.

This method is a reliable procedure enabling endoscopic sinus surgery for anterior wall lesions of the maxillary sinus.

Rhinostomy patency is a problem in all forms of dacryocystorhinostomy. Laser-assisted procedures are potentially fast and result in excellent haemostasis. However, they may induce more fibroblastic activity, resulting in excessive scarring and stenosis of the rhinostomy, compared with non-laser dissection.

The objective of this study was to compare subjective outcomes following dacryocystorhinostomy conducted with endoscopic endonasal laser and with endonasal surgical techniques.

Prospective, randomised, controlled trial comparing potassium titanyl phosphate endonasal laser dissection with endonasal surgical techniques, for dacryocystorhinostomy to treat epiphora due to primary, acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

One hundred and twenty-six adult patients with chronic epiphora due to primary, acquired nasolacrimal sac or duct obstruction.

Interventions comprised endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy, performed using potassium titanyl phosphate laser or surgical dissection, in order to open the lacrimal sac into the nasal cavity.

These were: symptom score and symptom relief of epiphora (at three and 12 months post-procedure); duration and ease of procedure; and duration of hospital stay.

Sixty patients underwent endonasal laser dacryocystorhinostomy and 66 underwent endonasal surgical dacryocystorhinostomy. Symptomatic success was 82 per cent at three months and 68 per cent at 12 months in the laser group, and 76 per cent at three months and 74 per cent at 12 months in the surgical group. A two-point reduction in the symptom score was associated with symptomatic success at three and 12 months. Eight patients randomised to the laser group required additional instrumentation in order to remove thick bone over the lacrimal sac.

At three months, endonasal laser dacryocystorhinostomy had better results than endonasal surgical dacryocystorhinostomy. However, at 12 months, the surgical procedure had better results than the laser procedure. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at three or 12 months with regard to symptomatic outcome. The ease of procedure (on a scale of zero to 10) was 4.5 for the laser procedure and 4.1 for the surgical procedure. The average times for the procedures were 25 minutes in the laser group and 20 minutes in the surgical group. No statistical difference was found when comparing: symptom score improvement for local anaesthetic vs general anaesthetic; ages over and under 70 years; laterality; or operating surgeon. Change in the symptom score was a useful indicator of symptomatic success.

We report a rare case of otophyma.

A case report of otophyma and a review of the current literature concerning otophyma and the more common rhinophyma, are presented.

A 46-year-old male presented with slow growing fleshy growths on both auricles which were excised. A diagnosis of otophyma was made. Although rosacea is more common, otophyma and other ‘phymas’ are thought to be the end stage of the rosacea spectrum of skin disease. However, unlike rhinophyma, otophyma is rarely seen and as a result there is little in the English language literature regarding it. Consequently, the management of otophyma is largely based on previous experiences with rhinophyma.

To our knowledge this is the first case report of otophyma in the otolaryngology literature and only the second described in the English language literature. This case demonstrates the difficulties faced in diagnosing this rare condition and our successful management of this case.

Early glottic cancer may be treated with primary radiotherapy or transoral laser microsurgery with comparable survival. The choice of therapy therefore depends on patient preference after discussion of risks, benefits and alternatives.

All previously untreated patients undergoing transoral laser microsurgery for T1 or T2 glottic cancer at St Vincent's Hospital between July 1997 and December 2004 had their staging and demographics recorded. Surgery was categorised according to the European Laryngological Society. A voice recording was made pre-operatively then at 12 weeks post-operatively and scored by two independent speech therapists on the Oates Russell Voice Profile – a scale of zero (normal) to five (severe dysphonia). Follow up was for a minimum of two years.

Fifty-three patients with a mean age of 56 were included. The observed survival was T1 89.4 per cent and T2 85.3 per cent after a mean follow up of 47 months. Nineteen patients staged T1 underwent cordectomy. A second procedure was required in 22.2 per cent, however, none required a laryngectomy. Thirty-four patients staged T2 underwent hemilaryngectomy. A second procedure was required in 41.2 per cent including 8.8 per cent requiring salvage laryngectomy. One patient died with unresectable nodal disease. The mean Oates Russell Voice Profile for T1 disease was 2.37 and for T2 2.68 (range 1 to 4) indicating a mild (2) to moderate (3) degree of voice impairment.

Survival outcomes following transoral laser microsurgery are comparable to treatment with radiotherapy. Voice impairment is usually mild to moderate following transoral laser microsurgery for early glottic cancer but overall may be greater than in radiotherapy patients. The repeatability of transoral laser microsurgery may result in a lower laryngectomy rate compared with published series using radiotherapy.