A Clinical Study on Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Paralysis

Abstract

One hundred and seventy-seven patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, who were referred to our clinic during the past 8 years (1983-1990), were investigated clinically. The left vocal cord was affected in 109 cases (61.6%), the right in 56 cases (31.6 %) and both in 12 cases (6.8%). The highest incidence was found in the group of 60 years. There was no difference in incidence between males and females.
The cause of 59 cases was surgical operation a r o und the vagus and recurrent nerves. Malignant tumors were found in 56 cases. However, the cause was unknown in 42 cases. Among 56 cases of malignancies, lung cancers and esophageal cancers were found in 37cases, and in these cases, the incidence was higher in females. In recurrent nerve paralysis due to thyroid diseases, there was a higher incidence in females and no difference in in cidence between the left and the right vocal cord.
The recovery rate was relatively low. However, the recurrent nerve paralysis following endotracheal intubation and caused by polyneuritis had a very high recovery rate.