[Tapia syndrome following orotracheal intubation in intensive care unit]

Tapia's syndrome is a rare condition characterized by simultaneous unilateral paralysis of the hypoglossal and recurrent laryngeal nerves, first described in the early 20th century.

We report a 51-year-old patient admitted in our internal medicine department for post-resuscitation care following a cardiorespiratory arrest, requiring orotracheal intubation and prolonged mechanical ventilation. Following extubation, the patient developed dysphagia associated with left vocal cord paralysis and tongue deviation with atrophy Tapia's syndrome was diagnosed, likely secondary to prolonged intubation. Tailored speech therapy intervention led to symptom resolution.

This report highlights an underrecognized complication of prolonged or traumatic intubation, whose clinical consequences require prompt, individualized, and multidisciplinary management.