title: Bilateral vocal cord palsy during carotid endarterectomy under cervical plexus block.
abstract: We describe a case of vocal cord palsy leading to respiratory obstruction during carotid endarterectomy under cervical plexus block in a patient who had preexisting contralateral vocal cord paralysis subsequent to a previous thyroidectomy. The patient required immediate tracheal intubation and subsequent tracheostomy to maintain the airway postoperatively. Care must be given to avoid contralateral vocal cord paralysis in the presence of a preexisting vocal cord palsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Operating Theatre Services, Kwong Wah Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Angel O K
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: Brendan S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Silbert
authors.forename: Kara J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vidovich
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002572:Cervical Plexus; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009407:Nerve Block; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy