Recurrent laryngeal nerve blockade in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy under cervical plexus block

We report two cases of recurrent laryngeal nerve blockade arising during carotid endarterectomy under cervical plexus anaesthesia. These nerve blocks were thought to be due to the instillation of local anaesthetic. The nerve block in one patient was responsible for a paroxysm of coughing which caused the formation of a large neck haematoma. We believe this to be the first report of local anaesthetic induced recurrent laryngeal nerve blockade leading to such a complication.