Laryngeal nerve damage
Laryngeal nerve damage

Laryngeal nerve damage

Definition:
Damage to one or both of the pair of nerves attached to the larynx (voice box). This can result in loss of voice or obstruction to breathing. Damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve is especially common during thyroid, lung and heart surgery.

Alternative Names:
Vocal cord paralysis


Review Date: 8/21/2001
Reviewed By: Ashutosh Kacker, M.D., Department of Otolaryngology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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