Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research
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The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and severity of hoarseness and vocal cord dysfunction in 200 patients undergoing open heart surgery in Shiraz-Iran. ⋯ The incidence of hoarseness in this study was 17%; similar series reported as high as 32%. Vocal cord dysfunction never occurred in our study and hoarseness probably resulted from intubation trauma. Although we found no case of nerve injury and cord dysfunction, vocal cord palsy as a rare cause of respiratory insufficiency in chest and neck surgeries must never be overlooked.