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.
Department of Anaesthesia, The Northern Hospital, Epping, Victoria, Australia.
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Seevanayagam
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