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ABSTRACT Background Methods Results Conclusion The primary objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of in‐office transnasal oesophagoscopy (TNO) and balloon dilatation for patients presenting with symptoms of high dysphagia. The secondary objective was to conduct a subgroup analysis to better understand patient selection.Retrospective observational study from a single university hospital.Two‐hundred four TNO and balloon dilatations were performed for 146 patients (median age 73 years; range 12–94 years). Indications included cricopharyngeal hypertrophy ± pouch (n = 70), hypopharyngeal/upper oesophageal web/stenosis (n = 18), head and neck cancer treatment‐related (n = 41), multi‐level obstruction (n = 13) and symptom‐based (n = 4). The mean EAT‐10 score improved from 21.2 (SD ± 8.92) pre‐dilatation to 12.6 (SD ± 10.7) post‐dilatation overall (median follow‐up 4.4 months; range 1.5 months–6.21 years). Cricopharyngeal hypertrophy and/or web without dysmotility cohort responded the best with the mean EAT‐10 score improvement from 20.4 (SD ± 8.21) to 4.4 (SD ± 6.71). Head and neck cancer patient group showed three types of responses: good response although effect transient requiring repeat dilatations; initial good response however stops responding over time and no response. The overall complication rate was 0.98% (n = 2/204; both failed in‐clinic attempts) with 0% perforation rate.TNO and balloon dilatation is a safe and effective treatment modality for managing high dysphagia in patients with identifiable non‐malignant obstructive pathologies at and around the level of the upper oesophageal sphincter, including head and neck cancer treatment‐related patients, both short‐term and long‐term. Barium swallow is an excellent screening tool for assessing the swallow as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of intensive customized vestibular rehabilitation after vestibular schwannoma (VS) excision. Methods: 52 patients who underwent VS removal via a translabyrinthine approach from 2020 to 2022 were involved in this study. Bedside examination, video head impulse test (vHIT), functional head impulse test (fHIT), and the dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) were performed before and after the rehabilitation, which consisted of 10 sessions of specifically designed vestibular, visual, and physical integrated training. Results: After rehabilitation, the vHIT showed overall unchanged values on the affected and healthy side. In contrast, the scores of fHIT, which explores the higher connection of the vestibular system with visual and cerebellar pathways, improved on both the pathological and healthy sides after training (p-value 0.004 and 0.000, respectively). The effectiveness of the rehabilitation was reinforced by the DHI scores, which were considerably lower after training. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore fHIT outcomes after removal of VS, estimating the impact of rehabilitation on the overall compensation process. The outcomes support the role of extensive postsurgical rehabilitation in the compensatory process, even just a few days after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the role for parental-camera recording and telemedicine in the evaluation of vertigo in children. Topics include the need for the careful collection of medical history and description of symptoms in the diagnostic process, the value of patients' self-recorded videos for observing children's behaviors during acute vertigo attacks and how telemedicine could be useful for evaluating dizzy children. A diagnostic flow chart for the evaluation of vertigo is also presented.

White Sutton Syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder resulting from a de novo mutation of Pogo Transposable Element Derived with Zinc Finger domain gene. The phenotype is characterized by a wide spectrum of cognitive dysfunction and developmental delays. Hearing loss is frequently mentioned as one of the symptoms of this rare disease, but details are usually scant. We report a case of a male child affected by White Sutton Syndrome and sensorineural hearing loss, with audiological findings of an auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, a dysfunction of the auditory pathway with preserved cochlear outer hair cell function. Up to date, the present case is the first description of hearing loss due to an auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder in White Sutton Syndrome. A comprehensive audiological assessment is therefore mandatory in all White Sutton Syndrome patients in order to recognize a possible auditory neuropathy disorder and then avoid misdiagnosis, or erroneous clinical management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report aims to perform a preliminary evaluation of the role of taping in the improvement of phonasthenia among professional voice users. The larynx is a vital organ but also a work instrument for many people. Prevention of erroneous use of the vocal mechanism is essential for an optimal voice performance. Nineteen singers complaining voice fatigue underwent taping application in peri-laryngeal areas of the anterior neck for 10 days. Taping effects were estimated by the evaluation of voice analysis parameters (jitter, shimmer, noise to harmonic ratio and singing power ratio) performed in M1 and M2 mechanisms with PRAAT software before and after treatment. In addition, a subjective assessment of phonasthenia was performed using a self-administrated questionnaire. Statistically significant reduction of Jitter% in M1 (P = 0.021) was reported at the end of treatment; also, an improvement of NHR in M2 was found immediately after the application (P = 0.012) and after 10 days (P = 0.002). These outcomes suggest possible beneficial effects of laryngeal taping on relieving voice fatigue, and therefore improving voice quality. Self-assessment results are consistent with this finding. Since the application of muscular taping in phoniatrics is still in its early stage, further studies and in particular a standardized protocol of application, could facilitate the spread of this technique, also offering help in comparing results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate surgical and functional outcomes of patients affected by bilateral vocal cord immobility (BVCI) and treated with posterior cordotomy and partial arytenoidectomy. Methods : We performed a retrospective analysis on pre- and postoperative findings on a series of 27 patients affected by BVCI and treated with posterior cordotomy and partial arytenoidectomy from January 2017 to January 2022. Perceptual voice evaluations were performed using the GRBAS scale. The patients were requested to estimate the level of voice handicap experienced in their life using the Italian version of Voice Handicap Index 10 (VHI 10) questionnaire, while swallowing difficulties were self-evaluated through the Italian version of the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) questionnaire. Results : Respiratory distress was evaluated according to the American Medical Research Council Dyspnoea Scale (MRC_DS) before and 1 year after the surgery. The mean of the preoperative values was 3.86 (±0.4), while 1 year after the procedure, we witnessed a significant ( p ≤ 0.001) improvement, with a mean value of 1.09 (±0.9). After surgery, an overall worsening in voice quality was perceived, with a worsening in the GRBAS score. In contrast, the VHI10 does not show a statistically significant worsening. EAT 10 did not demonstrated worse scores after the surgery; rather, it showed a trend of improvement (preoperative EAT10 5.5 ± 5.8, postoperative 3.3 ± 2.9, p = 0.064). Conclusions : According to our results, posterior cordotomy plus partial arytenoidectomy is an effective procedure that provides stable and rapid respiratory improvement whilst preserving swallowing and the self-perception of voice quality.