A new noninvasive method for determination of laryngeal sensory function. Laryngoscope 2011 Jan;121(1):158-63
Date
12/02/2010Pubmed ID
21120827DOI
10.1002/lary.21182Scopus ID
2-s2.0-78651107070 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 13 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: We report a new surface technique for studying sensory conduction in the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN).
STUDY DESIGN: Prospective controlled cohort study at an academic tertiary care hospital.
METHODS: Surface stimulation of the vagus nerve 7-10 cm proximal to a surface electrode placed over the cricothyroid muscle was performed in controls and in subjects with needle electromyographic-confirmed laryngeal neuropathy. Cathodal stimulation was applied below the mastoid process behind the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Nerve conduction parameters were determined.
RESULTS: Noninvasive SLN evoked potential studies were performed on healthy volunteers (n = 28) as well as neuropathic subjects (n = 27). Compared to controls, the neuropathic subjects had statistically significant differences in baseline-to-peak amplitude, conduction velocity, and intrasubject side-to-side amplitude ratio (P <.01) of their surface evoked laryngeal sensory action potential (SELSAP).
CONCLUSIONS: Laryngeal sensory nerve conduction can be determined noninvasively by evaluating SELSAP waveform. This study provides a reproducible method for electrophysiologic evaluation of a sensory branch of the SLN.
Author List
Bock JM, Blumin JH, Toohill RJ, Merati AL, Prieto TE, Jaradeh SSAuthors
Joel H. Blumin MD Chief, Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of WisconsinJonathan Bock MD Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Action PotentialsCranial Nerve Diseases
Electric Stimulation
Electromyography
Evoked Potentials
Female
Humans
Laryngeal Nerves
Male
Middle Aged
Neural Conduction
Neurologic Examination
Reaction Time
Sensation
Vagus Nerve
