[Analysis of changes in the spectrogram following endotracheal intubation]

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Speech Science
• Anesthesiology

Context:

• Voice alteration is a frequent complication after endotracheal intubation.
• Understanding post-intubation vocal changes is crucial for patient recovery and satisfaction.
• Existing research often lacks detailed acoustic and visual laryngeal assessments.

Purpose:

• To document strobolaryngoscopic and spectrogram alterations following endotracheal intubation.
• To investigate the relationship between these laryngeal and vocal changes.
• To correlate vocal changes with anesthetic variables.

Summary:

• Thirty-eight patients undergoing otological surgery were assessed pre- and post-intubation using strobolaryngoscopy, acoustic analysis (GRABS, jitter, shimmer), and spectrograms.
• Acoustic and GRABS scale analyses indicated temporary voice worsening, with recovery by 7 days.
• Strobolaryngoscopy revealed transient changes in only two patients, with full recovery.
• No significant correlation was found between voice parameters and anesthetic variables.

Impact:

• Provides objective data on the transient nature of voice changes post-intubation.
• Highlights that vocal dysfunction can occur without visible laryngeal abnormalities.
• Informs clinical expectations and management strategies for patients undergoing endotracheal intubation.