title: Dysphagia associated with unilateral vocal cord immobility after cardiovascular surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dysphagia associated with unilateral vocal cord immobility (UVCI) has received much less attention than did voice and phonation. The aim of this descriptive study was to evaluate the outcome of dysphagia associated with UVCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between June 2006 and September 2009, 69 hospitalized patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery were referred for dysphagia. Video endoscopic evaluation of swallowing was used for the detection of swallowing difficulties. Severity of dysphagia was assessed using the Dysphagia Severity Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 69 patients, 31 UVCI patients who underwent video endoscopic evaluation of swallowing at least twice were used for analysis. All patients had severe to mild dysphagia at the first evaluation. Nineteen patients recovered from the UVCI at a mean follow-up of 125 days, whereas 12 had persistent UVCI at a mean follow-up of 216 days. Dysphagia Severity Scale at the first evaluation was not significantly different in both groups. At the last follow-up, the Dysphagia Severity Scale improved considerably without a significant difference in the magnitude of improvement in both groups. In the recovered and persistent UVCI groups, 16 and 7 patients, respectively, resumed their regular diets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dysphagia associated with UVCI after surgery recovers, irrespective of the functional results of the UVCI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine I, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kagaya
authors.forename: Sumiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Ritsuko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shigeta
authors.forename: Norie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: Kikuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.forename: Seiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saitoh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000758:Anesthesia; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014741:Video Recording; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*