Management of iatrogenic bilateral vocal cord paralysis by endoscopic transoral CO2 laser surgery – Report of two cases

Abstract

Bilateral vocal fold paralysis is a rare condition. The commonest cause identified is mostly iatrogenic. It can be extremely debilitating for the patient who usually suffers from severe breathlessness on slightest exertion. Many of them requires a tracheostomy to maintain airway. The treatment of bilateral vocal cord palsy is a balance between phonation, airway and swallowing. Several surgical modalities have been described for cases which doesn't improve with conservative management. However transoral CO2 laser endoscopic arytenoidectomy has become the standard of management today for this condition. CO2 laser is arguably the most appropriate tool for cordectomy with the advantage of increased precision, better hemostasis and minimal tissue handling. We describe the procedure of posterior cordectomy with partial arytenoidectomy using transoral CO2 laser in two patients who were successfully managed for this condition in our centre.