scholarly journals Vocal Cord Dysfunction: A Frequently Forgotten Entity

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Campainha ◽  
C. Ribeiro ◽  
M. Guimarães ◽  
R. Lima

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is a disorder characterized by unintentional paradoxical adduction of the vocal cords, resulting in episodic shortness of breath, wheezing and stridor. Due to its clinical presentation, this entity is frequently mistaken for asthma. The diagnosis of VCD is made by direct observation of the upper airway by rhinolaryngoscopy, but due to the variable nature of this disorder the diagnosis can sometimes be challenging. We report the case of a 41-year old female referred to our Allergology clinics with the diagnosis of asthma. Thorough investigation revealed VCD as the cause of symptoms.

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 971-974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence P. Landwehr ◽  
Raymond P. Wood ◽  
Florence B. Blager ◽  
Henry Milgrom

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is a condition defined by an abnormal adduction of the vocal cords. The signs and symptoms of VCD-throat tightness, change in voice quality and airflow obstruction sufficient to cause wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and cough-are commonly associated with exercise. VCD and exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB), the term for exacerbation of asthma associated with physical exertion, are both aggravated by exercise and characterized by dyspnea. The clinical presentation of VCD is often dramatic and its misdiagnosis as asthma, EIB, or upper airway obstruction has led to inappropriate treatment including highdose corticosteroids, intubation, and tracheostomy.1 The diagnosis of VCD is best established by observing the vocal cords through a fiberoptic rhinolaryngoscope while the patient is symptomatic.2,3


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 74-79
Author(s):  
G. L. Osipova ◽  
V. V. Osipova ◽  
A. V. Rvacheva ◽  
D. V. Terekhov ◽  
E. A. Sinitsyn

The syndromology of dysfunction of the vocal cords varies widely from the absence of symptoms to mild shortness of breath to acute respiratory disfunction, which can mimic an asthma attack. The treatment of vocal dysfunction and bronchial asthma is different. An early fold diagnosis of vocal dysfunction can prevent improper treatment and, therefore, minimize the rising costs of health care.


1983 ◽  
Vol 92 (5) ◽  
pp. 421-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene Rontal ◽  
H. John Jacob ◽  
Michael Rontal ◽  
Michael I. Rolnick

Objective and quantitative evaluation of vocal cord function is a goal that has been difficult for voice clinicians to obtain. To be useful as a clinical screening tool it must be easy to perform, it must produce numerical storable data, it must have a high degree of accuracy, and it must be cost-effective. The results of this study have shown that using the perturbation factor and the equipment described, a successful rate of greater than 93% can be obtained in evaluating vocal cord dysfunction. The results further indicate that this equipment can be used much in the same way as an audiogram to follow-up and clinically evaluate on an objective basis the function of the vocal cords.


2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tonya Nascimento ◽  
Gershon Tenenbaum

Exercise-induced vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is a respiratory dysfunction where athletes’ vocal cords close prematurely, causing partially or fully obstructed air-flow. Due to a resulting severe decrement in performance and lack of efficacious treatments, this study aimed to discover some of the psychological experiences of athletes with VCD symptoms. Semistructured interviews were conducted with five athletes from three different sports and two mothers of participants. Data were coded for meaningful units and themes by the researcher and one independent rater. Ten psychological facets were derived. Based on the data from these five participants, athletes with VCD may have several common psychological experiences, which may possibly be a result of the breathing disorder. The first seven facets highlight that athletes with VCD may be at risk for burnout. The facets identified are a starting point for sport personnel to plan their treatment and support of athletes in their care.


1996 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 449
Author(s):  
Jung Kyung Suh ◽  
Sang Yeub Lee ◽  
Sang Hwa Lee ◽  
Sang Myun Park ◽  
Jae Youn Cho ◽  
...  

Neurosurgery ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. E191-E192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salih Gulsen ◽  
Cem Yilmaz ◽  
Tarkan Calisaneller ◽  
Hakan Caner ◽  
Nur Altinors

Abstract OBJECTIVE Injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve may occur during surgical intervention to the anterior part of the neck. However, some disorders can lead to damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve before surgery. We report 2 cases of lower cervical vertebra fracture, leading to 1-sided injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. CLINICAL PRESENTATION One man and 1 woman with neck injuries were admitted to our hospital. The man had a C7–T1 dislocation fracture, and the woman had a C6–C7 dislocation fracture. Both patients had similar fractures and similar clinical presentations. The distinctive feature of these cases is that both patients had dysphonia after the initial injuries but before surgery. INTERVENTION Both patients were treated surgically, and anterior and posterior cervical stabilization was performed. During surgical intervention to the anterior part of the neck for cervical fixation, the injured side (where the vocal cords did not move during an indirect laryngoscopy) was preferred. CONCLUSION Patients with a cervical vertebra fracture with dysphonia and hoarseness should be examined for vocal cord dysfunction. Surgical intervention should be performed on the side of the injured recurrent laryngeal nerve.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 2050313X1774498
Author(s):  
Muhammad Kashif ◽  
Tushi Singh ◽  
Ahsan Aslam ◽  
Misbahuddin Khaja

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease, usually characterized by chronic airway inflammation. Various clinical conditions can mimic asthma, such as foreign body aspiration, subglottic stenosis, congestive heart failure, diffuse panbronchiolitis, aortic arch anomalies, reactive airway dysfunction syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, retrosternal goiter, vocal cord tumors, other airway tumors, and vocal cord dysfunction. Upper airway obstruction can be a life-threatening emergency. Here, we present the case of a 58-year-old female with recurrent hospital visits for wheezing and exacerbations of asthma, who was later found to have a vocal cord nodule confirmed to be squamous cell carcinoma, which was mimicking like asthma.


1997 ◽  
Vol 87 (5) ◽  
pp. 1070-1074 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel A. Bennett ◽  
Jonathan T. Abrams ◽  
Daniel F. Van Riper ◽  
Jan C. Horrow

Introduction Opioid-induced rigidity often makes bag-mask ventilation difficult or impossible during induction of anesthesia. Difficult ventilation may result from chest wall rigidity, upper airway closure, or both. This study further defines the contribution of vocal cord closure to this phenomenon. Methods With institutional review board approval, 30 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery participated in the study. Morphine (0.1 mg/kg) and scopolamine (6 microg/kg) given intramuscularly provided sedation along with intravenous midazolam as needed. Lidocaine 10% spray provided topical anesthesia of the oropharynx. A fiberoptic bronchoscope positioned in the airway photographed the glottis before induction of anesthesia A second photograph was obtained after induction with 3 microg/kg sufentanil administered during a period of 2 min. A mechanical ventilator provided 10 ml/kg breaths at 10/min via mask and oral airway with jaw thrust. A side-stream spirometer captured objective pulmonary compliance data. Subjective airway compliance was scored. Pancuronium (0.1 mg/kg) provided muscle relaxation. One minute after the muscle relaxant was given, a third photograph was taken and compliance measurements and scores were repeated. Photographs were scored in a random, blinded manner by one investigator. Wilcoxon signed rank tests compared groups, with Bonferroni correction. Differences were considered significant at P < 0.05. Results Twenty-eight of 30 patients exhibited decreased pulmonary compliance and closed vocal cords after opioid induction. Two patients with neither objective nor subjective changes in pulmonary compliance had open vocal cords after opioid administration. Both subjective and objective compliances increased from severely compromised values after narcotic-induced anesthesia to normal values (P = 0.000002) after patients received a relaxant. Photo scores document open cords before induction, progressing to closed cords after the opioid (P = 0.00002), and opening again after a relaxant was administered (P = 0.00005). Conclusion Closure of vocal cords is the major cause of difficult ventilation after opioid-induced anesthesia.


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