Ortner's syndrome secondary to thoracic aortic aneurysm: a case series

Abstract

Background: Ortner's syndrome refers to vocal cord paralysis resulting from compression of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve by abnormal mediastinal vascular structures. This retrospective case series details our experience with Ortner's syndrome due to thoracic aortic aneurysm.

Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of a case series. A total of 4 patients (mean age, 65.5 years) with Ortner's syndrome due to thoracic aortic aneurysm underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair from July 2014 to May 2020. The patients' demographics, comorbidities, initial symptoms, time from hoarseness to treatment, aneurysm shape and size, surgical procedures and outcome are summarized.

Results: A total of 4 patients with Ortner's syndrome due to thoracic aortic aneurysm were analyzed. All the patients underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair with no complications during the hospitalization period. At a mean follow-up of 26.8 (8-77) months, hoarseness in 3 patients had completely resolved or improved, and the symptoms in 1 patient had not progressed.

Conclusions: Hoarseness due to left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy can be the presenting symptom of thoracic aortic aneurysm. Early diagnosis leads to timely treatment of these patients which may be helpful in the functional recovery of symptoms.

Keywords: Ortner’s syndrome; Thoracic aortic aneurysm; Thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Fig. 1

Computed tomography findings. 1A, 2A, 3A: Axial view computed tomography scans of case 1–3; 1B, 2B, 3B: 3D rendering of computed tomography scans of case 1–3; 4A: Axial view computed tomography scans of case 4 before TEVAR (without symptoms of hoarseness); 4B: Axial view computed tomography scans of case 4, 7 months after TEVAR (with symptoms of hoarseness), with type Ia endoleak and increased diameter of the aneurysm. TEVAR, Thoracic endovascular aortic repair