title: Vincristine-induced vocal cord paralysis in an infant.
abstract: We report the development of stridor and dysphagia in a 5-month-old-infant with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after the administration of four weekly doses of vincristine during induction therapy. Because direct laryngoscopy revealed bilateral vocal cord paralysis, the patient underwent elective intubation. Extubation was performed 7 days later, after direct laryngoscopy confirmed recovery of vocal cord mobility. Vincristine-induced bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication. Therefore, it should be suspected when stridor is present, and clinicians should consider visualization of the airway to establish the cause of upper airway compromise in infants receiving vincristine.
authors.affiliation: Division of Anesthesia, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105-2794, USA. doralina.anghelescu@stjude.org
authors.forename: Doralina L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Anghelescu
authors.forename: Alberto J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: De Armendi
authors.forename: Jerome W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Elaine M A
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sillos
authors.forename: Ching-Hon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Pui
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Sandlund
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D014750:Vincristine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014750:Vincristine