Abstract:

Nasal obstruction caused bilateral abductor vocal fold paralysis (BAVFP) is a clinical entity usually seen after thyroidectomy which may require urgent surgical intervention due to severe airway obstruction. Some classical surgical methods such as tracheotomy, lateralization of the vocal folds, cordectomy and arytenoidectomy have been used for the management of BAVFP. Recently, posterior transverse laser cordotomy (PTLC) has been developed as an alternative treatment modality by the increased use of CO2 laser in endolaryngeal surgery. In this series, outcome of the 22 patients with BAVFP who were managed by PTLC were evaluated retrospectively by the means of symptom relief, decannulation, indication of peroperative tracheotomy, aspiration, phonation quality and complications. PTLC is an effective surgical technique in the management of airway obstruction in patients with BAVFP due to its simplicity and minimal invasiveness, reduced requirement of tracheotomy, shortened hospitalization period.

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