Bilateral vocal cord palsy after removal of falx meningioma in the hyperflexion of the neck: A case report

Lee, Hyo Myung; Kim, Seong Su; Gong, Tai Kyung

Case Report

Neuroanesthesia

Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2011;6(3):258-261.
Published online July 30, 2011.

Bilateral vocal cord palsy after removal of falx meningioma in the hyperflexion of the neck: A case report

Hyo Myung Lee, Seong Su Kim, Tai Kyung Gong

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Gangneung Asan Hospital, Gangneung, Korea. sskim@gnah.co.kr

Abstract

We experienced a case of bilateral vocal cord palsy following general anesthesia for craniotomy. The patient was a 43-year-old woman undergoing tumor resection for falx meningioma on frontal lobe. She had no laryngeal symptoms prior to operation. Spontaneous ventilation resumed after reversal of neuromuscular blockade. Following extubation, she showed signs of airway obstruction and dyspnea. Reintubation was done and symptoms improved. Three days after operation, we confirmed bilateral vocal cord palsy by fiberoptic laryngoscopy. We suggested that possible causes of bilateral vocal cord paralysis were hyperflexion of neck and long operating time.

Key Words: Extubation, General anesthesia, Hyperflexion, Vocal cord palsy