<prompt> Following total thyroidectomy the patient develops respiratory stridor. The cause is:BL recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysisBL complete paralysisUL recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysisUL complete paralysis  <response>: a BL recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysisRef. Current Diagnosis Treatment Otolaryngology, Lalwani, 3rd ed., 478In BL recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis the vocal cords will be in median position, leading to stridor.Note: This is the only vocal cord palsy with stridor, breathing is normal in the remaining palsies. 