Bilateral vocal cord paralysis following general anesthesia.

A rare case of bilateral vocal cord paralysis after orotracheal intubation and inhalation anesthesia, in surgery not in relation to the neck, is presented. There was no obvious cause for the paralysis and possible etiological factors are discussed. Overextension of the neck during intubation is suspected of being the etiological agent causing stretching of both the vagus nerves. Normal laryngeal function returned after two months.