A case of functional upper airway obstruction due to vocal cord dysfunction

J. K. Suh, S. Y. Lee, S. H. Lee, S. M. Park, J. Y. Cho, J. J. Shim, K. H. In, K. H. Kang, S. H. Yoo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Functional upper airway obstruction due to vocal cord dysfunction is being increasingly recognized and has been variously described as 'Munchausen's stridor', 'Emotional laryngeal wheezing', 'Nervous asthma'. It's features are symptoms of acute reversible recurrent dyspnea associated with an inspiratory stridor, normal anatomy of the upper airway, demonstration of variable severe extrathoracic upper airways obstruction with pathologic adduction of the vocal cord at bronchoscopy. The patients with this condition are frequently misdiagnosed as asthma and the diagnosis is often delayed. So they can present a serious medical problem and are exposed to the complication of treatment and investigation. We report a case of functional upper airway obstruction due to vocal cord dysfunction who showed paradoxical vocal cord motion at bronchoscopy and typical features of variable extrathoracic obstruction on Flow-volume loop during a symptomatic period.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)449-454
Number of pages6
JournalTuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
Volume43
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1996
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • functional upper airway obstruction
  • vocal cord dysfunction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases

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