Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30353405›Full record

ArticleWorld journal of surgery2019

Vocal Cord Palsies Missed by Transcutaneous Laryngeal Ultrasound (TLUSG): Do They Experience Worse Outcomes?

Kai-Pun Wong, Kin Pan Au, Shi Lam, Yuk Kwan Chang, Brian Hung Hin Lang

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in World journal of surgery, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.8field-weighted citation impact, top 27% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Observational
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Kai-Pun WongDivision of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China. drkpwong@gmail.com.
Kin Pan AuDivision of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Shi LamDivision of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Yuk Kwan ChangDivision of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Brian Hung Hin LangDivision of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Queen Mary Hospital · CNUniversity of Hong Kong · HK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionTranscutaneous laryngeal ultrasound (TLUSG) is an innovative, non-invasive tool in detecting post-thyroidectomy vocal cord palsy (VCP). However, TLUSG failed to detect about 6-15% laryngoscopic examination (LE)-confirmed VCP. It is unclear whether the outcome of patients with VCP missed by TLUSG [false negative (FN)] is different from those with VCP diagnosed by TLUSG [true positive (TP)]. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the clinical outcome and prognosis between patients with FN results and TP results.

methodsOver 46 months, all consecutive patients undergoing thyroidectomy or endocrine-related neck procedure were recruited. They underwent pre-operative and post-operative voice assessments on symptoms, voice-specific questionnaire [voice handicap index questionnaire (VHI-30)], TLUSG and LE. For patients with post-operative vocal cord palsy, reassessment LE would be arranged at second, fourth, sixth and twelfth months post-operatively until VCP recovered.

resultsIn total, 1196 patients, including 74 post-thyroidectomy VCP, were recruited. For those with assessable vocal cords (VC), 58 VCP were correctly diagnosed by TLUSG (TP) and 10 VCP were missed by TLUSG (FN). Sensitivity and specificity of detecting a VCP by TLUSG were 85.3% and 94.7%, respectively. VHI-30 score was significantly increased after operation in TP group [31 (range - 6-105), p < 0.001] but not in FN group [20 (14-99), p = 0.089]. Comparing to TP group, VCP recovered earlier (69 vs. 125 days, p < 0.001) and less patients suffered from permanent VCP in patients with FN results. (34.5% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.027).

conclusionThe VCP missed by TLUSG had a milder course of disease. Early recovery of VC function and non-permanent palsy were expected.

Indexed as

UltrasonographyAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFalse Negative ReactionsFemaleHumansLaryngoscopyMaleMiddle AgedPostoperative ComplicationsPostoperative PeriodPrognosisRecovery of FunctionSensitivity and SpecificitySurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID30353405
OpenAlexW2898271049

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.