Investigation of the 22 cases with vocal cord paralysis following endotracheal intubation

Abstract

Twenty-two cases of vocal cord paralysis caused by endotracheal intubation were treated at our clinic during the past 15 years. Paralysis frequently occurred in patients over 40 years old, and the left vocal cord was more frequently affected than the right. In most cases the time of anesthesia was more than 3 hours, and spontaneous recovery took place within 3 months. The recovery period was longer in patients over 40 years old than in patients under 40 years. To prevent this paralysis, it is necessary to avoid the inadequate endotracheal tube and overextention of the neck, and to monitor the pressure of the endotracheal tube cuff.