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Bilateral vocal fold Paralysis in infants: tracheostomy or not?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

G. E. Murty ,
C. Shinkwin  and
K. P. Gibbin
G. E. Murty*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital, Nottingham.
C. Shinkwin
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital, Nottingham.
K. P. Gibbin
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital, Nottingham.
*
George E. Murty, ENT Department, University Hospital, Nottingham NG7 2UH.
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Abstract

Tracheostomy has, in the past, been performed in the majority of children under one year with bilateral vocal fold paralysis. We present our experience of 11 cases over a ten-year period during which tracheostomy was avoided whenever possible. Ten cases were managed conservatively but in the youngest a tracheostomy was required. Full bilateral vocal fold mobility developed in all cases at a mean age of 11.5 months (range 5–26 months). Our experience suggests that the airway can commonly be managed expectantly without a tracheostomy.

Keywords

Vocal cord paralysisInfantsTracheostomy
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 108 , Issue 4 , April 1994 , pp. 329 - 331
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1994

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Footnotes

Presented to the British Association of Paediatric Otolaryngologists, Manchester, June 1993.

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