Phonosurgery after endoscopic cordectomies

Treatment of glottic cancer by CO₂ laser endoscopic cordectomies can be associated with poor vocal outcome when the excision is extended beyond the superficial part of the thyro-arytenoid muscle. Different phonosugical techniques have been described in order to improve postoperative vocal outcome in patients undergoing this type of surgery. We herein present a new device for augmentation of residual vocal cord by video-endoscopic assisted primary intracordal autologous fat injection (PIAFI) performed at the end of transmuscular cordectomy. Twenty-four patients underwent transmuscular cordectomy and PIAFI for Tis and T1a glottic cancer. Eight cc of abdominal fat were obtained during the endoscopic procedure and processed. Infusion of intact parcels of fat tissue was performed to maximally reduce its resorption. PIAFI was performed in the residual vocal cord obtaining its immediate medialization, using a new device that permitted modulated (0.5 cc per click) injection. Fourteen patients were submitted to postoperative voice evaluation including subjective, perceptual, and objective assessment. The results were compared with those of 24 patients treated by transmuscular (Type III) cordectomy without subsequent PIAFI. No complications were observed as a result of PIAFI and the procedure did not significantly prolong overall surgical time. All patients were discharged the day after surgery. Comparison of vocal outcomes according to the Mann–Whitney and Wilcoxon tests showed a positive trend for patients submitted to PIAFI in terms of subjective and objective analysis. By contrast, a statistically significant improvement was reached in terms of perceptual analysis when comparing patients treated by Type III cordectomy alone with those submitted to this kind of procedure followed by PIAFI.