VOCAL CORD LATEROFIXATION AS EARLY TREATMENT FOR ACUTE BILATERAL ABDUCTOR PARALYSIS AFTER THYROID-SURGERY

Bilateral vocal cord palsy due to a lesion of the recurrent laryngeal nerves is a serious complication of thyroid operations, with the airwa y obstruction usually necessitating tracheostomy. In the cases present ed, a stable airway was ensured with endolaryngeal cord laterofixation instead of tracheostomy. The operation was performed with the endo-ex tralaryngeal needle carrier instrument devised by Lichtenberger. Durin g the operation, only minor surgical trauma occurred in the larynx. Th e fixing thread was then removed following recovery of contralateral v ocal cord function, resulting in an improvement in the voice. Four pat ients are described who suffered bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve p alsy after thyroid gland operations. During the follow-up period of 3- 12 months, airway stability was demonstrated by regular spirometric me asurements. The simple method recommended spares patients the possible complications of tracheostomy.