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85th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

28.05. - 01.06.2014, Dortmund

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Cordotomy in bilateral vocal cord paralysis using microelectrodes and radiofrequency

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  • corresponding author Jorge Basterra - Valencia General University Hospirtal, Valencia, Spain
  • Rosa M. Reboll - Valencia Medical School. ENT Unit, Surgical Department. University of Valencia., Valencia, Spain
  • Francisco Tocornal - ENT Department University Hospital of Santiago of Chile, Santiago of Chile, Chile
  • Enrique Zapater - Valencia Medical School. ENT Unit, Surgical Department. University of Valencia., Valencia, Spain

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie. 85. Jahresversammlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie. Dortmund, 28.05.-01.06.2014. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2014. Doc14hnod114

doi: 10.3205/14hnod114, urn:nbn:de:0183-14hnod1146

Published: April 14, 2014

© 2014 Basterra et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.

Outline

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Introduction: Posterior cordotomy is an option in the surgical treatment of bilateral vocal cord paralysis in adduction. We present the use of microelectrodes and radiofrequency for performing cordotomy in such patients.

Material and methods: We present results obtained in 11 patients with bilateral vocal cord paralysis in adduction treated between 2008 to 2011, using microelectrodes made of tungsten ultra-sharp terminal with several angles and a radiofrequency generator (power 25–35 W). Pre and postoperatively spirometry, post-operative voice analysis, decannulation and swallowing, were performed to evaluate function.

Results: All patients were successfully decannulated and showed an increase in mid-inspiratory flow rates. Time for decannulation ranged between 2 weeks to 3 months. All patients preserved good swallowing. Up to date (November 2013) 10 patients are asymptomatics respecting to breathing, the relapsed patient (aged 84) was recannulated.

Conclusions: The angled shape of the ME tip permits a very good resection for cordotomy; ME and radiofrequency are an excellent alternative to CO2 laser.

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