Podcast #208: Vocal Cord Dysfunction

Author: Martin O’Bryan M.D.

Educational Pearls:

• Vocal cord dysfunction can mimic other causes of stridor, such as asthma and upper airway obstruction.
• Patients are often very anxious because of the difficulty of inspiration.
• The definitive diagnosis is laryngoscopy that must be done by a pulmonologist.
• The treatment is general reassurance, asthma medications will not help. CPAP and heliox can be used to help with the stridor.
• Benzodiazepines can be used to reduce the associated anxiety.

References: https://asthmarp.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40733-015-0009-z