Faculty Collaboration Database

Pediatric vocal fold paralysis after cardiac surgery: rate of recovery and sequelae. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2007 Nov;137(5):780-4

Date

10/31/2007

Pubmed ID

17967646

DOI

10.1016/j.otohns.2007.07.028

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-35448972093 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   106 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of recovery of pediatric vocal fold paralysis (VFP) after cardiac surgery.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective case series from January 2000 to 2005 at 4 tertiary care pediatric hospitals.

RESULTS: A total of 109 children with VFP were identified. Of 80 patients with follow-up >3 months, 28 (35%) recovered vocal fold function with a median time to diagnosis of recovery of 6.6 months. Fifty-two (65%) patients had persistent vocal fold paralysis with a median follow-up time of 16.4 months. Twenty-five (45%) of 55 patients demonstrated aspiration or laryngeal penetration with modified barium swallow. Twenty-nine (27%) of the 109 patients underwent surgical intervention for their airway, feeding, or voice.

CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric VFP is not an uncommon complication after cardiac surgery and can result in serious sequelae. This study demonstrates a 35% rate of recovery, 45% rate of aspiration, and 27% rate of complications that require surgical intervention.

Author List

Truong MT, Messner AH, Kerschner JE, Scholes M, Wong-Dominguez J, Milczuk HA, Yoon PJ

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Cardiac Surgical Procedures
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Male
Postoperative Complications
Retrospective Studies
Treatment Outcome
Vocal Cord Paralysis