Comparison between laser- and diathermy-assisted posterior cordotomy for bilateral vocal cord abductor paralysis.

Abstract

A reliable procedure is needed to solve the problem of difficult airway in patients with bilateral vocal cord paralysis without adversely affecting patient "voice quality." To compare the results of laser-assisted posterior cordotomy with diathermy-assisted posterior cordotomy for bilateral vocal cord paralysis in regard to dyspnea severity, voice quality, and aspiration. Prospective randomized clinical trial at a university medical center. Zagazig University Hospitals, Zagazig, Egypt. Twenty patients randomly categorized into 2 groups; group A was treated with laser-assisted posterior cordotomy and group B was treated with diathermy-assisted posterior cordotomy. Laser-assisted posterior cordotomy for group A and diathermy-assisted posterior cordotomy for group B. Dyspnea severity, voice quality, and aspiration. A significant difference (P < .05) was found between group A and group B at all postoperative comparisons in dyspnea, whereas no significant difference (P ≥ .05) was detected at all postoperative comparisons in voice quality. Laser-assisted posterior cordotomy can be considered as a reliable and superior procedure compared with diathermy-assisted posterior cordotomy in the treatment of bilateral vocal cord abductor paralysis. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: ISRCTN08093874.