SUMMARY
Objectives
Laryngeal Electromyography (LEMG) is a procedure used to assess electrical signals
from laryngeal muscles. It is considered to be the gold standard test for examining
vocal fold paresis/paralysis. Repetitive stimulation studies, which usually are performed
at the time of LEMG, can aid in assessment of neuromuscular function. Electromyography
poses risks to the patient due to the use of electricity and needles. The purpose
of this paper was to evaluate the safety of LEMG and discuss the possible complications.
Methods
This was a retrospective review of patients from January 2015 through February 2022.
Information from patient charts included age, sex, chief complaint, past medical history,
family medical history, medications, social history, strobovideolaryngoscopy results,
type of paresis, professional voice user status, presence of pacemaker, laryngeal
electromyography and repetitive stimulation study results, and reported complications.
Complications were considered to be anything that differed from the norm. Pain was
included as a complication. Data were analyzed for relationships and significance.
Results
Five hundred patients were included. Eighteen of the 500 (3.6%) experienced complications.
Four (2.1%) males and 14 (4.5%) females experienced complications. Nine of the 18
(50%) reported pain after the procedure, 1 (5.56%) had excessive bleeding (controlled
with pressure), 5 (27.78%) reported voice changes, and 3 (16.67%) experienced difficulty
with completion of the procedure. No patients with pacemakers or patients taking anticoagulants
had complications, but repetitive stimulation studies were not performed on patients
with pacemakers.
Conclusions
LEMG and repetitive stimulation studies are safe and effective procedures to examine
laryngeal muscles. Repetitive stimulation studies are not recommended for patients
with pacemakers.
KEY WORDS
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Journal of VoiceAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
REFERENCES
- Needle electromyography: basic concepts.Handb Clin Neurol. 2019; 160: 243-256https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-64032-1.00016-3
- The fundamentals of electromyography.Pract Neurol. 2012; 12: 187-194https://doi.org/10.1136/practneurol-2011-000198
- Laryngeal Electromyography.3rd ed. Plural Publishing, San Diego, CA2017: 1-235
- Laryngeal electromyography: clinical application.J Voice. 2010; 24: 228-234https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2008.08.005
- Laryngeal electromyography techniques and clinical use.J Clin Neurophysiol. 2015; 32: 274-283https://doi.org/10.1097/WNP.0000000000000185
- Is laryngeal electromyography useful in the diagnosis and management of vocal fold paresis/paralysis?.Laryngoscope. 2011; 121: 234-235https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.21381
- Diagnostic laryngeal electromyography: the Wake Forest experience 1995-1999.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001; 124: 603-606https://doi.org/10.1067/mhn.2001.115856
- Prospective evaluation of the clinical utility of laryngeal electromyography.Laryngoscope. 2014; 124: 2745-2749https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.24711
- Nerve conduction studies: basic concepts and patterns of abnormalities.Neurol Clin. 2021; 39: 897-917https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ncl.2021.06.002
- Complications associated with electromyography: a systematic review.Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2020; 99: 149-155https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000001304
- Laryngeal electromyography: technical features.Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol. 2004; 44: 237-241
- Hemodynamic stability during laryngeal electromyography procedures.Acta Otolaryngol. 2017; 137: 1110-1114https://doi.org/10.1080/00016489.2017.1334961
- Perceptions of pain of laryngeal electromyography.Laryngoscope. 2018; 128: 896-900https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.26860
- Safety of nerve conduction studies in patients with implanted cardiac devices.Muscle Nerve. 2007; 35: 521-524https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.20690
- Iatrogenic complications and risks of nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography.Muscle Nerve. 2003; 27: 517-526https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.10315
Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 30, 2023
Accepted:
December 12,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
