title: Laser arytenoidectomy.
abstract: An endoscopic laser arytenoidectomy was performed on 20 patients for bilateral abductor vocal cord paralysis due to various causes. Ten patients had a previous tracheostomy prior to the laser arytenoidectomy and all were subsequently decannulated. One patient without a previous tracheostomy required an immediate tracheostomy after the completion of the laser arytenoidectomy due to a severe laryngeal edema and was also subsequently decannulated. All of these patients had a satisfactory voice and an adequate laryngeal airway. The advantages of the laser for endoscopic arytenoidectomy are facility of the operation, hemostasis, minimal postoperative edema, and absence of scarring.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001193:Arytenoid Cartilage / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007817:Laryngeal Cartilages / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000601:surgery*