PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: Vocal Cord Paralysis

Predisposing Factors:
Injury, tumors, or surgery in the neck or upper chest; brain tumors or stroke that
can affect the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN); neuropathies; benign or
malignant laryngeal and head or neck lesions; degenerative neurologic
conditions such as Parkinson’s disease; head or chest trauma; medical
intubations; infectious diseases that may affect the nerve like whooping cough,
polio, and tetanus.

Unilateral or bilateral vocal cord paralysis.

When bilateral: significant functional impairment of

phonation and respiration .

Impaired vocal cord vibrations that make sounds. Breathing is

obstructed on
inspiration, producing
a condition known as
stridor. Closing the
airway while breathing
in produces creaking
noises in the throat
and changes the shape
of the chest.

Throat, mouth, and nasal passages are impaired

to amplify and modify these sounds to produce voice.

Vocal tract articulators (tongue, soft palate, lips)

are impaired to further modify the sounds to produce words.

Signs: hoarseness or complete voice loss;

absent, abnormal, or nearly normal voice;
breathy, weak, low-pitched, or high-pitched
dysphonia; short vocalizations and coughing
or choking when eating or drinking which may
lead to aspiration or pneumonia; dysphagia
which could result to aspiration of liquids.

Prepared By:
CERIACO, Chedan
BSN IV-K1
Saint Louis University – College of Nursing