CO2 and KTP-532 laser cordectomy for bilateral vocal fold paralysis

Laryngeal obstruction due to bilateral vocal fold paralysis has been treate d in many different ways. The CO2 laser or KTP-532 laser endoscopic cordect omy described in this report is a slight modification of the posterior part ial cordectomy proposed by Dennis and Kashima. This technique was used in 1 8 patients (14 with the CO2 and four with the KTP-532 laser). Prophylactic tracheostomy was performed preoperatively. Post-operative results were exce llent in nine cases, good in seven cases and poor in two cases who had to r emain with a permanent tracheostomy tube with a speaking valve. The main co mplications noted were the formation of a granuloma (seven cases) and aryte noid oedema (six cases). Revision surgery was performed in the seven cases with granuloma formation and in the two with persistent oedema. The results and the post-operative findings from the use of the two lasers were simila r.