title: Isolated bilateral paralysis of the hypoglossal and recurrent laryngeal nerves (Bilateral Tapia's syndrome) after transoral intubation for general anesthesia.
abstract: Tapia's syndrome is due to extracranial involvement of the hypoglossal nerve and the recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagal nerve. The injury of these nerves is a rare complication of anesthetic airway management. We present a patient with a postoperative bilateral hypoglossal and recurrent laryngeal nerves palsy after uncomplicated orotracheal intubation. Corticosteroid therapy was started after diagnosis. Forty-eight hours later, the movements of the vocal cords started to recover and full recovery was achieved by the fourth day. Within 3 days, tongue mobility was gradually improved and the patient's symptoms resolved completely by 4 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Sisli Etfal Teaching and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Cinar
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seven
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cinar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turgut
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D061228:Hypoglossal Nerve Injuries; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D061226:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; D012225:Rhinoplasty; D013577:Syndrome; D014059:Tongue / Q000503:physiopathology; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000293:injuries