Subtotal Carbon Dioxide Laser Arytenoidectomy by Endoscopic Approach for Treatment of Bilateral Cord Immobility in Adduction

Subtotal carbon dioxide (CO2) laser arytenoidectomy for endoscopic treatment of bilateral immobility of the vocal folds in adduction is a variant of total arytenoidectomy. The principal modification involves preservation of a thin posterior shell providing good postoperative fixation of the arytenoid region. The risk of aspiration is thus averted and collapse of arytenoid mucosa into the larynx during inspiration is prevented. The risk of synechia with the posterior commissure is avoided. The CO2 laser is operated at a working distance of 400 mm with a continuous 7-W beam in superpulse mode. Operation time is thus reduced to approximately half an hour and the risk of postoperative edema is reduced. Tracheotomy is not necessary. Forty-one patients, including 16 men and 25 women, were treated by this technique between 1985 and 1994. Their mean age was 55 +/- 17 years, ranging from 11 to 83 years. Follow-up ranged from 1 month to 111 months (9 years 3 months), with a mean of 56 +/- 29 months (4 years 8 months). The mean peak forced expiratory flow-peak inspiratory flow ratio (normal = 1), which permits a measurement of respiratory quality, is improved from 3.7 +/- 1.4 preoperatively to 1.6 +/- 0.5 postoperatively (p<.001). Postoperative voice measurements show a mean vocal intensity of 61 +/- 3 dB hearing level, a mean maximum phonation time of 8 +/- 4 seconds, and a mean phonation quotient of 397 +/- 150 mL/s. As for vocal quality, 38% of the patients now have a near-normal voice according to our high-resolution frequency analysis, and all of the patients retained satisfactory voice quality.