Our Summary

This study examines a condition called vocal cord dysfunction (VCD), where the vocal cords don’t behave normally, causing problems with breathing. This can happen on its own or along with asthma. It’s not fully understood why this happens, but common symptoms include wheezing, a high-pitched sound when breathing (stridor), or seeming like the upper airway is blocked. This condition can affect anyone but is seen more in women. Often, it is not diagnosed for a while, leading to unnecessary treatments.

The study looked back at 15 cases of VCD (8 cases where it happened on its own, and 7 where it happened alongside asthma). They found that if someone seems to have a blocked upper airway, whether or not they also have asthma, doctors should look at the throat with a special tool called a laryngoscope. This can help confirm if the vocal cords are not behaving normally when the person is having trouble breathing or in response to triggers like exercise or irritants.

The researchers conclude that VCD is often not recognized or misdiagnosed, often because it can mimic asthma. Because of this, the diagnosis can be delayed by emergency doctors, lung specialists, and ear, nose, and throat surgeons. This leads to unnecessary treatments and health problems before the right treatment can be given.

FAQs

  1. What is vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) and what are its symptoms?
  2. How is vocal cord dysfunction diagnosed?
  3. Why is vocal cord dysfunction often misdiagnosed and what problems can this cause?

Doctor’s Tip

A helpful tip a doctor might give a patient about vocal cord surgery is to follow post-operative care instructions carefully. This may include resting the voice, avoiding strenuous activities, staying hydrated, and following up with any recommended speech therapy. It’s important to give the vocal cords time to heal properly to ensure the best outcome from the surgery.

Suitable For

Patients who are typically recommended vocal cord surgery for VCD include those who have not responded well to other treatments such as speech therapy, breathing exercises, and medication. Surgery may be considered if the symptoms are severe and significantly impact the patient’s quality of life. It is important for patients to be properly diagnosed and evaluated by a team of specialists, including otolaryngologists, pulmonologists, and speech pathologists, before considering surgery as a treatment option.

Timeline

  1. Patient experiences symptoms of wheezing, stridor, or difficulty breathing, which may be misdiagnosed as asthma.
  2. Patient may undergo various treatments for asthma without improvement in symptoms.
  3. Patient is referred to an ear, nose, and throat specialist for further evaluation.
  4. Specialist performs a laryngoscopy to examine the vocal cords and diagnose VCD.
  5. Patient undergoes vocal cord surgery to correct the dysfunction.
  6. After surgery, patient may experience improvement in breathing symptoms and overall quality of life.
  7. Patient may undergo speech therapy to help with vocal cord function post-surgery.

What to Ask Your Doctor

  1. What is vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) and how is it related to asthma?
  2. What are the symptoms of VCD and how is it diagnosed?
  3. What are the potential triggers for VCD episodes?
  4. What are the treatment options for VCD?
  5. What are the risks and benefits of vocal cord surgery for VCD?
  6. What is the success rate of vocal cord surgery for treating VCD?
  7. What is the recovery process like after vocal cord surgery?
  8. Are there any potential complications or side effects of vocal cord surgery?
  9. Are there any alternative treatments or therapies for VCD that I should consider?
  10. How can I prevent future episodes of VCD after surgery?

Reference

Authors: Braun JJ, Delmas C, Charloux A, Schultz P, de Blay F. Journal: Rev Mal Respir. 2018 Jan;35(1):62-68. doi: 10.1016/j.rmr.2017.11.001. Epub 2018 Feb 1. PMID: 29397301