Surgery for Benign Laryngotracheal Conditions

Patients with bilateral laryngeal paralysis usually suffer from airway obstruction because the vocal cords do not abduct for inspiration. The degree of impairment depends on the gap between the vocal folds during phonation, and the vocal cords usually lie near the midline. Surgical treatment that enlarges the glottis improves the airway at the expense of the voice. The operation is performed through external approach. Consequently, laryngeal mucosa is not injured and minimal possibility of laryngeal stenosis. A gap of 3–4 mm between the vocal cords will have optimum voice quality without respiratory obstruction. Repeat postoperative airway obstruction due to edema or hematoma or rupture of abducting suture is rare and managed accordingly.