Laryngology Resources
Multimedia encyclopedia of voice, swallowing and airway disorders; also chronic cough and inability to burp.
What Will You Find on Laryngopedia?
Photos
High definition images captured through Videostroboscopy of the larynx, vocal cords, and upper aerodigestive tract. See photos →
Videos
Detailed recordings of the vocal cords and airway, breathing, swallowing, and other functions in the larynx. Watch videos →
Articles
Clinical observations, anecdotes, case series, and conceptual frameworks discussed for further exploration. Read articles →
Audio Clips
Sound recordings of vocal exercises, voice disorders, and pre- and post- surgical adjustments to the vocal cords. Browse clips →
Popular Encyclopedia Entries
A collection of frequently visited entries pertaining to laryngeal topics.
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Robert W. Bastian M.D.
Dr. Bastian was rated by Chicago Magazine as one of “Chicago’s Top Doctors,” and by Castle-Connolly as one of “America’s Top Doctors.” He is also the recipient of the Honor Award for teaching contributions to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, as well as, in 2010, the Distinguished Service Award.
He has developed and directed multidisciplinary teams to consider patient disorders from three perspectives: behavioral, medical, and surgical. In all of Dr. Bastian’s professional activities—whether consulting with patients, operating, researching, writing, or teaching—patients come first.
Journal Articles by Dr. Bastian
Cricopharyngeus Spasm and What to Do About It
Robert W. Bastian, M.D. — Published: June 25, 2018 The information found below is a Q&A supplement to a teaching video on cricopharyngeus spasm: Tell me more about the cricopharyngeus muscle. Where is it, and what is it for? It is a sphincter, which is a circular muscle that makes a ring around the uppermost part of the esophagus to serve as a “valve” or “gateway” between the throat and
Can’t Burp? Here Are the Symptoms of R-CPD
Robert W. Bastian, M.D. — Published: December 18, 2020 There is a group of people whose inability to burp causes severe daily distress. They are left without a solution (or even explanation) in spite of many doctor visits. Recently a major cause of inability to burp, retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (R-CPD) has been codified for diagnosis and treatment.* *A constellation of key symptoms powerfully “makes” the initial diagnosis. Patients can often
The Use of Capsaicin for Sensory Neuropathic Cough
Robert W. Bastian, M.D. — Published July 31, 2014 Introduction In recent years, a neurogenic form of chronic cough has been described in the literature, referred to variously as “sensory neuropathy presenting as chronic cough”1, “sensory neuropathic cough”2,3, “laryngeal sensory neuropathy”4, or simply “refractory chronic cough”5. It has been shown that sensory neuropathic cough (SNC) can be treated with certain neuralgia medications1,4,5,6,7,8. What has not yet been described, however, is
A Trail to Sensory Neuropathic Cough
Robert W. Bastian, M.D. — Published August 25, 2014 Introduction A new clinical insight can be sparked when a physician encounters a series of patients in close succession whose stories overlap in some surprising way. This is an account of that sort, reviewing a trail of patients that led to understanding the clinical entity of sensory neuropathic cough.1 Before the late 1990s, when the fourth patient described below opened for