Patients' and Providers' Experience With Medialization Thyroplasty: A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Objective: To qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the patients', surgeons', and anesthesiologists' experience with procedural sedation for medialization thyroplasty (MT).

Methods: Prospective observational study. Patients undergoing MT completed the validated Quality of Recovery Scale (QoR-15) preoperatively and postoperative days (PODs) 1 and 7. Patients also completed the validated Bauer Patient's Satisfaction Questionnaire on POD1. After surgery, the surgeon and anesthesiologist filled in a Provider's survey, including the validated Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS) and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Nonparametric tests were conducted for statistical analysis.

Results: Fifty-three patients (47% male), median age of 67 years (IQR 15), were recruited between March 2023 and February 2025. The median QoR-15 on POD7 was 141 (IQR 23), with no significant difference from the preoperative score 138 (IQR 28) (P = 0.856). For the Bauer Questionnaire, 74.5% and 63.8% of the patients were respectively very satisfied with the anesthesia care and pain management. For "voice testing" and "closure," the RSS perception was the same for both providers in more than half of the cases (60.4% and 56.6%). The surgeons and anesthesiologists had different perceptions of patient's anxiety, movement, discomfort, optimal operating conditions, and communication with patient.

Conclusions: Patients were satisfied with the procedural sedation with MT. Providers had different perceptions of the anesthesia, indicating the importance of communication for a successful surgery. This study was one of few prospective studies evaluating the patients' and providers' experience with MT.

Keywords: Medialization thryoplasty; Patient experience; Procedural sedation.