Reanimation of paralyzed laryngeal muscles by electrical stimulation synchronized with inspiration
Objective
To determine the effects of electrical stimulation on denervated cat posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle.
Study design and setting
This study was conducted on six cats with PCA muscle denervation. All animals were sacrificed 12 weeks after surgery and the glottal area in the live animals and the fiber diameters of PCA muscle were obtained.
Results
Signals synchronized with inspiration were recorded and transmitted to stimulate PCA muscle. The abduction of the paralyzed vocal cord during inspiration was observed; this allows enough flow of air through the larynx to maintain the respiration. The stimulated fiber diameters of PCA muscle were different from that of nonstimulated (P < 0.01). Although all denervated muscles were degenerated, electrical stimulation was used to prevent muscular atrophy.
Conclusions
This study indicates that electrical stimulation of the PCA muscle synchronized with inspiration could restore the abduction of a paralyzed vocal cord and prevent the denervated muscles from atrophying.
Significance
Electrical stimulation synchronized with inspiration may lead to reanimation of paralyzed laryngeal muscles.
Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Reprint requests: Fang-Lu Chi, MD, PhD, Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital, Fudan University, 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai, 200031, P. R. China.
ABSTRACT