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)   97 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

Author

Joseph E. Kerschner MD Provost, Executive Vice President, Dean, Professor in the School of Medicine Administration department at Medical College of Wisconsin

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