Open AccessBilateral vocal cord paralysis during emergence from general anesthesia in a patient with Parkinson's disease
Author(s) -
Ji-Il Kim,
Deok-Hee Lee,
Hyuckgoo Kim
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
saudi journal of anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.416
H-Index - 24
eISSN - 1658-354X
pISSN - 0975-3125
DOI - 10.4103/sja.sja_515_19
Subject(s) - medicine , airway obstruction , cord , anesthesia , vocal cord paralysis , airway , paralysis , vocal cord dysfunction , disease , respiratory system , surgery , respiratory failure , asthma
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the extrapyramidal system, and respiratory dysfunction has also been noted in patients with PD. However, acute upper airway obstruction due to bilateral vocal cord paralysis is a very rare finding in PD. Here, we describe a rare life-threatening respiratory failure caused by bilateral vocal cord paralysis in an elderly woman with PD during emergence from general anesthesia. The tracheostomy was performed on the postoperative period because the condition persisted. The general anesthesia in PD may have aggravated vocal cord impairment. We recommend when a patient with PD is scheduled for general anesthesia that the anesthesiologist performs careful preoperative examinations, strictly monitors respiratory function, and rapidly manages acute upper airway obstruction.