Treatment of Bilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis with Endoscopic Semiconductor Diode Laser

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of semiconductor diode laser(SCDL)for the treatment of bilateral vocal cord paralysis. Methods Endolaryngeal unilateral part of arytenoid and vocal cord resection(9 cases)or only arytenoid resection(3 cases) and intrinsic laryngeal muscles irradiation using SCDL were performed in 12 patients with bilateral vocal cord paralysis.The glottic fissure in the posterior portion of the vocal cord was enlarged to about 5mm. Results The 10 of 12 previously tracheostomized patients were decannulated after one step operation.One patient underwent two-step surgery,and decannulated 6 months after second operation.All patients above showed respiratory improvement and voice quality of the latter method was superior to the former one.Two patients could not decannulated because of endolaryngeal and tracheal stenosis due to granulation and scar. Conclusions Transoral SCDL arytenoidectomy seems to be a reliable and effective minimally invasive procedure for airway and voice restoration and can replace more invasive surgical interventions.