Standardizing Management of Pediatric Vocal Fold Immobility After Cardiothoracic Surgery

How do feeding outcomes compare between injection laryngoplasty (IL) vs conservative management for infants with unilateral vocal fold immobility (UVFI) after cardiothoracic surgery?In this prospective cohort study of 128 full-term infants who underwent cardiothoracic surgery involving the aortic arch, a multidisciplinary clinical protocol was implemented for UVFI. Oral diet advancement by time of discharge was more frequently observed after IL vs conservative management; however, given the observational study design, small sample sizes, and few outcome events in both groups, estimates of association were imprecise and did not allow for definitive conclusions about treatment effects.Patients who underwent IL demonstrated more frequent oral diet advancement by discharge after cardiothoracic surgery, however, those treated conservatively also achieved acceptable recovery outcomes.

Corresponding Author: Lacey Nelson, MD, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, 801 Welch Rd, Stanford, CA 94305-5739 (lln@stanford.edu).

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