ANESTHESIA FOR THYROPLASTY

The purpose of this report is to describe the anaesthetic consideratio ns for layngoplastic procedures. Thyroplasty is a procedure which rest ores the voice in unilateral vocal cord paralysis. The procedure emplo ys an external approach via a window cut at the appropriate level in t he thyroid ala. A wedge of silastic is inserted against the inner peri chondrium, thereby displacing the vocal cord medially and permitting v oice production. Correct placement of the implant ir assessed by askin g the patient to phonate; patient cooperation is therefore necessary a t certain times during the procedure. We describe our management of a patient undergoing thyroplasty. The use of a benzodiazepine agonist-an tagonist combination provided both optimal operating conditions and pa tient comfort.