On June 22, 2007, Dr. Chang was elected to become the Treasurer of the Duke Otolaryngology Alumni Society for a 2 year term. The Society is a 501(c)(3) organization. The organization's website is:
http://www.DukeOHNS.com
http://www.DukeOHNS.com
June 14, 2007
Yet Another Reason to Quit Smoking! A Really Deep Voice...
I recently saw a female patient complaining of a deep voice... and it's been getting deeper over the years. She also is a big-time smoker and talker. Fiberoptic laryngoscopy revealed early stage Smoker's Polyps. An example of Smoker's Polyps with video and audio feed is shown here on our website.
This condition almost always is due to the combination of smoking (a lot) and talking (a lot). Though it is not cancer, it is yet another reason to stop smoking!
--Dr. Chang
June 13, 2007
New Video Posted Showing Bilateral Thyroarytenoid Paralysis Causing Hoarseness
A new video of bilateral thyroarytenoid paralysis (partial vocal cord paralysis) via fiberoptic stroboscopy of the voicebox is shown here. Note the harsh and breathy quality to the patient's voice. It was felt that his condition was brought on by a viral upper respiratory infection. After a prednisone burst and taper along with limited voice use, his voice returned to normal in 2 weeks.
An example of complete unilateral vocal cord paralysis is shown here.
Layperson's Cure for Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
As people may know from reading our article on snoring on our website, there are many different levels in our upper airway anatomy that may contribute to the noise produced. However, most commonly, the culprit sources are the tongue and palate. Procedures such as the "Pillar Procedure" that has recently received media attention as well as UPPP address only the palate. Procedures like base of tongue reduction, hyoid advancement, etc that address the tongue are more difficult and morbid.
However, I was recently at a conference where a prominent Australian ENT gave a talk where he mentioned one previously unreported way to treat OSA and snoring due to the tongue... DISCLAIMER: I am not advocating one way or another this treatment! I am just mentioning as something of interest. As always, see your doctor before proceeding with any type of treatment!
Apparently, there is a community in Australia where citizens put tongue bolts in their tongue, not because it looks cool, but because it really, truly helps with snoring as well as OSA. Apparently, when these citizens go to sleep, they place a rubber band around the tongue bolt and anchor it to their front teeth. This method would prevent the tongue from vibrating as it would stretch and stiffen the tongue AND also prevent the tongue from falling backward.
This simple procedure actually duplicates the surgical procedures performed in the United States including hyoid advancement, genioglossus advancement, Repose tongue advancement, etc. All these surgical procedures for the tongue, in essence, try to anchor the tongue forward, just like the tongue bolt/rubber band technique.
Now that's food for thought!
--Dr. Chris Chang
Non-surgical methods to resolve obstructive sleep apnea due to large base of tongue other than a tongue piercing:
June 12, 2007
Pillar Procedure Offered At Fauquier ENT
We have suddenly noticed a number of phone calls to our office as well as inquiries from our established patients regarding the Pillar Procedure for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea after a recent television news report.
We used to offer this procedure, but as of Jan 2010, we no longer do.
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