Vocal cord dysfunction and feeding after cardiac surgery

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Pediatric patients may have feeding difficulties after cardiovascular surgery. Cardiothoracic surgery can also be associated with vocal cord dysfunction. In this issue of the Journal, Sachdeva et al evaluated the relationship of vocal cord dysfunction and feeding difficulties in a group of patients after cardiovascular surgery. Approximately 2% had vocal cord dysfunction. They found that many patients with vocal cord dysfunction had concomitant feeding difficulties, some of whom required feeding by gastrostomy tube. The authors recommend surveillance for vocal cord dysfunction in patients undergoing surgery of the aortic arch in which the recurrent laryngeal nerve can be damaged.