[Bilateral wedge-shaped cordectomy for treatment of bilateral vocal cord paralysis].

OBJECTIVE

A clinical evaluation of CO2 laser endoscopic bilateral posterior wedge-shaped cordectomy (EBPC) in patients with severely compromised airway due to bilateral paralysis of the vocal fold.

METHOD

The CO2 laser EBPC was performed in four cases of bilateral vocal cord paralysis. Follow-up has ranged from five months to 36 months.

RESULT

Three patients achieved satisfactory airway after one laser procedure and one patient received second laser operation to manage her posterior webbing. Final voice quality was subjectively good in all patients.

CONCLUSION

The authors' data confirm the safety, ease of performance, and efficiency of the CO2 laser EBPC in patients with bilateral vocal fold paralysis. The advantages of the procedure are simplicity in concept, reliability of outcome, no need for prophylactic tracheotomy, low risk of complications, adequate airway and good voice preservation. CO2 laser endoscopic bilateral posterior wedge-shaped cordotomy is an alternative management option for relief of upper airway obstruction due to bilateral vocal cord paralysis in abduction. The procedure is worthy to apply in clinical use.