Neonatal stridor presents at home - vocal fold paralysis as rare presenting feature of CHARGE syndrome

To present an unusual presentation and diagnosis of CHARGE syndrome with vocal fold paralysis, a rarely associated congenital laryngeal anomaly, as the presenting feature.

A four-day old, full-term, male infant born via uncomplicated vaginal delivery with a nursery course significant for failed hearing screen presented to an emergency department (ED) with respiratory distress and worsening stridor. He was transferred to a level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for further evaluation and required intubation due to progressive hypercarbia. Laryngoscopy revealed left-sided unilateral vocal fold paralysis (VFP). He underwent further evaluation that included a normal MRI brain, neck and chest. Genetics was consulted with concern for dysmorphic features on physical exam. Following gene panel testing, VFP was attributed to known association with CHARGE syndrome. Airway edema was noted on laryngoscopy that prevented extubation until two months of age. Further features of CHARGE syndrome identified included colobomas, glaucoma, sensorineural hearing loss, and genital abnormalities. He was discharged in room air and following gastrostomy tube placement with otolaryngology follow up.

Although choanal abnormalities are classically associated with CHARGE syndrome, other upper airway anomalies such as VFP may be present. VFP is a rarely reported anomaly in association with CHARGE syndrome (Naito Y, Higuchi M, Koinuma G, Aramaki M, Takahashi T, Kosaki K. Upper airway obstruction in neonates and infants with CHARGE syndrome. Am J Med Genet 2007;143A:1815-20; Morgan D, Bailey M, Phelps P, Bellman S, Grace A, Wyse R. Ear-nose-throat abnormalities in the CHARGE association. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1993;119:49-54).