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News article about cure for SD - Has anyone seen this?
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Posted by: jerrylee ®
03/01/2007, 09:05:15
I read this post this morning. Any validity?
Changgung Kaohsiung team develops world's first cure for spasmodic dysphonia
01/26/2007 (udn.com)

The majority of treatments worldwide for spasmodic dysphonia involve injections of botulinum toxin and are ineffectual in curing the disorder. Now, Kaohsiung's Changgung Throat Beauty Center team has developed the world's first laser thyroaretenoid muscle nerve vaporization treatment, already demonstrated on 17 patients at the center. A noted United States otorhinolaryngology journal will be publishing this medical breakthrough in its January issue.

Center physician Su Chiying says that the cause of spasmodic dysphonia is still unknown. Suffers experience over-contraction of the muscles in the voice box making them unable to phonate smoothly, and leaving them with urgent, shaky and broken voices when speaking. The difficulty patients have in speaking can lead to anxiety or even depression, the inability to make friends, hold down a job, or even suicidal thoughts.

In the past, ENT specialists have suggested that patients take injections of Botox in the muscles of the vocal apparatus, creating a temporary paralysis of the nerves and muscles and alleviating the spasms. Unfortunately, this treatment lasts only three to five months, and some patients have reactions to the treatment and have to abandon it.

Kaohsiung's Changgung Voice Center has developed a revolutionary new microlaser surgery for the throat that uses a microscope attached to a lens in the throat. A laser is used to vaporize the feedback nerve cell receptors deep inside the thyroaretenoid muscle.

Dr. Su says that this laser surgery truly treats the causes leading to spasmodic dysphonia. Currently, the treatment has been attempted on 18 patients, and after 1 to 3 years of tracking their progress, 94 percent (17/18) have experienced clear improvement in their condition. More than half of the patients have almost no symptoms remaining. The procedure lasts just an hour and requires only a short hospital stay. At present, no complications or aftereffects have been reported.
This story has been viewed 780 times.

Jerry




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Re: News article about cure for SD - Has anyone seen this?
Re: News article about cure for SD - Has anyone seen this? -- jerrylee Top of thread Archive
Posted by: judylynn ®
03/01/2007, 11:07:28
What magazine did you read it in? and do they know if it is will last or do you have to have the surgery again in 3 years. thanks, Lynn Is yours AD or AB?



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Re: News article about cure for SD - Has anyone seen this?
Re: News article about cure for SD - Has anyone seen this? -- jerrylee Top of thread Archive
Posted by: Will Blum ®
03/01/2007, 13:35:57
This article has been discussed on bulletin board before. Changgung Kaohsiung team develops world's first cure for spasmodic dysphonia --- MaryannaC ( 01/26/2007, 12:53:16 ) Thread is on page 4.

Related link: Article about SD
Modified by Will Blum at Thu, Mar 01, 2007, 13:39:09

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Re: News article about cure for SD - Has anyone seen this?
Re: Re: News article about cure for SD - Has anyone seen this? -- Will Blum Top of thread Archive
Posted by: chaanz ®
03/02/2007, 11:44:50
"A noted United States otorhinolaryngology journal will be publishing this medical breakthrough in its January issue."

This is a quote from the Taiwan news article - Has anyone seen the publication in the 'noted United Stated journal'?




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Re: News article about cure for SD - Has anyone seen this?
Re: News article about cure for SD - Has anyone seen this? -- jerrylee Top of thread Archive
Posted by: bonniebelle ®
03/22/2007, 19:58:18
I'm curious about Patient #18. What happened (besides cessation of life) that this person did not experience improvement? Comparing this laser surgery to Botox treatment, the latter seems to have an edge due to no hospital stays. Well, at least hospital stays from Botox treatments were not reported. The patient gets to go home the same day.

Moreover, laser surgery suggests zero probability for reversing the process. I will search for more information on this vaporization treatment...sounds interesting.

Thanks for sharing.

Bonnie




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Re: News article about cure for SD - Has anyone seen this?
Re: News article about cure for SD - Has anyone seen this? -- jerrylee Top of thread Archive
Posted by: mdubovick ®
03/25/2007, 21:38:33
My initial reaction was excitement. Then I read that the sample size was only 18 patients over a 3 year period. Statisically, that's pretty lean, even for SD patients. Still, there was some optimism.

Recently, a Florida ENT was asked specifically about this claim. He said this is what he referred to as a “hot knife” procedure (mini-laser) that has been tried before without much success. He was very pessimistic about future success using this procedure.





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Re: News article about cure for SD - Has anyone seen this?
Re: Re: News article about cure for SD - Has anyone seen this? -- mdubovick Top of thread Archive
Posted by: Laurie ®
03/26/2007, 09:11:04
I agree. Also, out of the 18, only "more than half" had "almost no" symptoms. This surgery to me means:

1) No one was cured.
2) The remainder of those not in the "more than half" group of the 18 had symptoms (not to mention the ones in the more than half had still minor symptoms).
3) People who still have symptoms after surgery sometimes have fewer options than those without permanent surgical procedures, as even if they go back to Botox, the surgical alterations are still there.
4) If there ever is a real cure, once you have had surgery, the permanent changes are there.
5) A lot of times people are more happy with the results of treatments for their voice than I would be so I generally never believe self-report, knowing my standards are different.

So, it's nice there are always options out there (and heck, great that others are willing to try them!). It all depends on what the individual patient is willing to put up with and what people use as their own definition of success.

Laurie




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