Vocal cord paresis in acute ischemic stroke

Citation
N. Venketasubramanian et al., Vocal cord paresis in acute ischemic stroke, CEREB DIS, 9(3), 1999, pp. 157-162
Citations number
16
Categorie Soggetti
Neurology,"Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASES
ISSN journal
10159770 → ACNP
Volume
9
Issue
3
Year of publication
1999
Pages
157 - 162
Database
ISI
SICI code
1015-9770(199905/06)9:3<157:VCPIAI>2.0.ZU;2-#
Abstract
We prospectively determined the frequency of vocal cord paresis (VCP) among first-ever acute ischemic stroke patients. Vocal cords were examined endos copically within 48 h of stroke onset, at 1 week and 1 month. Of the 54 stu dy patients, 64.8% had lacunar (group 1), 22.2% cortical/large subcortical (group 2), 9.3% lateral medulla (group 3) and 3.7% other brainstem (group 4 ) infarcts. VCP was found in 11 (20.4%): 11.4% of group 1, 16.4% of group 2 , 100% of group 3 and 0% of group 4. VCP was contralateral to the brain les ion in groups 1 and 2, and ipsilateral in 80% of group 3. VCP was strongly correlated with dysphonia (p < 0.0001) and resolved in 2/11 patients after 1 week and in 5/11 after 1 month. Our finding of VCP among acute ischemic s troke patients questions the belief that the nucleus ambiguous is invariabl y bilaterally innervated by supranuclear centers.