Cariati, PaoloCabello, AlmudenaGalvez, Pablo PSanchez Lopez, DarioGarcia Medina, Blas2016-05-052016-05-052016-01-25Cariati P, Cabello A, Galvez PP, Sanchez Lopez D, Garcia Medina B. Tapia's syndrome: pathogenetic mechanisms, diagnostic management, and proper treatment: a case series. J Med Case Rep. 2016; 10(1):23http://hdl.handle.net/10668/2184Journal Article;BACKGROUND Tapia's syndrome is an uncommon disease described in 1904 by Antonio Garcia Tapia, a Spanish otolaryngologist. It is characterized by concomitant paralysis of the hypoglossal (XIIth) and pneumogastric (Xth) nerves. Only 69 cases have been described in the literature. Typically, the reported patients presented with a history of orotracheal intubation. Common symptoms are dysphonia, tongue deviation toward the affected side, lingual motility disturbance, and swallowing difficulty. CASE PRESENTATION In the report, we describe three cases of Tapia's syndrome in three Caucasian patients who underwent surgery with general anesthesia. Two of these patients underwent neck abscess drainage, and the third had an open reduction of a shoulder fracture. The clinical symptoms of Tapia's syndrome appeared after extubation. All three of our patients recovered their lost function at 3 months after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS We underline the importance of performing airway endoscopy and a specific program of swallowing rehabilitation for the proper management of Tapia's syndrome.enTapia’s syndromeEndoscopic imaginesOrotracheal IntubationDiagnostic fibroscopyProper treatmentAbscesoAnestesia generalTrastornos de degluciónDrenajeDisfoníaEndoscopíaRonqueraEnfermedades del nervio hipoglosoIntubaciónParálisisFracturas del HombroMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Bacterial Infections and Mycoses::Infection::Suppuration::AbscessMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Anesthesia and Analgesia::Anesthesia::Anesthesia, GeneralMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Digestive System and Oral Physiological Phenomena::Digestive System Physiological Phenomena::Digestive System Processes::DeglutitionMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases::Pharyngeal Diseases::Deglutition DisordersMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Therapeutics::DrainageMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases::Laryngeal Diseases::Voice Disorders::DysphoniaMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Diagnosis::Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures::Diagnostic Techniques, Surgical::EndoscopyMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases::Laryngeal Diseases::Voice Disorders::HoarsenessMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Nervous System Diseases::Cranial Nerve Diseases::Hypoglossal Nerve DiseasesMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Therapeutics::IntubationMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Nervous System Diseases::Neurologic Manifestations::ParalysisMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Wounds and Injuries::Arm Injuries::Shoulder Fracturesresearch article26809980open access10.1186/s13256-016-0802-11752-1947PMC4727387