JEFFERSON K. KILPATRICK, MD; DANIEL L. WOHL, MD; WAYNE T. SHALA, MS; ROBERT T. LESHNER, MD

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

In this prospective clinical analysis we present 16 pediatric patients with suspected neurologic or neuromuscular laryngeal disorders evaluated with direct laryngoscopy and intraoperative, shielded, monopolar laryngeal electromyography (L-EMG) at our tertiary care hospital. Clinical correlation between endoscopic examination and motor unit recruitment or spontaneous electrophysiological abnormalities was made. Data analysis assessed the impact of L-EMG on clinical management. The L-EMG findings contributed to a change in clinical management in 5 of 16 patients. Our results indicate that L-EMG is an effective tool for objectively confirming endoscopic findings. It may, as an objective test like an audiogram, have benefit in counseling patients and their parents. However, L-EMG did not significantly alter patient management in the majority of patients.