Ortner [Cardio-vocal] syndrome: a collective review

ABSTRACT

To understand the concept of Ortner's [cardio-vocal] syndrome [OCVS], it is necessary to present the up-to-date clinical features and potential management strategies of cardiovascular hoarseness. The medical literature on OCVS published between 1980 and 2011 was comprehensively retrieved and analyzed. The patients who had cardiovascular hoarseness included a total of 256 patients. Hoarseness was the only symptom in 91 [35.27%] patients. The secondary symptoms of patients varied greatly, with dyspnea and dysphagia being the most common manifestations. OCVS is uncommon. Aortic aneurysms of various etiologies are the most common risk factors leading to cardiovascular hoarseness. When a patient presents with hoarseness, one should never overlook the cardiovascular causes, so that misdiagnosis can be avoided and an immediate therapy is started