CJA
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a scholarly reply
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Arndt, G. A.
Right arrow Articles by Voth, B. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Arndt, G. A.
Right arrow Articles by Voth, B. R.

Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 43, 1249-1251, Copyright © 1996 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

ARTICLES

Paradoxical vocal cord motion in the recovery room: a masquerader of pulmonary dysfunction

GA Arndt and BR Voth
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin Clinical Science Center, Madison 53792-3272, USA. gaarndt@facstaff.wisc.edu

PURPOSE: We report a case of paradoxical vocal cord motion as an unusual cause of postoperative stridor and wheezing. A means of diagnosis and management is discussed. CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 71-yr-old man developed paradoxical vocal cord motion following uncomplicated hip replacement. He was treated with standard therapy for postoperative stridor and wheezing. After extensive evaluation, a flexible fibreoptic laryngoscope was used and the vocal cords noted to move paradoxically. This was the cause of his postoperative stridor and wheezing. Paradoxical vocal cord motion should be suspected as a cause of postoperative stridor and wheezing when the airway is easily maintained by a bag and mask, there is previous history of psychological problems, and there exists an unexplained history of previous postoperative airway distress. The definitive diagnosis may be made using a fibreoptic laryngoscope. In this patient, intubation was deferred and a plan of conservative therapy pursued. CONCLUSION: Paradoxical vocal cord motion is an unusual cause of postoperative respiratory distress. A definitive diagnosis may be made by the use of a flexible fibreoptic laryngo-scope using topical anaesthesia.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Postgrad. Med. J.Home page
W. H Ibrahim, H. A Gheriani, A. A Almohamed, and T. Raza
Paradoxical vocal cord motion disorder: past, present and future
Postgrad. Med. J., March 1, 2007; 83(977): 164 - 172.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br J AnaesthHome page
K. Subramani and A. Paul
Laryngospasm during subarachnoid block
Br. J. Anaesth., May 1, 2005; 94(5): 668 - 670.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Canadian J. AnesthesiaHome page
A. M. H. Ho, D. C. Chung, E. W. H. To, and M. K. Karmakar
Total airway obstruction during local anesthesia in a non-sedated patient with a compromised airway: [Une obstruction totale des voies aeriennes pendant une anesthesie locale chez un patient eveille qui presentait deja une obstruction respiratoire partielle]
Can J Anesth, October 1, 2004; 51(8): 838 - 841.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ThoraxHome page
J. Harbison, J. Dodd, and W. T McNicholas
Paradoxical vocal cord motion causing stridor after thyroidectomy
Thorax, June 1, 2000; 55(6): 533 - 534.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1996 by the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.