Observation of vocal fold and pharyngeal paralysis after carotid endarterectomy using a magnifying laryngoscope.

Background: Injury to the vagus nerve or one of its branches during carotid endarterectomy (CEA) can result in vocal fold paralysis (VFP), but the exact mechanisms and site of injury responsible for VFP after CEA are unclear. The aim of this study was to identify the site of nerve injury in patients with VFP after CEA using magnifying laryngoscopy.

Methods: We performed 96 consecutive CEA procedures in 87 patients over 5 years.

Vagus nerve neuromonitoring during carotid endarterectomy.

To determine the causes and site(s) of nerve injury and to identify potential predictors of vocal fold paralysis (VFP) after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) by application of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM). A total of 68 CEA patients were enrolled in this study. A 3-step IONM procedure was designed to obtain vocal fold EMG data at V1 (just after identification of the vagus nerve [VN]), V2 (just before arteriotomy), and V3 (just before wound closure).