Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 10, 2025
Author Spotlight: Simulating Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Using a Neonatal Piglet Model
Published on: May 26, 2023
Vocal cord palsy as a sequela of paediatric cardiac surgery - a review
Aditi Sinha1, Alexander Geragotellis2, Guntaj Kaur Singh3
1St George's University of London, London, UK.
Insights
Vocal cord palsy is a serious complication after pediatric cardiac surgery, particularly aortic arch or PDA ligation. More research is needed to understand its causes, diagnosis, and treatment in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Otolaryngology
- Cardiac Surgery
Background:
- Vocal cord palsy (VCP) is a recognized complication of complex pediatric cardiac surgery.
- Limited research exists on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of VCP in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing literature on vocal cord palsy following pediatric cardiac surgery.
- To highlight the scarcity of evidence regarding VCP in this population.
Main Methods:
- Systematic electronic literature searches were performed using multiple relevant keywords.
- Inclusion criteria focused on articles discussing outcomes of VCP after pediatric cardiac surgery.
Main Results:
- Children undergoing aortic arch surgery or PDA ligation are most affected by VCP.
- A lack of prospective studies hinders assessment of current management and long-term outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Untreated VCP can significantly impair quality of life and, in severe cases, be fatal.
- Current clinical practice relies on extrapolating adult data due to insufficient pediatric evidence.
- Further research focusing on pediatric VCP is essential for establishing evidence-based care standards.
Background:
Vocal cord palsy is one of the recognised complications of complex cardiac surgery in the paediatric population. While there is an abundance of literature highlighting the presence of this complication, there is a scarcity of research focusing on the pathophysiology, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment options available for children affected by vocal cord palsy.
Materials And Methods:
Electronic searches were conducted using the search terms: "Vocal Cord Palsy," "VCP," "Vocal Cord Injury," "Paediatric Heart Surgery," "Congenital Heart Surgery," "Pediatric Heart Surgery," "Vocal Fold Movement Impairment," "VFMI," "Vocal Fold Palsy," "PDA Ligation." The inclusion criteria were any articles discussing the outcomes of vocal cord palsy following paediatric cardiac surgery.
Results:
The two main populations affected by vocal cord palsy are children undergoing aortic arch surgery or those undergoing PDA ligation. There is paucity of prospective follow-up studies; it is therefore difficult to reliably assess the current approaches and the long-term implications of management options.
Conclusion:
Vocal cord palsy can be a devastating complication following cardiac surgery, which if left untreated, could potentially result in debilitation of quality of life and in severe circumstances could even lead to death. Currently, there is not enough high-quality evidence in the literature to aid recognition, diagnosis, and management leaving clinicians to extrapolate evidence from adult studies to make clinical judgements. Future research with a focus on the paediatric perspective is necessary in providing evidence for good standards of care.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management
01:28Esophageal Perforation-II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
Clinical Manifestations:
01:22Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management
01:22Esophageal Perforation-I: Introduction
The location of esophageal perforation can vary, occurring anywhere along the esophagus....
01:26Esophageal Strictures-II: Clinical Features and Management
Healthcare providers should gather a comprehensive medical history and conduct a physical examination for diagnosis. If esophageal stricture is...
01:30Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques