This prospective case series aimed to present the outcomes of immediate selective laryngeal reinnervation.

Two middle-aged women with vagal paraganglioma undergoing an excision operation underwent immediate selective laryngeal reinnervation using the phrenic nerve and ansa cervicalis as the donor nerve. Multidimensional outcome measures were employed pre-operatively, and at 1, 6 and 12 months post-operatively.

The voice handicap index-10 score improved from 23 (patient 1) and 18 (patient 2) at 1 month post-operation, to 5 (patient 1) and 1 (patient 2) at 12 months. The Eating Assessment Tool 10 score improved from 20 (patient 1) and 24 (patient 2) at 1 month post-operation, to 3 (patient 1) and 1 (patient 2) at 12 months. There was slight vocal fold abduction observed in patient one and no obvious abduction in patient two.

Selective reinnervation is safe to perform following vagal paraganglioma excision conducted on the same side. Voice and swallowing improvements were demonstrated, but no significant vocal fold abduction was achieved.

To explore unilateral vocal fold paralysis patients' perception of a proposed randomised, controlled trial of laryngeal reinnervation versus thyroplasty, and to identify patients' concerns regarding their voice.

Seventeen patients from five voice clinics in London were identified as being eligible for the randomised, controlled trial. Eleven of these patients (9 females and 2 males; age range, 18–65 years) were interviewed using a semi-structured topic guide (they were given a minimum of 2 weeks to read through the study information sheet). The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.

The patients were satisfied with the clarity of the information sheet. Most of them perceived that reinnervation was a more ‘attractive’ option than thyroplasty. This may have been the result of certain phraseology used in the information sheet and by recruiters. Patients' main concern was reduced voice strength and the effects of this on work and social life.

Phraseology that needed changing was identified; these changes may optimise the recruitment process for a trial. We propose using the voice handicap index 10 as the primary measure of outcome in the proposed randomised, controlled trial.

To assess the recovery of various muscle fibre types in the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle after laryngeal reinnervation in the rat, and to determine the influence of tacrolimus on this process.

Four groups of rats underwent resection and anastomosis of the left vagus nerve, and were administered either tacrolimus at a low dose or an immunosuppressive dose, or cyclosporin A at a low dose or an immunosuppressive dose. A fifth group received surgery alone, and a sixth group received neither surgery nor drug treatment (healthy group). Muscles were removed for immunohistochemical analysis 45 days after surgery.

There was no difference in the proportion of types 1, 2a and 2b muscle fibres, comparing the immunosuppressive tacrolimus group and the healthy group, whereas there were fewer type 1 fibres in the group receiving surgery alone, compared with the healthy group (7 vs 12.1 per cent, respectively; p = 0.0303).

Tacrolimus enhanced the recovery of normal laryngeal muscle fibres after reinnervation in the rat, indicating a possible role in laryngeal transplantation.