title: Bilateral vocal fold paralysis in infants: tracheostomy or not?
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital, Nottingham.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Murty
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shinkwin
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Gibbin
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D014139:Tracheostomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*