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Vocal cord dysfunction causing hypoxaemia in the postanaesthesia care unit.
Kristin Anne de Vries1, Aukje van der Wolk2, Jantine Venker3
1Anesthesiology, Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep, Alkmaar, The Netherlands k.devries@amsterdamumc.nl.
BMJ Case Reports
|January 29, 2024
Summary
Post-anesthesia hypoxemia is common, often due to breathing issues from anesthesia. This case highlights vocal cord dysfunction as a rare cause, triggered by laryngeal stimulation.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) hypoxemia is a frequent complication.
- Common causes include hypoventilation and upper airway obstruction from anesthetic/analgesic agents.
Observation:
- A case of upper airway obstruction due to vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is presented.
- VCD is a less common etiology of post-anesthetic respiratory compromise.
- Symptoms onset correlated with procedural laryngeal stimulus.
Findings:
- Flexible laryngoscopy is crucial for diagnosing VCD and ruling out other differentials.
- This case underscores the importance of considering VCD in unexplained post-PACU hypoxemia.
Implications:
- Highlights a rare but significant cause of post-anesthesia respiratory distress.
- Emphasizes the diagnostic utility of flexible laryngoscopy in PACU patients.
- Suggests a potential link between laryngeal manipulation and VCD onset.
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