[Two cases of laryngoplasty performed under a general anesthesia applied using a laryngeal mask for the treatment of unilateral vocal cord paralysis].

In general, laryngoplasty for unilateral vocal cord paralysis is performed under local anesthesia because the patient's voice must be heard and the movement of the vocal cords visualized during the endoscopic procedure to ensure good results. We encountered two cases who could not endure a long operation under local anesthesia and the insertion of an endoscope because of their age and gag reflex. We thus performed a combined lateral cricoarytenoid muscle pull (LCA-pull) and a type I thyroplasty under general anesthesia applied using a laryngeal mask. Although the patients could not phonate during the operation, the laryngeal mask allowed the vocal cords to be observed. Both patients achieved in maximal phonation time over 13 seconds, and the postoperative mean flow rates improved to under 110 mL/s. The postoperative period perturbation quotient and amplitude perturbation quotient also improved to within the normal limits.