Early arytenoid adduction for vagal paralysis after skull base surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of early arytenoid adduction in the management of vagal paralysis after skull base surgery.


METHODS
Retrospective evaluation at a tertiary care skull base center.


METHODS
Aggressive surgical management of skull base lesions has become increasingly popular owing to advances in surgical technique and intraoperative monitoring. Temporary and permanent lower cranial neuropathies occur frequently, especially after the surgical management of lesions involving the vertebrobasilar system and the jugular foramen. An injury to the proximal vagus nerve is usually associated with dysphonia and swallowing dysfunction. An early arytenoid adduction has been employed in 26 patients with a vagal paralysis after skull base surgery. Most commonly, the neurosurgical patient underwent an arytenoid adduction under general anesthesia on postoperative day 2.


RESULTS
Videostroboscopy after arytenoid adduction demonstrated 76% of patients had complete glottic closure. Of those with inadequate glottic closure, all demonstrated a well-medialized posterior glottis with a persistent anterior glottal gap. These patients were easily treated with a secondary type I thyroplasty under local anesthesia with sedation resulting in complete glottic closure. Despite excellent voice outcomes, 66% of these patients had dysphagia requiring enteral feedings for nutritional support.


CONCLUSIONS
An early arytenoid adduction is an excellent medialization technique that can be performed safely in the early postoperative period under general anesthesia after skull base surgery.
Bielamowicz
S
S
Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA. sursxb@gwumc.edu
Gupta
A
A
Sekhar
L N
LN
D000768:Anesthesia, General; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005931:Glottis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery*; D008027:Light; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D019291:Skull Base / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D061223:Vagus Nerve Injuries; D014741:Video Recording; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014831:Voice / Q000502:physiology; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery