Transtracheal stimulation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve

Phonation was induced in 10 mongrel dogs under general anesthesia by way of transtracheal stimulation of the recurrent laryngeal nerves under conditions of constant air flow. Although stimulation voltages were approximately 10 times the voltage required for direct stimulation, no cardiac or respiratory abnormalities were observed. Photoglottographic and electroglottographic signals were the same for both direct and transtracheally induced phonation. This phonation induction method can be used in chronic animal preparations to study vocal fold vibration sequentially and may be clinically applied to the treatment of patients with laryngeal problems that have failed to respond, or are not amenable, to standard forms of vocal rehabilitation.