Bilateral vocal cord paralysis associated with laryngeal myxedema

For managing dyspnea caused by bilateral vocal cord paralysis as a complication of thyroidectomy in the acute postoperative period, reversible vocal cord lateralisation is performed at the authors’ departments. However, in the later postoperative period of thyroidectomy when there is no chance for recovery of the recurrent laryngeal nerves, they perform irreversible procedure. Applying these operative techniques satisfactory breathing can be achieved in about 95% of cases avoiding tracheostomy. In 5% of cases there are other comorbidities in the background of unsuccessful operative results which can cause potential dyspnea as well. From these complications the authors emphasize the role of laryngeal obstruction and myxedema as a consequence of hypothyroidism developed after thyroidectomy. Management of severe dyspnea caused by association of these two complications of thyroidectomy means a great therapeutic challenge. Between 01 Jan 1989 and 30 Nov 2008 the authors performed 161 reversible and 135 irreversible vocal cord lateralisations to manage dyspnea caused by bilateral vocal cord paralysis as a complication of thyroidectomy. From these cases four patients had further obstruction due to laryngeal myxedema. By performing endoscopic laryngeal surgeries and applying levothyroxine replacement therapy sufficiently wide glottic chink has been achieved in all the cases. According to the experience of the authors dyspnea caused by bilateral vocal cord paralysis after thyroidectomy needs complex, interdisciplinary therapeutic approach beside glottis widening operations.