Background: Vocal cord paralysis (VCP) is one of the most stressful experiences for patients undergoing general anesthesia. Moreover, it is a risk factor for aspiration pneumonia and may increase morbidity and mortality. We examined several clinical features of the condition by reviewing the medical records of patients who experienced VCP following general anesthesia. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 321 patients who consulted an otolaryngologist owing to hoarseness, sore throat, throat discomfort, or dysphagia after general anesthesia. Among these, we included in the present study 43 patients who were diagnosed with VCP by laryngoscopy, who did not have symptoms of suspected VCP before surgery, who had no past history of VCP, and for whom endotracheal intubation was not continued after surgery. Results: The mean age of patients with VCP was 51.28 years. With respect to surgical site, the most common was upper limb surgery, performed in 12 cases (9 cases were performed in sitting posture. With respect to surgical duration, only 11 cases lasted less than 3 h, whereas 32 cases required a surgical duration longer than 3 h. The most common symptom of VCP was hoarseness. Nine of the patients with VCP recovered spontaneously, but VCP persisted in 13 cases until the final follow-up examination. Conclusions We hope that this study might call attention to the occurrence of VCP following general anesthesia. Moreover, it is necessary to further evaluate the reasons for the higher incidence of VCP in upper limb surgery performed in sitting posture.

Central venous catheterization is a useful method for monitoring central venous pressure and maintaining volume status. However, it is associated with several complications, such as pneumothorax, hydrothorax, hemothorax, and air embolism. Here we describe a case of iatrogenic tension hydrothorax after rapid infusion of fluid into the pleural space, following the misplacement of an internal jugular vein catheter. Despite ultrasonographic guidance during insertion of the central venous catheter, we were not able to avoid malposition of the catheter. The patient went into hemodynamic compromise during surgery, necessitating chest tube drainage and a mechanical ventilator postoperatively. This case shows that central venous catheter insertion under ultrasonographic guidance does not guarantee proper positioning of the catheter.
Catheterization, Central Venous ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters* ; Central Venous Pressure ; Chest Tubes ; Drainage ; Embolism, Air ; Hemodynamics ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Hydrothorax* ; Jugular Veins ; Methods ; Pneumothorax ; Ventilators, Mechanical