BILATERAL VOCAL CORD PARALYSIS WITH SHY-DRAGER SYNDROME

Shy-Drager syndrome consists of progressive autonomic nervous system f ailure with Parkinson's disease-like symptoms and orthostatic hypotens ion. It can also result in airway compromise from bilateral vocal cord paralysis. Fewer than 30 cases of severe bilateral vocal cord paresis or paralysis associated with the Shy-Drager syndrome have been report ed in the English literature. We present a case of a 72-year-old man w ho had a 2-year history of orthostatic hypotension, neurogenic bladder , impotence, anhydrosis, and extremity weakness and paresthesias. Hoar seness and dyspnea with strider developed as a result of bilateral voc al cord paralysis in the median position and required an emergency tra cheotomy. This combination of symptoms resulted in the diagnosis of Sh y-Drager syndrome. We present the case along with literature review of bilateral vocal cord paralysis with the Shy-Drager syndrome.