A Review on Vocal Cord Palsy: Complications and Management

Abstract

Vocal cord paralysis is a multifaceted problem that affects people of all ages and is initially diagnosed by various healthcare providers. It is a common condition that occurs due to the obstruction of nerve impulses from the brain to the voice box. It ranges from slight hoarseness to fatal, life-threatening complications. To get to the exact diagnosis, determining the etiology of paralysis is essential. For restoration of normal function, accurate diagnosis has proven to be helpful. Vocal cord paralysis (VCP) is a. reasonably common condition caused by a vagus nerve or its recurrent laryngeal nerve branch disease process. The nerve’s longer length causes increased vulnerability. Peripheral lesions to the vagus are responsible for 90% of VCP (Vocal cord paralysis). Etiology includes scarring due to intubation or inflammatory disorders, iatrogenic causes like surgical traumas, malignancy, CNS pathologies like stroke, CNS tumors, and systemic diseases like ALS, Guillain barre syndrome. Vocal cord paralysis can cause consequences such as a weak cough, trouble swallowing, dysphagia, stridor, hoarseness, aspiration risk, granuloma formation, airway blockage, and a lower quality of life. Various treatment modalities like tracheostomy, usage of botulinum toxin, adenoidectomy, cordotomy, reinnervation, and gene therapy are used. For this narrative review, a literature search was undertaken using "unilateral and bilateral vocal cord palsy" and "dysphagia" in the Pubmed, Medline, and Embase databases. Bilateral vocal cord paralysis is a problematic and distressing condition that affects both adults and children. Surgical procedures such as tracheostomy, adenoidectomy, cordotomy, and laryngeal reinnervation have been used to treat this condition successfully. Treatment modalities should be individualized according to the patient's clinical features and physician's expertise.