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Diagnostic Test of Choice for HELPS Syndrome

NCT03126955 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 6

Last updated 2020-11-05

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Our team recently described a new medical condition called HELPS (Hemi-Laryngo-Pharyngeal-Spasm) syndrome(1). HELPS syndrome is a condition caused by a blood vessel pinching the nerve rootlets of the Vagus nerve (Xth cranial nerve). It is similar to the well recognized hemifacial spasm syndrome but the nerve involved is the Vagus instead of the Facial nerve. As a result, the symptoms are episodic throat contractions and cough. The throat contractions become stronger and more frequent over the years and can lead to a terrifying inability to breath. Patients may end up intubated in the Emergency Department or with a tracheostomy because of inability to breath during a severe episode. Some but not all of our patients can tell which side of their throat (left or right) contracts during a choking episode. In between these choking episodes, patients feel normal. A surgical cure for these patients is Microvascular Decompression of the Xth nerve.

Conditions

  • HELPS Syndrome

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Pre-Operative CISS-MRI Sequences

Compare pre-operative MRI diagnosis to intra-operative findings on if both are in agreement

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Pre-Operative Interictal Laryngoscopy

Compare pre-operative laryngoscopy diagnosis to intra-operative findings on if both are in agreement

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Pre-Operative Unilateral and Contralateral Botox

Compare pre-operative diagnosis using Botox to intra-operative findings on if both are in agreement

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of British Columbia

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Christopher R Honey, MD, DPhil, FRCSC · University of British Columbia

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2017-04-30
Primary Completion
2018-04-30
Completion
2018-10-30

Countries

  • Canada

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03126955 on ClinicalTrials.gov