Korean J Crit Care Med.  2012 Aug;27(3):191-196. 10.4266/kjccm.2012.27.3.191.

A Fatal Case of Vocal Cord Dysfunction: A Case Report

• Cho EH
• Cho GW
• Kwon SH
• Im SH
• Kim HO
• Song SH
• Choung WC
• Kim S

• KMID: 2227969
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2012.27.3.191

Abstract

Vocal cord dysfunction is characterized by the paradoxical adduction of the vocal cord during inspiration, causing relapsing wheezing or stridor, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. If the patient exhibiting symptoms of asthma is not responsive to treatment, there is a need to test whether vocal cord dysfunction is complicated by asthma. Herein, we report a case of vocal cord dysfunction with acute respiratory failure in old age with underlying disease. The patient presented with resting dyspnea, an audible wheeze, and was first diagnosed with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma. However, her symptoms were not controlled with medical treatment and laryngoscopy showed paradoxical adduction of the vocal cords. Sudden cardiopulmonary arrest occurred after meal on the day of laryngoscopic examination. Although successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the patient developed ventilator-associated pneumonia, and multiple organ failure, eventually leading to death. Because the case was fatal, a report is being issued.

Keyword

asthma; dyspnea; respiratory failure; vocal cord

MeSH Terms

Asthma
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Cough
Dyspnea
Heart Arrest
Humans
Laryngoscopy
Meals
Multiple Organ Failure
Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated
Respiratory Insufficiency
Respiratory Sounds
Thorax
Vocal Cords