Effects of short-term endotracheal intubation on vocal function

Transient voice change associated with endotracheal intubation has generally been attributed to vocal fold trauma. To assess the role of altered vocal fold function in transient voice change, a study was designed to evaluate the audio‐acoustic, endoscopic, and laryngostroboscopic characteristics of the postintubation voice. Vocal function of 10 patients undergoing short‐term outpatient surgical procedures using general anesthesia and endotracheal intubation were studied preoperatively and postoperatively. A second group of 10 patients that did not have surgery or general anesthesia was used as an age‐matched control. Fundamental frequency, frequency perturbation, electroglottography, en‐doscopy (including laryngeal stroboscopy), and subjective speech analysis by experienced listeners were used to assess vocal function. No consistent differences in fundamental frequency were observed, although patient‐to‐patient variation was marked. Statistically significant increases in cycle‐to‐cycle fundamental frequency variation (jitter) were found postoperatively in the majority of the postintubation patients (P