A novel puncture needle designed for endoscopic keel placement to treat anterior glottic webs.

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic keel placement is difficult for patients with poor laryngeal exposures.

AIMS/

OBJECTIVES

To introduce a novel extra-endo laryngeal puncture technique for endoscopic keel placement to manage anterior glottic webs.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Patients with anterior glottic webs and difficult laryngeal exposure in our hospital during 2018 to 2020 were recruited in this study. After the incision of the web, a novel puncture needle modified from a maxillary sinus puncture needle was inserted into endolarynx, and could pull the suture passing along a keel from inside out. The suture was then fixated on the neck, and the keel was placed for 4 weeks. Patients were followed up for at least 1 year.

RESULTS

Eight patients including three men and five women were included in this study. All the patients tolerated the silicone keel well, and 7 of 8 (87.5%) patients did not have web relapses and reached remarkable voice improvements during follow-up. None of the cases needed a tracheotomy due to the dyspnea postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: The novel puncture technique is an easy and effective approach to facilitate endoscopic keel placement for the treatment of anterior glottic webs and other surgical procedures requiring endolaryngeal suturing.