Laser arytenoidectomy for the treatment of bilateral vocal cord paralysis; a case report.

Most patients with bilateral vocal cord paralysis have a fairly satisfactory voice, but their airway is usually compromised. A 26-year-old female had dyspnea and bilateral vocal cord paralysis since resection of a meningioma in November, 1981. In April, 1984, she had a tracheotomy because of increasing dyspnea. One year later, we tried to close her tracheostoma naturally but failed because of dyspnea. In May, 1987, the posterior third of the right vocal cord was vaporized by laser irradiation, but the airway was not improved enough and the tracheostoma could still not be closed. In June, 1989, we tried endoscopic laser arytenoidectomy to provide a good airway. This method, selected because of her fixed arytenoid cartilage, was successful in a restoring her airway and she is doing well without a cannula, 3 months after laser treatment.Endoscopic laser arytenoidectomy should be useful in the treatment of bilateral vocal cord paralysis, especially with fixed arytenoid cartilage.