Voice

Recovery of vocal fold paralysis after cardiovascular surgery†

  1. Daekeun Joo MD,
  2. Victor M. Duarte BS,
  3. Murtaza T. Ghadiali MD,
  4. Dinesh K. Chhetri MD*

Article first published online: 8 JUN 2009

DOI: 10.1002/lary.20525

Issue

The Laryngoscope

The Laryngoscope

Volume 119, Issue 7, pages 1435–1438, July 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Joo, D., Duarte, V. M., Ghadiali, M. T. and Chhetri, D. K. (2009), Recovery of vocal fold paralysis after cardiovascular surgery. The Laryngoscope, 119: 1435–1438. doi: 10.1002/lary.20525

Author Information

  1. Division of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

*200 UCLA Medical Plaza, Suite 550, Los Angeles, CA 90095

  1. †

    Presented at the Triological Society Western Section Meeting, Henderson, Nevada, U.S.A, January 29–31, 2009.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 JUN 2009
  2. Article first published online: 8 JUN 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 7 APR 2009

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Keywords:

  • Vocal fold paralysis;
  • recovery

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

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