TAPIA SYNDROME

Course overview

TAPIA SYNDROME IS A RARE DISEASE CHARACTERIZED BY CONCURRENT UNILATERAL HYPOGLOSSAL AND RECURRENT LARYNGEAL NERVE PALSY. THE INJURY MECHANISM IS CLOSELY RELATED TO AIRWAY MANIPULATION LEADING TO DIRECT COMPRESSION OR EXCESSIVE STRETCH OF THE NERVES. DIAGNOSIS IS MADE THROUGH A PROCESS OF EXCLUSION AND CAN BE CHALLENGING FOR CLINICIANS DUE TO ITS RELATIVE INFREQUENCY. THIS ARTICLE REVIEWS TAPIA'S SYNDROME'S ETIOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM'S ROLE IN THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS SUFFERING THIS CONDITION.