Two cases are reported of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis that followed thoracic manipulations in paediatric patients. Possible aetiological factors in relation to anaesthesia and operation in paediatric and adult patients are reviewed. These include: forceful endotracheal intubation; direct surgical trauma; compression of the nerve in the neck by a tracheal cuff, or a large endotracheal tube, in the thorax by changes in the size of the great vessels; stretching of the nerve as a result of traction on distant organs; toxic effects of substances present in endotracheal tubes or formed as a result of sterilization; and the presence of a concomitant upper respiratory tract infection.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.