Development and validation of a quality of life instrument for patients with laryngeal cleft

Injection laryngoplasty for laryngeal cleft type I in an 8-week-old infant

A laryngeal cleft is a rare anatomical deformity which is increasingly treated with injection laryngoplasty. Since diagnosis of laryngeal cleft type I is often made between 2 and 5 years of age, this treatment is rarely performed on very young children. In this case, we describe how injection laryngoplasty is performed safely on an 8-week-old child, and we illustrate its added value for the diagnostic process and for temporary symptom relief.

Validation of the Childhood Dysphagia Management Scale (CDMS): An Impact Scale for determining medical home for dysphagia

BACKGROUND

The results and recommendations from instrumental assessments of swallowing do not, by themselves, provide guidance regarding the type of medical management that might be needed for the pediatric patient with dysphagia. The aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Childhood Dysphagia Management Scale (CDMS), a clinical scale developed to estimate the impact of dysphagia and determine the need for a multidisciplinary medical home to manage dysphagia.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational study implemented in three phases to evaluate validity and reliability of the CDMS. Analyses for internal consistency, inter-rater and intra-rater reliability, repeated measure, content, structural, criterion and external validity and hypothesis testing were conducted.

RESULTS

This study established content, structural, internal, external, and criterion validity of the CDMS. The CDMS was found to have robust inter-rater (κ = 0.776) and intra-rater reliability (κ = 0.853), and consistency across repeated measures (κ = 0.853). Providers who used the CDMS had a high level of agreement with the recommended medical management plan. CDMS scores correlated (F(5,118) = 22.105, p < 0.001) with Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) scores confirming that patients with significant diet restrictions were more likely to be referred for multidisciplinary care. To establish external validity, the CDMS was administered to a higher risk group, patients with Down syndrome, who were more likely to be referred for multidisciplinary care based on CDMS results versus the general swallowing disorders clinic population (F(1,281) = 24.357, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The CDMS is a reliable and valid scale for guiding decision-making regarding the medical home for pediatric dysphagia management.

Postoperative dysphagia immediately following pediatric endoscopic laryngeal cleft repair

OBJECTIVES

In pediatric patients undergoing endoscopic laryngeal cleft repair, immediate postoperative dysphagia is not well-characterized. This study examined whether worsened dysphagia is present in the immediate postoperative period as detected by clinical swallow evaluation, and evaluated how this relates to postoperative change in presenting symptoms and findings on swallow studies.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort was conducted at a tertiary academic medical center, evaluating all pediatric patients who underwent endoscopic laryngeal cleft repair by a single surgeon from October 2014 through December 2018. All patients underwent instrumental swallow evaluation preoperatively and clinical swallow evaluation within 24 h following surgery.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine patients met inclusion criteria. Based on clinical swallow evaluation performed within 24 h after surgery, 4 patients (10%) were recommended to thicken their diet from preoperative baseline; all others were unchanged. All patients were admitted to the PICU for observation; 34 (87%) discharged on postoperative day 1. Thirty-seven patients attended 6-week follow-up, with 2 (5%) requiring thicker diet since discharge; all others were stable or improved. Prevalence of recurrent respiratory infections, subjective dysphagia, chronic cough, and wheezing significantly decreased after surgery. No statistically significant change occurred in prevalence of aspiration or penetration on instrumental swallow studies postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic laryngeal cleft repair is well-tolerated in pediatric patients, and most do not have obviously worsened dysphagia at immediate postoperative evaluation. Improvement in symptoms postoperatively may be a more useful indicator of surgical outcomes beyond instrumental swallow studies alone. The relative stability of these patients provides further evidence that they can likely be managed on the floor or as outpatients rather than in the ICU postoperatively.

Inter-rater reliability in diagnosis and treatment of type one laryngeal cleft: A blinded observational study

INTRODUCTION

Type one laryngeal cleft (T1LC) has been implicated as a major contributor to aspiration in non-syndromic pediatric dysphagia. Despite an increasing incidence, there remains controversy in diagnosis and treatment algorithms.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the inter-rater reliability (IRR) for the diagnosis and treatment of T1LC.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted to identify children evaluated for a T1LC from 2016 to 2017 at a single tertiary care center. The microlaryngoscopy video recordings depicting palpation of the interarytenoid region with a right-angle probe were reviewed. These recordings were shown to blinded pediatric otolaryngologists and each surgeon's determination of the presence or absence of a T1LC as well as recommended treatment (observation, injection laryngoplasty, or endoscopic cleft repair) was recorded and compared against the other blinded surgeons. Fleiss's kappa was calculated to evaluate IRR in both diagnosis and treatment.

RESULTS

Eight pediatric otolaryngologists were included in the study with a mean post-training experience of 15 years (range 1-35 years). The inter-rater percent agreement in diagnosis of our patient population was 28.6% (range 3.7-71%) with a kappa value of 0.31 (p < 0.0001). In regard to management, the inter-rater percent agreement in treatment was 11.4% (range 0-35%) with a kappa value of 0.14 (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the challenges and variation that exists among surgeons in diagnosing and managing potential T1LC. Further standardizing the endoscopic examination and treatment algorithm may reduce diagnostic and treatment discordance.

Neurophysiological changes and chronic pain in cleft patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate if patients after orofacial cleft repair experience neurophysiological changes with consecutive chronic pain states after surgery. Patients (n = 48) with a repaired orofacial cleft (CLP) recruited in a support group took part in a survey including five questionnaires. They revealed pain states, described cleft situation and history, and epidemiological data. Patients' quality of life and psychological comorbidity after the surgical procedures were assessed with the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP), the Giessen Subjective Complaints List (GSCL) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Furthermore, psychosocial impairment was documented. 39 out of 48 subjects with CLP reported to have experienced pain during the last 6 months. Pain was proven to be already chronic for 36 persons. Locations of pain were the orofacial region, back and limbs. Neurophysiological perception to cold, warmth, pressure and touch were found to be inhomogeneous. Local disturbances of subjective sensitivity in hard and soft tissues in the operated region are suspicious for neuropathic disorders and peripheral and central sensitization. 16 participants also reported that during dental interventions higher doses of local analgesia were necessary to achieve a pain free condition. Overall participants with CLP demonstrated elevated levels for anxiety and depression. As a conclusion for daily routine, CLP patients are considered to be at a higher risk to develop chronic pain states. To avoid these, proper pain and psychological management must be performed from early childhood. Further clinical studies examining patients with neurophysiological diagnostic tools are needed.

Criticality in tailoring the treatment for tracheoesophageal fistulas in children

OBJECTIVE

Tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF) is a rare pathology. It can be congenital and concurrent with other congenital anomalies such as oesophageal atresia, laryngeal and tracheal agenesis, or it can be acquired. The purpose of this study was to analyse various management strategies and their outcomes in infants and children with TOF and identify potential areas for standardisation of the fistula repair procedures.

METHODS

At a single institution, a retrospective analysis of infants and children with congenital or acquired TOF between 2013 and 2019 was performed. Thirteen patients were identified. Data collection included: patient demography, associated congenital anomalies, details of fistula at the time of endoscopy, surgical approach and intra-operative findings, need for additional intervention(s), and outcomes.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients underwent endoscopic or open surgeries for correction of TOF. The TOF was congenital in ten patients and acquired in three patients. Eight patients had associated aero-digestive comorbidities, and six patients had systemic comorbidities. Three patients underwent endoscopic procedures and nine patients underwent an open TOF repair. One patient had tracheal agenesis and was not offered any treatment. Two patients required multiple endoscopic interventions for recurrent TOFs. Among four patients with prior tracheostomy, three were decannulated and one awaits decannulation. Conclusıon Appropriate case selection and surgical ergonomics are essential for patients with TOF to avoid recurrences. Preoperative endoscopy to obtain precise details regarding associated laryngotracheal lesions and demographics of the fistula is crucial.

Dysphagia diagnosis with questionnaire, tongue strength measurement, and FEES in patients with childhood-onset muscular dystrophy

INTRODUCTION

Dysphagia in progressive muscle diseases is primarily due to muscle weakness. Objective of our study is to investigate the prevalence and phenotypes of dysphagia in patients with childhood onset muscular dystrophy (MD) with the use of a validated questionnaire, the measurement of tongue strength and Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES).

METHODS

Prospective observational longitudinal study of dysphagia in a cohort of 58 patients attending the Pediatric Department Center for Neuromuscular Diseases. Control participants were 56 age and sex matched healthy volunteers. Dysphagia was evaluated with the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10), and the measurement of Maximal Isometric Tongue Pressure (MITP) and tongue endurance (Iowa Oral Performance Instrument-IOPI). Dysphagic patients were submitted to FEES. Recorded data included demographic and anthropometric characteristics, type of MD, feeding status, and spirometry.

RESULTS

Our patients' cohort consisted of 41 children, 11 adolescents, and 6 adults. Based on EAT-10, 20.7% of the patients were dysphagic: 14.63% of children, 27.3% of adolescents and 50% of adults. The main complain was solid food dysphagia. Spirometry parameters mean values for children and adolescent patients corresponded to lower than the fifth percentile. Means of FVC and FEV1 expressed as % predicted for adult patients were 27.8 (SD:25.05) and 28.8 (SD:28.44) respectively. Reduced tongue strength was measured to children aged 9-10, adolescent and adult MD patients. The main FEES findings were pharyngeal residue, spillage of food before the swallow, and supraglottal penetration.

DISCUSSION

This is the first study to use a validated questionnaire to evaluate dysphagia in childhood onset MD and report dyphagia prevalence at different patients' age. This is the first study reporting MITP in children and adults with generalised MD. Tongue pressures are reduced well before clinical signs of dysphagia are present.

CONCLUSION

Screening of potentially dysphagic MD patients can be based on a validated questionnaire. Patients with an EAT-10 score suggestive of dysphagia at regular follow-up can have the MITP measured and in the case of reduced values a thorough dysphagia evaluation with FEES is indicated.