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Updated: Sep 1, 2026

A Novel Rescue Technique for Difficult Intubation and Difficult Ventilation
Published on: January 17, 2011
Paradoxical vocal cord adduction mimicking as acute asthma in a pediatric patient
C Y Chiu1, K S Wong, J L Huang
1Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Children's Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Abstract:
We report an adolescent girl with paradoxical vocal cord adduction who presented with acute onset of hyperventilation, wheezing and stridor that did not respond to bronchodilator and anti-inflammation therapy. The paradoxical vocal cord motion was confirmed by flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination. We found the stridor was induced by hyperventilation, and was caused by paradoxical vocal cord movement. The abnormal cord motion may be psychogenic and could be misdiagnosed as asthma. It is important to investigate the underlying background and social history and to avoid unnecessary use of beta-agonists, steroids, and even endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy.
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