Arytenoid subluxation after a difficult intubation treated successfully with voice therapy.
Arytenoid subluxation is a rare laryngeal injury that may follow instrumentation of the airway and present as hoarseness, vocal fatigue, stridor, dysphagia, odynophagia and sore throat. We report the case of an 88-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus who developed this complication during a difficult intubation where a Macintosh laryngoscope and gum elastic bougie were used to facilitate intubation. Previously considered to play a minor role in treatment, voice therapy was used successfully in this patient to correct subluxation of the arytenoid, with prompt resolution of his symptoms.
Tan
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Department of Anaesthesia, The Northern Hospital, Epping, Victoria, Australia.
Seevanayagam
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S
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000628:therapy*; D001193:Arytenoid Cartilage / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D014834:Voice Training