Open AccessVocal fold paralysis following surgical ductal closure in extremely low birth weight infants: a case series of feeding and respiratory complications
Author(s) -
William Malcolm,
Christoph P. Hornik,
Amy Evans,
P. Brian Smith,
C. Michael Cotten
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of perinatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1476-5543
pISSN - 0743-8346
DOI - 10.1038/jp.2008.109
Subject(s) - medicine , complication , ductus arteriosus , surgery , paralysis , vocal cord paralysis , closure (psychology) , pediatrics , market economy , economics
Surgical closure of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) continues to be a frequent procedure among extremely preterm infants. Recent evidence indicates surgical closure is associated with worse outcomes than after medical closure. Left vocal fold paralysis is a known complication of this surgery, but there is little information available on the impact of this specific complication on long-term outcomes of these infants. In this case series, we describe the clinical course of three sets of multiple births, in which at least one infant underwent surgical closure of the PDA and subsequently developed feeding and/or breathing difficulties due to left vocal fold paralysis, and compare to their siblings who did not sustain this complication. The case series suggests that some long-term morbidities associated with surgical closure of the PDA may be attributable to this specific complication.