Quality of life after transoral CO laser posterior cordotomy with or without partial arytenoidectomy for bilateral adductor vocal cord paralysis.

Objectives: Bilateral adductor vocal cord paralysis (BAVCP) is a rare and challenging condition whose main consequence is reduction of airway patency at the glottic level, often causing respiratory distress, while vocal function tends to remain almost normal. We investigated the effect of transoral glottal widening on quality of life and decannulation rates in patients affected by BAVCP.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients affected by BAVCP and treated by transoral CO posterior cordotomy with or without medial partial arytenoidectomy (PC ± MPA) at two referral centers. The primary outcome was change in quality of life, evaluated pre- and post-operatively by the ADVS, VHI-30, and EAT-10 questionnaires. Secondary outcomes were the need for retreatments and, for patients with tracheotomy, the time to decannulation.

Results: Thirty-three patients met selection criteria. The etiology was post-surgical in 27 cases (81.8%), idiopathic in 4 (12.1%), a trauma-related in 1 (6.0%), and to other causes in 1 (3.0%). In 22 cases (66.7%), PC was combined with MPA. A significant improvement in responses for the ADVS (p < .0001) and EAT-10 (p < .0001) was observed, whereas the VHI-30 score did not change significantly post-operatively. All nine patients with a tracheostomy were successfully decannulated within 18 months after the surgical procedure.

Conclusions: For patients affected by BAVCP, PC ± MPA by transoral CO laser microsurgery is a safe, customizable and minimally invasive treatment that can guarantee an affordable balance between quality of life in terms of phonation and swallowing and acceptable airway patency.