Bilateral Adductor Vocal Cord Palsy: Complication of Prolonged Intraoperative Hypotension after Endotracheal Intubation.

Endotracheal intubation for general anesthesia is usually a safe procedure. However, postoperative sore throat and mild hoarseness may occur due to laryngeal edema but bilateral vocal cord paralysis as a result of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury is a rare complication. We report a case of bilateral adductor vocal cord palsy following general anesthesia for abdominal surgery. Clinical presentation was hoarseness, aspiration pneumonia and hypoxemia requiring ventilatory support. Neuropraxia of recurrent laryngeal nerve due to prolong intra-operative hypotension, even with normal endotracheal tube cuff pressure was the likely mechanism.