Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp. 2013;64(4):283---288 www.elsevier.es/otorrino ORIGINAL ARTICLE Paediatric Vocal Fold Paralysis  Isabel Garcia-Lopez, a,* Julio Pe˜ norrocha-Teres, a Magdalena Perez-Ortin, a Mauricio Cerpa, b Ignacio Rabanal, a Javier Gavilan a a Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain b Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain Received 22 November 2012; accepted 3 February 2013 KEYWORDS Vocal fold paralysis; Stridor; Dysphonia Abstract Objective: Vocal fold paralysis (VFP) is a relatively common cause of stridor and dysphonia in the paediatric population. This report summarises our experience with VFP in the paediatric age group. Methods and materials: This was a retrospective review of 45 consecutive patients presenting with VFP over a 12-month period. The diagnosis was performed by flexible endoscopic examina- tion. The cases were evaluated with respect to aetiology of the paralysis, presenting symptoms, delay in diagnosis, affected side, vocal fold position, need for surgical treatment and outcome. Results: The presenting symptoms were stridor and dysphonia. Iatrogenic causes formed the largest group, followed by idiopathic, neurological and obstetric VFP. Unilateral paralysis was found in most cases. The median value for delay in diagnosis was 1 month and it was significantly higher in the iatrogenic group. Only eight patients (18%) underwent surgical treatment. Conclusions: The diagnosis of VFP may be suspected based on the patient’s symptoms and confirmed by flexible endoscopy. Infants who develop stridor or dysphonia following a surgical procedure have to be examined without delay. The surgeon has to keep in mind that there is a possibility of late spontaneous recovery or compensation. © 2012 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved. PALABRAS CLAVE Parálisis laríngea; Estridor; Disfonía Parálisis laríngea en la población infantil Resumen Introducción y objetivos: La parálisis laríngea es una causa relativamente frecuente de estridor y disfonía en la edad pediátrica. Este artículo describe nuestra experiencia en parálisis laríngea en población pediátrica. Métodos: Se incluyeron en el estudio todos los pacientes que acudieron a consulta con el diag- nóstico de parálisis laríngea durante un a˜ no completo. Se examinaron las historias clínicas de forma retrospectiva. El diagnóstico de parálisis laríngea se llevó a cabo mediante exploración clínica con nasofibroscopio flexible. Se registraron los siguientes datos: etiología de la parálisis,  Please cite this article as: Garcia-Lopez I, Pe˜ norrocha-Teres J, Perez-Ortin M, Cerpa M, Rabanal I, Gavilan J. Parálisis laríngea en la población infantil. Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp. 2013;64:283-288. * Corresponding author. E-mail address: igarcilopez@yahoo.es (I. Garcia-Lopez). 2173-5735/$ – see front matter © 2012 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.