My doctor, James A. Koufman, M.D. at the Center for Voice Disorders of Wake Forest Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC is now performing the denervation-reinnervation operation. He called to say he had been to CA to learn about Dr. Gerald Berke’s surgery. He had already been doing operations similar to the denervation-reinnervation surgery
and he thinks this surgery is a good procedure for ADductor SD people.Below is part of a featured article at the website with the new web address for the Center for Voice Disorders of Wake Forest University:
www.thevoicecenter.com
“ WHAT IS THE DE-RE OPERATION?
Dr. Gerald Berke at UCLA developed the De-Re procedure. De-Re stands for denervation-reinnervation. Denervation is the medical term for cutting a nerve, and reinnervation is the medical term for splicing nerves together. The De-Re operation changes the "nerve wiring" of the larynx. Nerve branches that malfunction in adductor SD (the lateral cricothyroid and the thyroarytenoid muscles) are cut. The reinnervation part of the procedure involves suturing other nerves in place to prevent recurrent SD or atrophy of the muscles.
Unlike Botox injections, the operation has the potential to be a permanent cure since the larynx has its nerves rewired. There are some patients who are seven years post-De-Re surgery with excellent voices and no SD.”
Reminder, you will hear more about the De-Re surgery operation at the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association’s SD Patients Symposium in Greensboro, NC, Sat. Oct. 27 2001, 8 am-4 pm at Greensboro AHEC Auditorium, Moses Cone Hospital, so make plans to attend. Dot Sowerby
--modified by Dot Sowerby at Sun, Jul 08, 2001, 11:19:41
Re: Another Dr. is performing denervation-reinnervation surgery
Dot,That is wonderful news. Thanks for letting us know. Has he done a lot of these yet or just starting? What is his success rate? Just curious! I am still recovering from my surgery. I am doing good so far. Regards, Jan Joiner
Re: Another Dr. is performing denervation-reinnervation surgery
Hi Dot,I live in Jax, Fla. and my ENT is of the opinion that I need an
Arytenoid Aduction. Wake Forest Med Ctr is 1 of the 2 places that
does this. I was reading on Dr. Koufman's website about the battery
of tests you go through for diagnosis. That's way more than I've
been through. Did you go through all of that (with the neurologist,
speech path, etc)? I'm nervous about calling for an appt. How long
does it take to be diagnosed? What is your treatment plan and do
you think Dr. Koufman is really good at problem cases (of which I am
one)? Botox has worked a couple of times with me, but very short lived.
Once when I had it done in the OR lasted 6 weeks. The other time in the
office, lasted 2 weeks. My doc thinks other things are going on around
my larynx that are keeping the botox from working properly. Any info
you can provide me on the Medical Ctr would be appreciated. Thanks....Kay Coffey
Re: Another Dr. is performing denervation-reinnervation surgery
Kay,
Dr. Koufman has an excellent reputation and is one of the leading MD's in the treatment/diagnosis of SD and other voice disorders. I'm certain that you will be in good hands. (And I've only met him at a conference).
Good luck to you,
Kristina
Re: Another Dr. is performing denervation-reinnervation surgery
Hi Kay,I see Dr. Koufman for ADSD and right vocal cord paresis. He is an excellent clinician. A "workup" at Wake Forest takes 1-2 days. Part of the workup is "GI" to rule out gastroesophageal reflux. I had the GI workup done locally, so I was only at Wake Forest for 1 day. I did not see a neurologist. They will probably tell you before you leave what your diagnosis is. Just email me if you have any specific questions. There's also a new voice center at MUSC in Charleston, if you're interested in some place closer to home to get a 2nd opinion. --Regards, Ed H.
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