Bilateral palsy of the hypoglossal nerve following general anesthesia for emergency surgery. A case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Hypoglossal nerve palsy is a rare condition usually associated with tumors, trauma, stroke or multiple sclerosis. It can be associated with other cranial nerve palsies while injury to this nerve typically affects a patient's articulation by causing lingual motility disturbance and swallowing difficulty. Bilateral isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy is an even more infrequent condition, which can occasionally be due to airway manipulation. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a case of bilateral hypoglossal nerve damage following general anesthesia for emergency surgery, presenting with dysarthria, immobility of the tongue and dysphagia after extubation. The patient had a gradual recovery of all lost functions during the next four months. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Bilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy is a very rare entity and tracheal tube malposition or prolonged but unnoticed tracheal cuff pressure especially in the face of low blood pressure, should be considered as possible causative mechanisms for this condition. This underlines the importance of careful positioning of the patient's head and neck during surgery as well as the meticulous and correct performance of routine maneuvers of airway management. CONCLUSION: Bilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy is a very rare entity. Diagnosis and management of twelfth nerve palsy require a multidisciplinary approach to achieve the best patient outcome.