Isolated bilateral paralysis of the hypoglossal and recurrent laryngeal nerves (Bilateral Tapia's syndrome) after transoral intubation for general anesthesia.

Abstract

Tapia's syndrome is due to extracranial involvement of the hypoglossal nerve and the recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagal nerve. The injury of these nerves is a rare complication of anesthetic airway management. We present a patient with a postoperative bilateral hypoglossal and recurrent laryngeal nerves palsy after uncomplicated orotracheal intubation. Corticosteroid therapy was started after diagnosis. Forty-eight hours later, the movements of the vocal cords started to recover and full recovery was achieved by the fourth day. Within 3 days, tongue mobility was gradually improved and the patient's symptoms resolved completely by 4 weeks.