A Closing Window: Acute Airway Obstruction Following Jet Ventilation in Post-Thyroidectomy Vocal Cord Paralysis Repair
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
10-17-2026
Abstract
An 82-year-old man developed severe breathy dysphonia after thyroidectomy. Preoperative laryngoscopy demonstrated right vocal cord paralysis and he underwent vocal cord augmentation utilizing jet ventilation. After jet stylet removal, he developed stridor with difficult mask and supraglottic ventilation, resulting in hypoxia. Video laryngoscopy revealed an edematous glottis and closed vocal cords. A 5.0 MLT tube was successfully placed with improved oxygenation. He was extubated in the SICU the next day and discharged on postoperative day two. This case highlights post-thyroidectomy and jet ventilation complications, vocal cord anatomy, difficult airway management, and safe extubation strategies in laryngeal edema.
Recommended Citation
Kitchen S, Jones J, Soto R. A Closing window: acute airway obstruction following jet ventilation in post-thyroidectomy vocal cord paralysis repair. Presented at: American Society of Anesthesiologists, The Anesthesiology Meeting; 2026 Oct 17; San Diego, CA. Available from: https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/21448/presentation/8136
Comments
American Society of Anesthesiologists, The Anesthesiology Meeting, October 16-20, 2026, San Diego,