Surgical management of bilateral vocal cord paralysis

Fifty-five patients with bilateral abductor paralysis of the vocal cords were managed surgically from 1957 to 1973. Initially, unilateral arytenoidectomy or arytenoidopexy was employed. If this was not satisfactory, a contralateral arytenoidectomy was performed 6 to 12 months later. If the patient's airway was still inadequate, then open unilateral submucous resection of the vocal cord was accomplished. Initial management was successful in 62 patient (34/55) of patients, and 50 to 55 patients (91 percent) were eventually decannulated. Failure of the arytenoidectomy appeared to be related to traumatic etiology of the bilateral paralysis presence of previous treatment, and technical problems of the procedure itself.