Vocal Cord Palsy as a Complication of Epidural Anaesthesia

Cranial nerve palsy is a rare but recognised complication of epidural anaesthesia, most commonly presenting as diplopia secondary to abducens nerve palsy. While upper cranial nerve palsies have been documented on numerous occasions, lower cranial nerve palsies, including recurrent laryngeal nerve pa...

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Main Authors: Laura Mc Loughlin, Orla Young
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Otolaryngology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/6543656
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author Laura Mc Loughlin
Orla Young
author_facet Laura Mc Loughlin
Orla Young
author_sort Laura Mc Loughlin
collection DOAJ
description Cranial nerve palsy is a rare but recognised complication of epidural anaesthesia, most commonly presenting as diplopia secondary to abducens nerve palsy. While upper cranial nerve palsies have been documented on numerous occasions, lower cranial nerve palsies, including recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, are exceedingly rare. This case describes a 37-year-old female who, following epidural anaesthesia for spontaneous vaginal delivery of her first child, presented with dysphonia. Flexible laryngoscopy confirmed a left vocal cord palsy, and computed tomography ruled out any mass lesions along the course of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Here, we discuss a case of vocal cord palsy secondary to epidural anaesthesia, an extremely rare complication. We also discuss the proposed etiology, treatment, and outcomes in patients with this condition. Cranial nerve palsy should be an important differential in patients presenting with dysphonia following spinal or epidural anaesthesia.
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series Case Reports in Otolaryngology
spelling doaj-art-111e58b7d7dd4cd89e11cc946af960b12025-08-20T03:55:45ZengWileyCase Reports in Otolaryngology2090-67652090-67732018-01-01201810.1155/2018/65436566543656Vocal Cord Palsy as a Complication of Epidural AnaesthesiaLaura Mc Loughlin0Orla Young1Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Galway University Hospital, Galway, IrelandDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Galway University Hospital, Galway, IrelandCranial nerve palsy is a rare but recognised complication of epidural anaesthesia, most commonly presenting as diplopia secondary to abducens nerve palsy. While upper cranial nerve palsies have been documented on numerous occasions, lower cranial nerve palsies, including recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, are exceedingly rare. This case describes a 37-year-old female who, following epidural anaesthesia for spontaneous vaginal delivery of her first child, presented with dysphonia. Flexible laryngoscopy confirmed a left vocal cord palsy, and computed tomography ruled out any mass lesions along the course of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Here, we discuss a case of vocal cord palsy secondary to epidural anaesthesia, an extremely rare complication. We also discuss the proposed etiology, treatment, and outcomes in patients with this condition. Cranial nerve palsy should be an important differential in patients presenting with dysphonia following spinal or epidural anaesthesia.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/6543656
spellingShingle Laura Mc Loughlin
Orla Young
Vocal Cord Palsy as a Complication of Epidural Anaesthesia
Case Reports in Otolaryngology
title Vocal Cord Palsy as a Complication of Epidural Anaesthesia
title_full Vocal Cord Palsy as a Complication of Epidural Anaesthesia
title_fullStr Vocal Cord Palsy as a Complication of Epidural Anaesthesia
title_full_unstemmed Vocal Cord Palsy as a Complication of Epidural Anaesthesia
title_short Vocal Cord Palsy as a Complication of Epidural Anaesthesia
title_sort vocal cord palsy as a complication of epidural anaesthesia
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/6543656
work_keys_str_mv AT lauramcloughlin vocalcordpalsyasacomplicationofepiduralanaesthesia
AT orlayoung vocalcordpalsyasacomplicationofepiduralanaesthesia