CASE AT A GLANCE
Mediastinoscopy / Nerve Damage of Vocal Cord

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Case Overview:

55 year old male went in for mediastinoscopy and lymph node biopsy for mediastinal and periesophageal lymphadenopathy (enlargement of lymph nodes). During the surgery, damage was done to the recurrent laryngeal nerve on the left side. This caused partial paralysis of his left vocal cord. The defense experts used the illustrations to show that this is a known risk of the procedure. The illustrations were also utilized to help the experts explain that there is a procedure of an injection laryngoplasty, injections into the paralyzed vocal cord, that could be used to help correct and mitigate the effects of nerve injury on the voice. The jury found in favor of the defense.