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M27 A pain in the neck? Healthy volunteer acceptability of trans laryngeal ultrasound to assess vocal fold movement in mimicked inducible laryngeal obstruction

thoraxjnl · 2025-11-02 · canonical JSON source

6 visible annotations · policy: published · automated confidence ≥ 75.00%

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Introduction Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO) describes an inappropriate narrowing of the vocal folds on inspiration. ILO is frequently misdiagnosed as asthma, leading to significant patient morbidity and healthcare costs. Obtaining an accurate and timely diagnosis is essential.The current reference standard for the diagnosis of ILO is a video-laryngoscopy, which is an invasive procedure that is costly, can be poorly tolerated, and timely access is often challenging. Consequently, developing alternative, less-invasive assessment methods is a research priority.As highlighted by the MRC framework for complex interventions, acceptability is a critical consideration in the design and evaluation of healthcare interventions and can influence their successful implementation, as acceptability may impact on patient adherence and clinical outcomes.Aims This study aimed to determine the acceptability of trans-laryngeal ultrasound (TLUS) among healthy volunteers. These data form the initial stage of a larger feasibility study investigating TLUS as a non-invasive screening tool for ILO.Methods Healthy NHS staff (n=29; mean age 40; 77% female) with no history of asthma, ILO, laryngeal pathology, or neck surgery were recruited. Following informed consent, participants underwent a standardised TLUS protocol (designed and previously published by the author/researcher; Slinger 2024) to visualise the vocal folds, including during mimicked ILO. Participants anonymously completed an electronic questionnaire immediately post-procedure to evaluate the acceptability of the TLUS assessment.Results Acceptability of TLUS was very high. All participants reported the procedure was comfortable, stated they would undergo it again, and would recommend it to others. Qualitative data analysis revealed key themes contributing to acceptability, including the non-invasive nature of the scan, the importance of clear explanations and reassurance from the clinician, and the overall ease and speed of the procedure.Conclusion This study provides important preliminary evidence that TLUS is a highly acceptable method for laryngeal assessment among healthy volunteers. These preliminary findings will help anticipate and address potential acceptability barriers, supporting the progression to a future clinical trial to evaluate TLUS in patients with suspected ILO.Ethical approval is in place for this study