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Jerome W. Thompson, MD; Philip Rosenthal, MD; Felizardo S. Camilon, Jr, MD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1990;116(1):46-48.

Abstract
• Bilateral vocal cord paralysis and absent laryngeal sensation are previously unrecognized sequelae for Reye's syndrome, a severe acute encephalopathy in children. Four patients were seen at varying periods ranging from 2 weeks to 5 years after their diagnosis of an episode of severe Reye's syndrome over a 20-year period at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles (Calif). All of the patients had bilateral true vocal cord paralysis with absent laryngeal sensitivity that was documented at endoscopy. As many as 50% of survivors of severe Reye's syndrome have breathy voices or aphonia. It is suggested that some of these children may have vocal cord dysfunction that is not the result of intubation, and are at risk for aspiration and its dangerous sequelae. A vagal nuclear injury is theorized to explain the sensory motor dysfunction of the larynx in these children.

(Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1990;116:46-48)

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics, Divisions of Otolaryngology and Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, Calif.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication September 19, 1989.

Presented in part at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, San Diego, Calif, May 18, 1989.

Reprint requests to 1300 N Vermont Ave, Suite 502, Los Angeles, CA 90027 (Dr Thompson).

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