Vocal Cord Paralysis in Patent Ductus Arteriosus and Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

ABSTRACT

Nowadays left vocal cord paralysis is a rare presenting sign of cardiovascular diseaes, associated with pulmonary hypertension. This condition is known as Cardiovocal syndrome. The mechanism of this condition is thought to be due to compression of the recurrent laryngeal nerve by a dilated, tense pulmonary artery against its adjacent structure. Two patients complaining hoarseness were proven to have cardiovascular diseases. The one had patent ductus arteriosus and the other had primary pulmonary hypertension. A causal relation between cardiovascular problem and the vocal cord paralysis is proposed. We describen two cases of Cardiovocal syndrome with a review of the literature.