Abstract
Vocal cord paralysis (VCP) was seen in 356 patients during a 7-year period in our clinic. Sixty percent of the patients were male. The left vocal cord was affected in 241 cases (68%), the right in 89 cases (25%) and both in 23 cases (6%). In one fourth the cause was thyroid cancer or thyroid surgery. Lung cancer was present in 8% and esophageal surgery in 7%. The cause was unknown in 27%.
In VCP due to thyroid cancer or thyroid surgery, there was a female preponderance and no difference in incidence between the left and the right vocal cords. The recovery rate was very low. VCP following endotracheal intubation had a very high rate of recovery.
