[The implication of the cricothyroid muscle in paralysis of the vocal cords (author's transl)].

A report is given about one patient with bilateral paralysis of the vocal cords. After local anesthesia of the piriform sinus and novocain blockade of the R. externus of the superior laryngeal nerve of the same side a widening of the glottis and an improvement of the respiration was observed. After section of the R. externus of the superior laryngeal nerve we could observe even an improvement of the same effect as it has been observed after local anaesthesia. These observations were proved by spirography and photo-documentation. Because of paradox movements of the vocal cords a narrowing of the glottis was observed during inspiration. Therefore the patients dyspnea did not improve to the extent as it could be expected from the widening of the glottis after this therapy. The problems are discussed in relation to the literature.