Factors Associated With Tolerance for <scp>In‐Office</scp> Laryngeal Laser Procedures
Melissa Zheng, Nikhil Arora, Neel K. Bhatt, Karla O’Dell, Michael M. Johns
Abstract
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: A variety of laryngeal pathologies are increasingly being managed with in-office KTP laser (IOKTP) endoscopic procedures. The primary goal of this study was to identify patient characteristics and disease-related features that correlated with tolerance for IOKTP. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: The study was a retrospective review of adult patients undergoing office-based laryngeal laser procedures between November 2016 and December 2019 at a tertiary care center. Two blinded otolaryngologist reviewers scored videotaped recordings of IOKTP procedures and assessed severity and distribution of disease using a modified Derkay score, and evaluated procedure tolerance using a visual analog scale. RESULTS: A total of 56 patients who received IOKTP procedures for laryngeal pathology were reviewed, 42 male and 14 female, with a mean age of 61 years. Gender, age, and BMI were not correlated with tolerance. There was a moderate, negative correlation between tolerance and total number of pathological anatomic laryngeal subsites (rs(56) = -0.35, P = .01). There was a weak, negative correlation between tolerance and total modified Derkay score (rs(56) = -0.29, P = .03). The median tolerance score was lower for patients with posterior lesions (Mdn = 6.4) compared with patients with non-posterior lesions (Mdn = 7.4), P = .04, and lower for current or former smokers (Mdn = 6.5) compared with never smokers (Mdn = 7.3), P = .04. CONCLUSION: Patients with large disease burden or posterior lesions and patients with smoking history may exhibit poorer tolerance of IOKTP procedures, factors which can help guide pre-procedural counseling and management decisions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV Laryngoscope, 131:E2292-E2297, 2021.