Open AccessClinico-etiological Profile of Vocal Cord Paralysis
Author(s) -
Shivakumar Senniappan,
Govind Krishnan Gopalakrishnan,
Chinnu Sudha Kumar,
Anjali Mahendra Panicker,
Visakh Kookkal Nair,
Shankar Radhakrishnan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
bengal journal of otolaryngology and head neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2395-2407
pISSN - 2395-2393
DOI - 10.47210/bjohns.2019.v27i3.13
Subject(s) - medicine , vocal cord paralysis , cord , paralysis , palsy , laryngoscopy , etiology , thyroidectomy , recurrent laryngeal nerve , surgery , larynx , thyroid , intubation , pathology , alternative medicine
Introduction
Vocal Cord Paralysis may be of central or peripheral origin based on the underlying pathology. Central Causes contribute about 10% while peripheral causes about 90% and the current study evaluated the clinical profile of vocal cord paralysis.
Materials and Methods
A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the department of ENT for a period of one year. Patients with complaints of hoarseness or aspiration who on laryngoscopy examination with 45° telescope have been diagnosed to have vocal cord paralysis were included for the study. A total of 83 patients were included in our study.
Results
Vocal cord palsy was found most commonly after thyroidectomy (20.4%) followed by the idiopathic cause (19.2%). Certain cancers like lung cancer and neck cancers (hypopharyngeal, laryngeal and thyroid) carcinoma had also contributed significantly in the development of vocal cord palsy. Left sided vocal cord palsy (65%) was found to be the commonest side affected followed by bilateral vocal cord palsy.
Conclusion
A proper protocol is necessary for identifying the factors responsible for vocal fold paralysis which would help in managing the condition more effectively. Before making a diagnosis as idiopathic vocal cord paralysis, detailed investigations should be carried out to rule out the possibilities of cancer, causing vocal cord paralysis.