Recovery of vocal fold paralysis after cardiovascular surgery

✍ Scribed by Daekeun Joo; Victor M. Duarte; Murtaza T. Ghadiali; Dinesh K. Chhetri

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 73 KB
• Volume: 119
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0023-852X
• DOI: 10.1002/lary.20525

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Objectives/Hypothesis:

To review the incidence and time course of recovery of vocal fold paralysis (VFP) in adult patients after cardiovascular surgery.

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort study of adults after cardiovascular surgery at a tertiary care academic medical center.

Methods:

Patients with VFP after cardiovascular surgery were identified from a database of hospitalized patients undergoing voice and swallow evaluation. VFP was confirmed using transnasal fiberoptic laryngoscopy within 1 week of surgery. Follow‐up laryngoscopy was performed in those with VFP in the outpatient clinic. Those with persistent paralysis were followed and the time course of recovery was noted.

Results:

Eighty‐six adult postoperative cardiovascular surgery patients (ages 34 to 83 years, mean 68) were identified from the inpatient voice and swallowing evaluation database. There were 20 patients (23%) with unilateral VFP. Thirteen patients followed‐up for outpatient laryngoscopy. Ten of the thirteen patients (77%) ultimately had complete resolution of VFP. Three patients had persistent paralysis at a mean follow‐up of 18 months. There was no obvious correlation between type of cardiovascular surgery and VFP. Signs of recovery were generally evident prior to 6 months and no recovery was seen beyond 12 months.

Conclusions:

Most patients with VFP after cardiovascular surgery recover fully. In accordance with previous laryngeal electromyography findings, neuropraxia during cardiovascular surgery will usually recover within 6 months. Laryngoscope, 2009