Injection Laryngoplasty for Children with Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis: Procedural Limitations and Swallow Outcomes

Abstract

Objective Vocal fold immobility with resultant dysphagia is a known cause of morbidity in the pediatric population. Herein we evaluate the efficacy and adverse events of injection laryngoplasty in children. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary academic children’s hospital. Subjects and Methods Patients <12 years of age with unilateral vocal fold immobility, dysphagia, and objective swallow study data were included. Primary outcome measures included perioperative adverse events and the ability to advance the diet, as defined by initiation of oral feeds or reduction in thickener following postoperative swallow study. Results The mean age of the cohort (N = 41) was 43.83 months (range, 0.5-144 months), and 46.3% of patients were <18 months old. Perioperative adverse events included increased oxygen requirement (n = 3), prolonged operating room time secondary to tenuous cardiopulmonary status (n = 2), and postoperative readmission within 30 days (n = 1). A total of 63.63% (n = 21 of 33) of patients safely advanced their diet following objective improvement on swallow study. Patients undergoing injection laryngoplasty ≤6 months of the onset of vocal fold immobility were more likely to advance their diet following surgery. Conclusion Injection laryngoplasty has the potential to advance or initiate an oral diet for children with vocal fold immobility, including those in the first months of life. It is relatively free of adverse events, but certain limitations in the pediatric population must be considered. Preoperative characteristics, including timing of injection and premorbidity diet, may guide clinicians in predicting those patients most likely to advance their diet following injection laryngoplasty.