Esophageal Stethoscope: Another Possible Cause of Vocal Cord Paralysis

A Variant Form of Nasogastric Tube Syndrome

“…Since Iglauer and Molt reported severe laryngeal injury resulting from an indwelled duodenal tube in 1939 (1), similar cases have been occasionally reported (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). According to the recent review of the literature on this syndrome, it is suspected that the clinical spectrum of severity exists with less severe cases going unrecognized (3).…”

“…It indicates that postcricoid esophageal ulcer, which is a culprit in typical NG tube syndrome, is not involved in the development of VCAP in the variant form of NG tube syndrome. Concurrently, some of the PCAinnervating nerve branches from the recurrent laryngeal nerves may also be injured in the same manner, causing the neurogenic atrophy of PCA (7).…”

Bilateral vocal cord paralysis after endoscopic placement of fully covered self-expandable metal stent for palliative treatment of malignant proximal esophageal obstruction: two case reports

“…The two mechanisms illustrated in Fig. 1 (adapted from Ceruse [2]) could explain the occurrence of bilateral vocal cord paralysis after the placement of proximal esophageal stents [3].…”

The oropharyngeal bleeding after esophageal stethoscope insertion -A case report-

“…It is often quickly diagnosed by air leakage but is sometimes found when incising the airway or when there is trouble pulling out the esophageal stethoscope after the operation [3,6]. Other side effects include the esophageal stethoscope's blocking the broncus and thus causing hypoxia [7], an incision made to the stethoscope-inserted esophagus after mistaking it for a catheter-inserted internal jugular vein [3], and pressuring the recurrent laryngeal nerve on the posterior part of cricoid cartilage leading to vocal cord paralysis [8]. To prevent such side effects, the correct use of the esophageal stethoscope must be learned, as follows.…”

“…To prevent inflammation on the posterior part of cricoid cartilage, the ideal placement of the esophageal stethoscope is the back of the pyriform sinus of the laryngopharynx [8].…”