Guidelines for the Management of Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis From the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics

• Published in: Clinical and experimental otorhinolaryngology Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 340 - 360
• Main Authors: Ryu, Chang Hwan, Kwon, Tack-Kyun, Kim, Heejin, Kim, Han Su, Park, Il-Seok, Woo, Joo Hyun, Lee, Sang-Hyuk, Lee, Seung Won, Lim, Jae-Yol, Kim, Seong-Tae, Jin, Sung-Min, Choi, Seung Ho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 01.11.2020; 대한이비인후과학회
• Subjects: functional recovery; guideline; laryngeal framework surgery; laryngoplasty; Review; vocal fold paralysis; voice training; 이비인후과학
• ISSN: 1976-8710; 2005-0720
• DOI: 10.21053/ceo.2020.00409

The Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics appointed a task force to establish clinical practice guidelines for the management of unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). These guidelines cover a comprehensive range of management-related factors, including the diagnosis and treatment of UVFP, and provide in-depth information based on current, up-to-date knowledge. Detailed evidence profiles are provided for each recommendation. The CORE databases, including OVID Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed, were searched to identify all relevant papers, using a predefined search strategy. When insufficient evidence existed, expert opinions and Delphi questionnaires were used to fill the evidence gap. The committee developed 16 evidence-based recommendations in six categories: initial evaluation (R1–4), spontaneous recovery (R5), medical treatment (R6), surgical treatment (R7–14), voice therapy (R15), and aspiration prevention (R16). The goal of these guidelines is to assist general otolaryngologists and speech-language pathologists who are primarily responsible for treating patients with UVFP. These guidelines are also intended to facilitate understanding of the condition among other health-care providers, including primary care physicians, nurses, and policy-makers.