ABSTRACT
The hypoglossal nerve is a motor supply of the tongue. Hypoglossal nerve palsy after general anesthesia is rare but there have been several reports showing an association with oropharyngeal manipulation such as intubation, bronchoscopy, and laryngeal mask airway. The main mechanism considered has been a temporary compression of the nerve along its superficial course at the lateral root of the tongue during oropharyngeal manipulation. We encountered a patient who complained speaking and swallowing difficulties after general surgery. A deviation to the affected side, atrophy, and fasciculation of tongue were observed. Almost all palsies recovered spontaneously. We present a patient with a transient unilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy after an uncomplicated intubation and anesthesia for surgery for humerus fracture in the beach-chair position.
Subject(s)
Humans , Anesthesia , Anesthesia, General , Atrophy , Bronchoscopy , Deglutition , Fasciculation , Humerus , Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases , Hypoglossal Nerve , Intubation , Laryngeal Masks , Paralysis , TongueABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Postintubational sore throat and hoarseness are usually mild symptoms but they are very common complaints among the patients after endotracheal general anesthesia. In addition, some might have severe discomfort and need invasive procedure to relieve these problems. We tried new method of endotracheal tube cuff filling with local anesthetics to reduce postoperative sore throat and hoarseness and evaluated the results. METHODS: Endotracheal cuff filling was done with air 5 ml in healthy 20 patients (ASA I-II, control group). And in another healthy (ASA I-II) 35 patients, the cuffs were filled with 4% lidocaine 3.5 ml and 8.4% sodium bicarbonate 1.5 ml mixture. After 24 hours following general anesthesia, patients were visited and asked whether there were sore throat or hoarseness, if any, how the degree was. RESULTS: In lidocaine-treated group, the incidence of postintubational sore throat was less compared to control group significantly. There was no difference in incidence of hoarseness between two groups. CONCLUSION: Endotracheal cuff filled with lidocaine and sodium bicarbonate mixture is suggested as an effective protective method that reduces the frequency of postintubational sore throat.