Type I thyroplasty for acute unilateral vocal fold paralysis following intrathoracic surgery

Patients who undergo intrathoracic operative procedures for malignancy may require sacrifice of a recurrent laryngeal nerve. Postoperative vocal fold paralysis may lead to diminished cough with secretion retention, aspiration, and life-endangering pneumonia. This study retrospectively reviews our institution's experience of 23 patients who underwent type I thyroplasty within the 2-week (acute) period after thoracic surgery. Primary lung cancer (n = 16) was the most common disease. Upper lobectomy (n = 9) and pneumonectomy (n = 7) were the most frequent surgical procedures. Silicone medialization alone (n = 11) or with arytenoid adduction (n = 12) was performed. There were no significant postoperative complications. Improvements in hoarseness (86%), dyspnea (72%), dysphagia (50%), and aspiration (79%) were noted. Pulmonary status improved after vocal fold medialization, as reflected by decreased need for therapeutic bronchoscopy in the majority of patients in the postoperative period. Type I thyroplasty for vocal fold paralysis in the acute phase following thoracic surgery is well tolerated and is associated with improved patient outcome with no postoperative deaths in this high-risk patient population.