title: Comparison between laser- and diathermy-assisted posterior cordotomy for bilateral vocal cord abductor paralysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A reliable procedure is needed to solve the problem of difficult airway in patients with bilateral vocal cord paralysis without adversely affecting patient "voice quality."
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the results of laser-assisted posterior cordotomy with diathermy-assisted posterior cordotomy for bilateral vocal cord paralysis in regard to dyspnea severity, voice quality, and aspiration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomized clinical trial at a university medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Zagazig University Hospitals, Zagazig, Egypt.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients randomly categorized into 2 groups; group A was treated with laser-assisted posterior cordotomy and group B was treated with diathermy-assisted posterior cordotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laser-assisted posterior cordotomy for group A and diathermy-assisted posterior cordotomy for group B.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dyspnea severity, voice quality, and aspiration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant difference (P < .05) was found between group A and group B at all postoperative comparisons in dyspnea, whereas no significant difference (P ≥ .05) was detected at all postoperative comparisons in voice quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser-assisted posterior cordotomy can be considered as a reliable and superior procedure compared with diathermy-assisted posterior cordotomy in the treatment of bilateral vocal cord abductor paralysis.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: ISRCTN08093874.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
authors: Nasser Nagieb
authors: NN
authors: Mohamed
authors: Samir Sorour
authors: SS
authors: Sorour
authors: Mohammad Waheed
authors: MW
authors: El-Anwar
authors: Amal Saeed
authors: AS
authors: Quriba
authors: Mohammad Abdou
authors: MA
authors: Mahdy
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002818:Cordotomy / Q000379:methods*; D003972:Diathermy / Q000379:methods*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061214:Patient Safety; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014833:Voice Quality