title: Continuous positive airway pressure with pressure support ventilation is effective in treating acute-onset bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy.
abstract: Acute bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury leading to acute vocal cord paralysis (VCP) is a serious complication of head and neck surgery, often requiring emergent surgical intervention. Although well documented, its presentation may be sudden and unexpected, occurring despite lack of obvious intraoperative nerve injury. There is limited literature on airway management strategies for patients with acute bilateral VCP before attaining a secure airway. We report a case of acute VCP that was successfully treated with continuous positive airway pressure via facemask ventilation. This effective temporizing strategy allowed clinicians to plan and prepare for tracheostomy, minimizing potential complications.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; and †Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Yiuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fikry
authors.forename: Bhavika
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Manokanth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madapu
authors.forename: Randall D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Gaz
authors.forename: Lisa R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Leffert
authors.forename: Yandong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D061226:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014139:Tracheostomy; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*