[Congenital paralysis of the vocal cords: a review of 14 cases].

Were performed 220 direct laryngoscopys and bronchoscopys, from 1981 to 1990, in newborns and infants that showed as a main finding: stridor, voice change or aspiration syndromes. Fourteen (20.28%) of the 69 congenital laryngeal anomalies were vocal cord paralysis: 13 (92.8%) unilateral paralysis and 1 (7.2%) bilateral paralysis. Eleven (84.6%) of the 13 unilateral paralysis were left and 2 (15.4%) were right. The vocal cord position was noted to be median or paramedian in 13 (92.8%) patients. The etiology was idiopathic in 11 (78.5%) of the cases. The bilateral paralysis required tracheotomy and in the unilateral paralysis wasn't necessary it.