Laryngeal paralysis (laryngeal paresis): symptoms
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Paralysis of the larynx is characterized by the immobility of one or both halves of the larynx. Violation of innervation entails serious morphofunctional changes - respiratory, defensive and voice-forming functions of the larynx suffer.
Paralysis of central genesis is characterized by impaired mobility of the tongue and soft palate, changes in articulation.
The main complaints with unilateral paralysis of the larynx:
- aspirated hoarseness of varying severity;
- dyspnea, aggravated with a voice load;
- tattering;
- pain and sensation of a foreign body on the affected side.
With bilateral paralysis of the larynx, the clinical symptomatology of its stenosis comes to the fore.
The degree of severity of clinical symptoms and morphofunctional changes in the larynx in paralysis depends on the position of the paralyzed vocal fold and the duration of the disease. Distinguish between the median, paramedian, intermediate and lateral position of the vocal folds.
In the case of unilateral paralysis of the larynx, the clinical picture is most vivid in the lateral position of the paralyzed vocal fold. At the median - the symptoms may be absent, and the diagnosis is established accidentally at the dispensary examination. Such paralysis of the larynx is 30%. For bilateral damage with lateral fixation of the vocal folds, aphonia is characteristic. Respiratory insufficiency develops as a type of hyperventilation syndrome, there may be a violation of the larynx septic function, especially as a kind of popping up liquid food. With bilateral paralysis with a paramedic, intermediate position of the vocal folds, a violation of the respiratory function is noted up to stenosis of the third degree larynx, which requires immediate surgical treatment. It should be remembered that with bilateral defeat the respiratory function is all the worse, the better the patient's voice.
Severity of clinical symptoms depends on the prescription of the disease. In the first days there is a violation of the larynx septic function, shortness of breath, significant hoarseness, foreign body sensation in the throat, sometimes cough. In the future, for 4-10 days and in later periods, there comes an improvement due to partial compensation of lost functions. However, in the absence of therapy, the severity of clinical manifestations may eventually increase due to the development of atrophic processes in the muscles of the larynx, worsening the clamping of the vocal folds.
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