Intraoperative Identification and Stimulation of the Glossopharyngeal Nerve

Overview

Published data suggest that the glossopharyngeal nerve innervates pharyngeal musculature important for maintenance of upper airway patency. The investigators propose a study examining the anatomic variation of the glossopharyngeal nerve and the effect of electrical stimulation on muscle recruitment and upper airway patency.

This is a single-arm physiology study. Consenting patients undergoing parapharyngeal space (PPS) surgery for tumor extirpation will undergo dissection of the glossopharyngeal nerve branches to the stylopharyngeus and pharyngeal constrictor muscles. Fine-wire electrodes will be placed on these nerve branches. For each patient, if the target nerve branches can be identified and electrodes successfully placed, they will additionally undergo drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) immediately following PPS surgery. Per routine care, an incision is made across the neck to provide surgeons access to parapharyngeal space for tumor extirpation. During this dissection, the branch(es) of the glossopharyngeal nerve innervating the stylopharyngeus (SP) and pharyngeal constrictor (PC) muscles are exposed. For this study, measurements and photos/videos of the nerve will be taken. A fine-wire electrode will be placed on either or both successfully identified nerves and stimulated to assess muscle activation and changes in upper airway patency.

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes