Impact of the in-office surgical activity on the classical phonomicrosurgical interventions in a laryngology referral center

Abstract

Office-based laryngology procedures evolved in the recent years with all the technology advances and have gained popularity among laryngologists. The indications enlarged, making it a valid surgical option for almost all voice disorders. This emerging technique raise the question of the place left for traditional phonosurgeries in the operating room under general anesthesia. We reviewed our surgical activity in our laryngology referral center from 2018 to 2023. Since we started the in-office procedures in 2018, the number of these interventions significantly increased, accompanying a significant increase in our total surgical activity. We noted no significant decrease in the number of interventions done in the operating room, which made us consider the office-based procedures as a complimentary and not a competitive option for traditional surgeries, helping us increase our total number of interventions, and thus offer patients more opportunities for a quicker medical care. Our register review showed also a change of treatment trends for unilateral vocal fold paralysis, with office-based interventions becoming the first-line treatment.

Keywords: Laryngology; Microphonosurgery; Office-based interventions.