A rare complication of recurrent cerebrovascular infarct: Bilateral vocal cord paralysis

• Main Authors: Elif Önder, Gökhan Celbek, Adem Gungor, Talha Dumlu, Seher Kır, Yusuf Aydın, Süleyman Yılmaz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dicle University Medical School 2011-06-01
• Series: Dicle Medical Journal
• Subjects: Cerebral infarct; vocal cord paralysis; bilateral; clinical findings
• Online Access: http://www.dicle.edu.tr/fakulte/tip/dergi/yayin/382/18.pdf

Bilateral vocal cord paralysis (BVCP) is usually the result of an iatrogenic injury, especially secondary to thyroid and parathyroid surgery. However, BVCP that cause airway obstruction due to cerebral cortical stroke very rarely has been reported. We, herein report a case of BVCP that resulted in respiratory arrest as a late and life threatening complication of recurrent cerebral infract. A 67 year-old male patient admitted the emergency room with complaint of respiratory insufficiency. His complaint was progressed during last 3-4 months. He had two cerebral infractions attacks in a month approximately one year ago. On admission, physical examination revealed that, he had bilateral wheezing and stridor. He had right sided hemiplegia and had no history of heart failure or chronic obstructive lung disease. Endoscopic laryngoscopy was performed to evaluate upper airway obstruction. Laryngoscopy revealed that bilateral vocal cords were fixed and immobile at midline. Due to recurrent respiratory arrest, insufficient and fixed BVCP, open tracheostomy was perormed. After operation, he had no respiratory insufficiency or any complications. So he discharged from hospital with normal respiratory functions.