A Novel Approach for VC Lateralization, With Prolene Suture Stabilized Over Prolene Mesh

September 27, 2022 updated by: Muhammad Rashid, Pak Emirates Military Hospital

To Evaluate a New Approach of Vocal Cord Lateralization Using Prolene Suture With Prolene Mesh Stabilization

The larynx performs important functions of the aero-digestive tract, it has a vital role in the control of breathing, phonation, deglutition, and protection of the lower respiratory tract from aspiration. Bilateral Vocal cord paralysis is a challenging and at times debilitating laryngeal dysfunction that has a great social and economic impact on a patient's life. VC Lateralization, if done accurately and up to the expectations of the patient is very rewarding. However different surgical procedures which include cordectomy, arytenoidectomy with or without laser, open surgical methods, and Isshiki type 2 thyroplasty are in practice. Each has its own profile of benefits and disadvantages. Most of them are technically difficult and complex, need specialized equipment, and are out of reach of the general ENT surgeons. The investigator suggests using the Prolene suture stabilized over Prolene mesh for Vocal Cord Lateralization.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Introduction: The larynx performs important functions of the aero-digestive tract, it has vital role in the control of breathing, phonation, deglutition, and protection of the lower respiratory tract from aspiration. The function of the vocal cord is central to all the Laryngeal functions, even unilateral paralysis can have a profound effect on overall laryngeal functionality especially in sound production. Around 80% of all the jobs in the world are somehow dependent upon social communication. bilateral vocal cord paralysis is a debilitating laryngeal dysfunction that has a great social and economic impact on a patient's life. Lateralization thyroplasty (LT), if done accurately and up to the expectations of the patient is very rewarding. However different surgical procedures which include both endoscopic cordectomy, arytenoidectomy with or without laser, and open surgical methods including Isshiki type 2 thyroplasty are in practice. Each method has its own profile of benefits and disadvantages. Most of them are technically difficult and complex, need specialized equipment, and are out of reach of the general ENT surgeons and population. In this regard, the intended aim is to test a prolene suture stabilized over prolene mesh to lateralize the vocal cord. The Investigator recommends some modifications in the original technique, which would not require complex measurements and costly equipment. Prolene is already in use in a wide range of procedures worldwide, approved by the Federal drug administration in 1997 but it has never been used in the larynx. The objective of this study is to to explore the efficacy of the prolene suture technique with prolene mesh stabilization for vocal cord Lateralization in terms of patient satisfaction and voice outcome.

Objective: To evaluate a new approach of vocal cord Lateralization using prolene suture and mesh.

Study Design: Interventional, prospective study. Place and Duration of study: Ent departments of multiple tertiary care hospitals of Pakistan from Jan 2022 to May 2022.

Materials and Methods: Hospital ethical committee's approval will be obtained. Patients of age 15 years onwards, with bilateral vocal cord paralysis/ paresis due to trauma and idiopathic causes will be included. Patients with neoplasm and underlying muscular dystrophy are to be excluded from the study. All patients will be counseled properly and given the choice of intervention by prolene Suture technique. Consenting patients will be subjected to routine blood investigations, fiber optic laryngoscopy, and imaging with a Computerized Tomography scan (where applicable). The surgery will be performed under General anesthesia. Tracheostomy is preferred to get an adequate view of the glottis and to ascertain the extent of lateralization intraoperatively. The incision will be made at the lower border of thyroid cartilage under aseptic measures. Skin flaps will be raised in the sub-platysmal plane, strap muscles will be separated in the midline to expose the laryngeal cartilaginous framework. Two wide bore Canula (16G) are passed at the levels just above and below the true Vocal cord under laryngoscopic guidance. Prolene 1-0 suture (thickness 0.3-0.4mm) thread is passed through the lower cannula and the thread end is brought out through the upper cannula bore under microscopic forceps guidance. Both the ends are now tied over the thyroid lamina with a prolene mesh between the knot and the cartilage. the tension of the knot determines the extent of lateralization needed. Wound will be closed in layers. The patient will be kept in hospital for a day or more for observation. The success of the surgical procedure will be measured in terms of post-operative decannulation of tracheostomy and preservation of reasonable postop voice with comfortable breathing altogether. Tracheostomy decannulation will be done between 24 to 48 hours post operatively. Preoperatively Voice and breathing parameters will be noted and Post operatively evaluated at day 14. For subjective evaluation of ease of breathing, pre and postoperative Visual Analog score (VASb) will be recorded at Rest and light exercise, graded from 1-10 (1 being the comfortable easy breathing and 10 being the most difficult). Peak expiratory flow (PEF) will be measured for an objective assessment of ease in breathing both pre and post operatively. For subjective assessment of voice quality, Visual analog score (VASV) (1-10) will be used both pre and postoperatively. It will be graded as 1 being the best voice and 10 the worse. For an objective assessment of the patient's voice, a customized Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10) will be used.

Modified VHI-10 Questionnaire:

My voice makes it difficult for people to hear me. 0 1 2 3 4 5

I run out of air when I talk. 0 1 2 3 4 5

People have difficulty understanding me in a noisy room. 0 1 2 3 4 5

I use a great deal of effort to speak. 0 1 2 3 4 5

My family has difficulty hearing me when I call them throughout the house. 0 1 2 3 4 5

I use my phone less often than I would like to. 0 1 2 3 4 5

I am tense when I am talking to others because of my voice. 0 1 2 3 4 5

I tend to avoid groups of people because of my voice. 0 1 2 3 4 5

People seem irritated with my voice. 0 1 2 3 4 5

People ask what's wrong with my voice. 0 1 2 3 4 5

VHI : Voice Handicap Index 0 = never, 1 = almost never (occasionally), 2 = sometimes, 3 = almost always, 4 = always

Modified Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10)

Routine monthly follow-up for 3 months will be advised after that.

The results will be analyzed using International IBM SPSS Statistics version 20. Variables defined would be compared between the preoperative and postoperative groups. For normal data paired sample t-test would be used and for abnormally distributed data nonparametric t-test would be used. A P-value of less than 0.05 will be taken as significant.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

39

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Punjab
      • Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan, 51300
        • ENT Departments

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

13 years to 98 years (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

15 years and above. Vocal cord paralysis

Exclusion Criteria:

Neoplasia Muscular dystrophy trauma Cardiac decompensation Dysfunctional pulmonary variables-

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Prolene suture technique.
The Group of Patients who were offered Vocal Cord Lateralization with prolene suture technique.
The procedure will be performed under General anesthesia, preferably with a tracheostomy so that the extent of vocal cord lateralization could be ascertained intraoperatively.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Decannulation with comfortable breathing and reasonable voice
Time Frame: 14th Postoperative day
Successful decannulation of the tracheostomy tube and normal breathing pattern without tracheostomy. (Yes/No)
14th Postoperative day
Change in Voice Quality on Visual Analogue Score
Time Frame: Preoperative and 14th Postoperative day
For subjective assessment of voice quality Visual (1-10) analogue score (VASV) will be used both pre and postoperatively. Score 1 being the best voice and 10 the worse.
Preoperative and 14th Postoperative day
Modified VHI-10 Questionnaire
Time Frame: Preoperative and 14th Postoperative day
My voice makes it difficult for people to hear me. 0 1 2 3 4 5 I run out of air when I talk. 0 1 2 3 4 5 People have difficulty understanding me in noisy room. 0 1 2 3 4 5 I use a great deal of effort to speak. 0 1 2 3 4 5 My family has difficulty hearing me when I call them throughout the house. 0 1 2 3 4 5 I use phone less often than I would like to. 0 1 2 3 4 5 I am tense when I am talking to others because of my voice. 0 1 2 3 4 5 I tend to avoid groups of people because of my voice. 0 1 2 3 4 5 People seem irritated with my voice. 0 1 2 3 4 5 People ask what's wrong with my voice. 0 1 2 3 4 5 VHI : Voice Handicap Index 0 = never, 1 = almost never (occasionally), 2 = sometimes, 3 = almost always, 4 = always Fig 1.1 Modified Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10)
Preoperative and 14th Postoperative day
Change in breathing effort on Visual Analogue Score
Time Frame: Preoperative and 14th Postoperative day
For subjective assessment of voice quality Visual analogue score (VASb) will be used both pre and postoperatively. Score 1 being the comfortable easy breathing and 10 being the most difficult.
Preoperative and 14th Postoperative day
Peak Expiratory flow during Rest and Light Exercise,
Time Frame: Preoperative and 14th Postoperative day
Objective assessment of Ease of breathing during rest and Light exercise. (Ltrs/sec)
Preoperative and 14th Postoperative day

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Muhammad N Karim, FCPS, CMH Sialkot

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

May 31, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 8, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 8, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

March 17, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 28, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 27, 2022

Last Verified

September 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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