Transient unilateral vocal cord paralysis following endotracheal intubation in elderly patient with the abdominal surgery: A case report

Chung, Mee Young; Lee, Ji Young; Cho, Eun jeong; Kim, Chang Jae; Jeong, Jong tae; Chea, Jun Seuk; Lee, Byung Ho

Case Report

Neuromuscular Physiology and Pharmacology

Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2012;7(1):67-70.
Published online January 31, 2012.

Transient unilateral vocal cord paralysis following endotracheal intubation in elderly patient with the abdominal surgery: A case report

Mee Young Chung, Ji Young Lee, Eun jeong Cho, Chang Jae Kim, Jong tae Jeong, Jun Seuk Chea, Byung Ho Lee

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. bhlee@catholic.ac.kr

Abstract

Vocal cord paralysis is one of the most serious complications, which, in most situations, is preventable, associated with tracheal intubation. Unilateral vocal cord paralysis following tracheal intubation usually causes hoarseness. Postoperative vocal cord paralysis may be due to mechanical or neurogenic factors. The patient complained of hoarseness one day after operation and coughing on swallowing water ten days after operation. The vocal cords were examined with a fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopy and the right vocal cord was fixed in the paramedian position. We present a case of unilateral vocal cord paralysis following endotracheal intubation in a 71-year-old male patient with descending colon carcinoma and left renal cell carcinoma.

Key Words: Coughing, Hoarseness, Tracheal intubation, Vocal cord paralysis