Unilateral hypoglossal nerve and recurrent laryngeal nerve weakness following endotracheal intubation

Abstract

Endotracheal intubation with cuffed tube is a safe procedure associated with few complications in majority of patients. Immediate complications are primarily associated with problems dring intubation and extubation while early and late complications represent the short- and long-term effets of epithelial trauma. True vocal cord paralysis may follow endotracheal intubation and be the result of peripheral nerve damage. This damage can occur as the result of compressing the nerve between an inflated endotracheal tube cuff and the overlying thyroid cartilage.1 The hypoglossal nerve (12th cranial nerve) is motor nerve. It supplys the tongue muscle and help in speech, Food manipulation, and swallowing. Hypoglossal nerve injury following endotracheal intubation under general anesthesia is a rare complication and can cause symptoms, such as dysarthria and dysphagia.2