Why: After thyroid or neck surgery, some patients can lose movement of both vocal cords (bilateral vocal-cord paralysis, BVCP). This can make breathing difficult and often leads to an emergency or preventive tracheostomy ("wind-pipe") surgery.
What: This study will test two simple ways to avoid a tracheostomy:
Pre-operative BiPAP sleep training - patients practice sleeping with a non-invasive BiPAP breathing machine for seven nights before surgery so they become comfortable with the mask and pressures.
Immediate post-extubation BiPAP support - the same BiPAP machine is started as soon as the breathing tube is removed in the operating room or recovery area.
How: Adults (18-80 years) who already have, or are at high risk of getting, BVCP will be randomly assigned to one of four groups in a 2 × 2 design:
• Group 1: training + post-op BiPAP • Group 2: training only • Group 3: post-op BiPAP only • Group 4: standard care (no planned BiPAP).
Main goal: To find out whether either or both BiPAP strategies reduce the need for tracheostomy or re-intubation during the first 7 days after surgery.
What participants do: Eligible patients will undergo routine surgery plus the assigned BiPAP plan. Breathing events, comfort, hospital stay, and voice quality will be recorded up to 6 months.
Potential benefit/risk: BiPAP is non-invasive and already FDA-cleared for home and hospital use, but some people may feel mask discomfort or air leaks. Trained staff will adjust settings and stop BiPAP if serious problems occur.
Age 18 - 80 years.
Scheduled for thyroidectomy or other neck surgery under general anesthesia.
Pre-operative flexible laryngoscopy showing fixed vocal cords at midline or paramedian position, or glottic gap ≤ 3 mm; OR
Planned bilateral central plus lateral neck dissection
Emergency surgery or need for immediate tracheostomy.
Existing tracheostomy or home ventilator dependence.
Inability to protect airway (e.g., Glasgow Coma Scale < 13).
Craniofacial anomaly or skin condition precluding mask seal.
Fujian Medical University
Lead sponsor
Fujian Medical University Union Hospital
Sponsor institution