Ortner's syndrome

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Ortner's syndrome
Illustration of the recurrent laryngeal nerve
Synonyms	Cardiovocal syndrome
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	Otorhinolaryngology, Cardiology
Symptoms	Hoarseness, dysphonia
Complications
Onset
Duration
Types
Causes	Cardiovascular disease, aortic aneurysm, mitral stenosis
Risks
Diagnosis	Laryngoscopy, echocardiogram
Differential diagnosis	Vocal cord paralysis
Prevention
Treatment	Addressing the underlying cardiovascular condition
Medication
Prognosis	Depends on the underlying cause
Frequency	Rare
Deaths

Aortic dissection classification

Heart with numbered labels

Ortner's syndrome, also known as cardiovocal syndrome, is a rare condition characterized by hoarseness due to left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy caused by cardiovascular disease. The syndrome was first described by the Austrian physician Norbert Ortner in 1897.

Causes

The most common cause of Ortner's syndrome is an enlarged left atrium due to mitral stenosis, which compresses the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Other causes can include aortic aneurysm, pulmonary artery dilation, and certain congenital heart defects.

Symptoms

The primary symptom of Ortner's syndrome is hoarseness, which is caused by paralysis of the vocal cords due to nerve damage. Other symptoms can include difficulty swallowing and shortness of breath.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Ortner's syndrome is typically made based on the patient's symptoms and medical history. Imaging studies such as CT or MRI may be used to confirm the diagnosis and identify the underlying cause.

Treatment

Treatment of Ortner's syndrome focuses on addressing the underlying cardiovascular condition. This may involve medication, surgery, or other interventions depending on the specific cause.

See also

• Mitral stenosis
• Aortic aneurysm
• Pulmonary artery dilation
• Congenital heart defects