Endoscopic Sealing With a Polyglycolic Acid Sheet for Restoration of Vocal Fold Mucosa in Dogs

Objectives/Hypothesis Voice outcomes of cordectomy for early glottic cancer are often poor due to vocal fold scarring and tissue defects. Improvements in this aspect could make cordectomy a more acceptable treatment option than radiotherapy. We hypothesized that a polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheet could be used to cover vocal fold defects. The present study aimed to prevent vocal fold scarring after cordectomy using the PGA sheet. Study Design Animal experiment. Methods Nine male beagles were divided into three groups including a control group (n = 3). Following cordectomy, the vocal fold defect was covered with the PGA sheet plus fibrin glue (PGA group; n = 3) or with the PGA sheet plus fibrin glue containing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF; the PGA‐bFGF group, n = 3). Vocal folds were chronologically observed, and larynges were removed 6 months after surgery. Mucosal amplitude was measured using a high‐speed camera, and histological analysis was performed. Results The re‐epithelialization process was delayed in the PGA and PGA‐bFGF groups compared with the control group. The mucosal amplitude was significantly more normalized and the thickness ratio significantly higher in the PGA and PGA‐bFGF groups compared with the control group. The PGA‐bFGF group had the highest elastic fiber density, followed by the PGA group and then the control group, with a significant difference between the PGA‐bFGF and control groups. Conclusions The PGA sheet plus fibrin glue could serve as an effective regenerative scaffold for reconstructing vocal fold morphology and function after cordectomy, with the potential benefit of establishing an endoscopic sealing method for vocal fold defects. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 130:E436–E443, 2020