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Voice outcomes following the gray minithyrotomy
Pavan S Mallur1, Jacqueline Gartner-Schmidt, Clark A Rosen
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Voice Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, USA.
The Gray minithyrotomy (GMT) offers a viable surgical option for severe vocal fold scar and sulcus vocalis. This study found improvement in voice outcomes for about half of patients, many with prior surgical failures.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Laryngology
- Voice Surgery
Background:
- Limited treatment options exist for vocal fold scar and sulcus vocalis.
- The Gray minithyrotomy (GMT) is a surgical procedure for these conditions.
- Objective data on voice outcomes after GMT are scarce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare subjective and visual perceptual voice outcomes after GMT.
- To evaluate the efficacy of GMT for vocal fold scar and sulcus vocalis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of patients undergoing GMT at a single institution.
- Collected data included patient satisfaction, Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) scores, and perceptual voice analysis.
- Recorded complications associated with the procedure.
Main Results:
- Sixteen patients underwent GMT for various causes of vocal fold scarring or sulcus vocalis.
- Seven of 13 procedures reported self-improvement; 6 procedures showed a mean VHI-10 decrease of 7.5.
- Complications occurred in 5 patients, including infection and aspiration.
Conclusions:
- Gray minithyrotomy (GMT) is a viable treatment for severe vocal fold scar and sulcus vocalis.
- The procedure demonstrated improvement in approximately half of a challenging patient cohort.
- Results help guide patient and clinician expectations for this surgical technique.
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