Endoscopic laryngeal surgery for bilateral midline vocal cord obstruction

There are a number of treatment regimens for bilateral laryngeal paralysis, ranging from tracheostomy to external microscopic approaches. None has become the standard because of their unpredictable results and/or the need for an external approach. Recently, the use of micro-trapdoor flaps and suturing done via a laryngoscope has shown a possibility of correcting the airway problem, allowing a predictable result, with a completely endoscopic approach. This paper presents our experience with a group of 10 patients who had at least one treatment attempt that failed and were treated by endoscopic laryngoplasty. Eight have been decannulated.