Bilateral vocal fold immobility in a single tertiary hospital in northern Taiwan: A 23-year retrospective review

To determine the natural history of patient with bilateral vocal fold immobility (BVFI), and to identify the factors or predictors associated with the tracheostomy and duration of cannulation for those who require tracheostomy. A retrospective review was carried out at a single tertiary referral center over a 23-year period of infants less than 1 year old who presented with BVFI. All information related to sex, etiology, gestational age at birth, vocal fold (VF) position at diagnosis, presence of concomitant airway disease, age at attainment of VF movement, age at decannulation, and current tracheostomy status were recorded to perform descriptive and comparative analyses. Forty-one patients were enrolled, and the tracheostomy rate was 80.5% (33/41). Those with a median VF position had a higher rate of tracheostomy in comparison with those with a paramedian VF position (P = .003). Among patients who underwent tracheostomy, 77.4% (24/31) were eventually decannulated. The median duration of cannulation was 4.4 years (range: 0.8 − 10.7 years). Those who were found to have attainment of VF movement at less than 1-year-old had a shorter duration of cannulation than others (mean: 1.9 years vs 5.2 years, P < .001). The mortality rate of those patients who received tracheostomy was 9.7% (3/31). Although a high tracheostomy rate was found in BVFI patients, most of them underwent decannulation. The earlier attainment of VF movement is achieved, the shorter duration of cannulation is required. This information is important for physicians while following up BVFI patients who have undergone tracheostomy.