• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.16-20
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• 2004

Purpose : To assess perceptual, acoustic and aerodynamic measure of voice quality in patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis before and after type I thyroplasty. Methods : The clinical records of patients operated type I thyroplasty in the Departement of otorhinoalryngolgy, Yongdong Severance hospital from November 2001 to November 2003 were reviewed. All patients uderwent a vocal function evaluation including perceptual, acoustic and aerodynamic measures of voice preoperative and on $60^{th}$ postoperative day. The perceptual and acoustic measures were obtained from recording of patients' reading a 'Sanchak' passage. The perceptual evaluation was performed by 2 speech pathologist using a 4-point rating scale. Acoustic parameters(voice range profile low(RAL), voice range profile high(RAH), average fundamental frequency(AFX), closed quotient, harmonic to noise ratio, jitter and shimmer) were investigated by Lx speech studio. Mean flow rate(MFR), subglottic pressure(Psub) and intensity were measured using the Phonatory function analyzer. The maximum phonation time was also measured. The data were statistically analyzed. A paired t-test (p<0.1) was used to compare preoperative and postoperative results. And multiple regression test was used to find which parameter was most correlated to improvement of postoperative voice quality. Results : Among aerodynamic parameters, Psub $(88.11mmH_2O{\rightarrow}58.7mmH_2O)$, MPT(7.87sec${\rightarrow}$12.53sec), MFR (359.8ml/sec${\rightarrow}$161.06ml/sec) were statistically improved. AFx(205.5Hz${\rightarrow}$163.27Hz), AQx(23.9%${\rightarrow}$48.3%), RAL, RAH. Jotter and shimmer were improved. In multiple regression test, AFx and AQx was noted as the two meost correlated parameters to improvement of postoperative breathiness. But general grade of voice quality was more correlated to Psub and shimmer. Conclusion : Vocal fold medialization procedures effectively reduce glottic gap. Increasing of contact area of both vocal folds induced improvement in aerodynamic parameters and leaded stabilizing of vocal fold vibration. That effect results in improvement in acoustic parameters (shimmer, jitter, signal-to-noise ratio, voice range profile) and voice quality.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 1994

The authors observed the clinical status of 29 patients with vocal cord paralysis caused by tumor from April, 1983 to September, 1993 at Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yongdong Severance hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine. The results were as follows: 1) In the kinds of neoplasms, the most frequent were lung Ca. with 13 cases(44.8%), followed by 8 cases by thyroid Ca., 3 cases by neurogenic tumor, 2 cases by mediastinum tumor, cervical esophagus Ca., tracheal Ca., glomus jugulare were 1 case each. 2) In sex distribution, there were 18 cases of males and 11 cases of females with the male to female ratio being 1.8:1. In age distribution, most of the cases(10 cases ; 34.5%) were in the 7th decade. 3) In chief complaints, most of the cases(17 cases : 58.6%) had hoarseness only and aspiration, stridor, dyspnea, cough, dysphagia were present in some cases. 4) In site of the paralysed vocal cord, 21 cases were in the left cord. 5 cases in the right cord and 3 cases in the both cords. 5) In the position of paralysed vocal cord, most of the cases(23 cases : 79.3%) were in the parmedian position.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 1997

The clinical investigation was done in the 42 patients with bilateral vocal cord palsy who visited the otorhinolaryngologic department of the Yongdong Severance Hospital during the 10-year period between August 1986 to August 1996. On the sex and age distribution, the ratio of male to female patients was 2.8 : 1 and the age was evenly distributed and average was 46 years old. Of their chief complaints, dyspnea was the most common symptom. Among the position of the paralyzed vocal cords, paramedian position was most common. The most common causes of the bilateral vocal cord palsy was idiopathic Other causes include iatrogenic, prolonged intubation, head ＆ neck trauma, brain tumor, Myasthenia Gravis, and mediastinitis. Our treament results were as follows. Recovery rate of idiopathic bilateral vocal cord palsy was 77.7% and recovery period after bilateral vocal cord palsy was shortened remarkedly after use with steroid. We performed laser arytenoidectomy in patients with irreversible idiopathic vocal cord palsy, neural injury, and cricoarytenoid joint fixation. Decannualtion was possible to be carried out in 86% of the patients and none of complication except for 1 case of aspiration developed. Thus we concluded that it was meaningful surgical treatment of bilateral vocal cord palsy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.373-378
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• 2001

An idiopathic mediastinal fibrosis is a rare disease with an unknown etiology. It is a benign condition in which a fibrosis of the soft tissue and chronic inflammation occurs within the mediastinum. This leads to a constriction and obliteration of the adjacent mediastinal structures, particularly the great veins. This can result in a variety of clinical conditions depending on the anatomic location of the disease. Here, we report a case of an idiopathic mediastinal fibrosis with vocal cord palsy, which was confirmed by a biopsy with a thoracotomy. Postoperative medical treatment using prednisolone and tranilast was performed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 1998

Type Ⅰ thyuroplasty in conjunction with arytenoid adduction is one of the excellent techniques in the treatment of unilateral vocal fold paralysis. But perioperative objective evaluation of the patients is difficult. With the development of the videostroboscopy and image analysis program, we could quantify the Glottal Area Waveform(GAW) in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis and investigated the relationship between the glottal area and aerodynamic and acoustic parameters. Eight female patients who were performed type Ⅰ thyroplasty in conjunction with arytenoid adduction and 5 females with normal vocal function were involved in this study. Preoperative and postoperative videostroboscopy and vocal function study wire performed. GAW was analysed quantitatively with image analysis program (Kay Stroboscope Image analysis, KSIP) Peak Glottal Area(PGA), Baseline Offset(BO), and Closing Phase(CP) were increased in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis and they were reduced after the operation. Mean flow Rate (MFR) was well correlated with the PGA in normal control group and unilateral vocal fold paralysis patients. Noise to harmonic ratio(NHR) was correlated with PGA only in preoperative unilateral vocal fold paralysis patients. In conclusion quantitative measurement of the GAW is useful method in evaluation of unilateral vocal f31d paralysis patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2009

OPD based laryngeal procedures offers a new avenue to the modern laryngologist, incorporating new technology in the office setting. With the development of flexible fiberoptic endoscopes, compact video system, and short acting anesthetics and sedatives allow these procedures. The success or failure of procedures are depend on excellent topical anesthesia. An inadequately anesthetized patient is apt to be uncomfortable, anxious and hyperresponsive and therefore unlikely to tolerate the procedure. On the other hand, a patient who is well informed, reassured, and thoroughly anesthetized can complete procedures. Therefore, optimal anesthesia is obligatory for excellent surgical results. The phonosurgeon should choose the anesthetic and sedative agents based on duration of action, time of onset of action, and any medical contraindications that the patient may have. And should be familiar with the properties and interaction of the agents used, as well as the signs of toxicity.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2012

The aim of this study is to investigate the usefulness of the parameter CPP (cepstral peak prominence) and LTAS (long term average spectrum) band energy for an analysis of breathy voice with vocal fold paralysis. Thirty-four female subjects who have vocal paralysis after thyroidectomy participated in this study. According to the perceptual judgements by three speech pathologists and one phonetic scholar, subjects were divided into two groups: breathy voice group (n = 21) and non-breathy voice group (n = 13). Maximum sustained phonation task was measured for acoustic analysis. CPP-related (i.e. mean F0, mean CPP, and mean CPPs) and LTAS-related (i.e. minimum, maximum, and mean) parameters were used. Independent samples t-test was conducted. Regarding CPP, there are significant differences in mean CPP and mean CPPs between groups. The values of mean CPP and CPPs in the non-breathy voice group are higher than those in the breathy voice group. The CPP could be regarded as the useful parameter for breathy voice analysis in the clinic. When it comes to LTAS, energy from 0 to 2 kHz are significantly different between groups. The minimum value of non-breathy group is lower than that of breathy group, whereas the maximum value of non-breathy group is higher. The frequency band below 2 kHz seems to be related to breathy voice.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2012

Thyroidectomy patients may have vocal paralysis or paresis, resulting in a breathy voice. The aim of this study was to investigate the aerodynamic and acoustic characteristics of a breathy voice in thyroidectomy patients. Thirty-five subjects who have vocal paralysis after thyroidectomy participated in this study. According to perceptual judgements by three speech pathologists and one phonetic scholar, subjects were divided into two groups: breathy voice group (n = 21) and non-breathy voice group (n = 14). Aerodynamic analysis was conducted by three tasks (Voicing Efficiency, Maximum Sustained Phonation, Vital Capacity) and acoustic analysis was measured during Maximum Sustained Phonation task. The breathy voice group had significantly higher subglottal pressure and more pathological voice characteristics than the non breathy voice group. Showing 94.1% classification accuracy in result logistic regression of aerodynamic analysis, the predictor parameters for breathiness were maximum sound pressure level, sound pressure level range, phonation time of Maximum Sustained Phonation task and Pitch range, peak air pressure, and mean peak air pressure of Voicing Efficiency task. Classification accuracy of acoustic logistic regression was 88.6%, and five frequency perturbation parameters were shown as predictors. Vocal paralysis creates air turbulence at the glottis. It fluctuates frequency-related parameters and increases aspiration in high frequency areas. These changes determine perceptual breathiness.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.219-224
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• 1998

Bilateral vocal cord paralysis can result in severe airway compromise. Over the years a variety of arytenoidectomy procedures have bee described, and one or more of these have been the gold standard for many years. A widely accepted treatment is endoscopic laser total arytenoidectomy. However, vocal results are usually poor. Objective : To evaluate the effect of treatment of endoscopic laser medial partial arytenoidectorny for bilateral vocal cord paralysis Material and Methods : We performed endoscopic medial partial arytenoidceomy with $CO_2$laser for 3 patients with bilateral vocal cord paralysis. The $CO_2$laser is operated with a continuous 7-watt beam in superpulse mode. We compared degree of dyspnea and glottic area of pre-operation with those of post-operation for 3 patients. We analysed aerodynamic study pre-operatively and post-operatively for 1 patient. Results The symptom of dyspnea was improved markedly and the glottic area was widened from 34% to 50% compared with that of pre-operation. The voice quality was slightly decreased. Tracheotomy was not necessary for not-tracheotomized patient and decanulation was possible for tracheotomized patient post-operatively. Cunclusion： The endoscopic laser medial partial arytenoidectomy is a convient and effective method for opening the posterior glottic airway.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 1998

Background： Unilateral vocal cord paralysis(UVCP) by recurrent laryngeal nerve injury is one of the common laryngological diseases. Objectives : We attempted to study the clinical feature and the causes of UVCP and also tried to investigate what is to be the initial approach for determining the causes of unknown-origin UVCP Materials and methods The charts of 82 patients with the diagnosis of UVCP were reviewed. The records were analyzed for patient's gender and age, the status of paralysed vocal cord, the crucial tests for the diagnosis, and the etiologies. Results : forty-nine(59.8%) male and 33(40.2%) female patients were included in this study. The age group of sixth decade was most commonly involved. Most of the cases showed paramedian position of palsy, and the left side(59.8%) was more frequently attacked. The most common cause of UVCP in this series was the unknown origin, followed by the surgical trauma and neoplasms. The etiologies of the six(12.5%) unknown-cause cases were found with the further evaluation, with the most useful test being a CT scan. Conclusion： Chest X-ray, esophagography, and CT scan should be included in the mandatory initial investigation of patients with unknown-origin UVCP