We report a patient with Shy-Drager syndrome, a disease characterized by progressive degenerative change in autonomic nerves and cerebellar dysfunction accompanied by multiple system atrophy.
The subject was a 62-year-old female who suddenly lost consciousness and underwent emergency tracheostomy. Three months after the operation, she was reffered to our clinic, because of persistent dyspnea. Laryngofiberscopic examination revealed that the bilateral vocal cords were adducted and fixed in the midposition. Shy-Dragersyndrome was diagnosed on the basis of hypotension and cerebellar type bilateral ataxia.
Respiratory impairment was relieved by tracheal fenestration and the patient was discharged. At present, she is responding well to the therapy.