Abstract
Objective To investigate the significance of routine exposure of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN)in thyroidectomy.Methods The data of consecutive 232 patients with thyroidectomies during 2009-2010 were retrospectively reviewed.All operations,either lobectomy or total thyroidectomy were performed by the same surgeons.The RLN was identified routinely during the operation.Results Totally 280 RLNs were exposed in 181 thyroid lobectomies and 51 total thyroidectomies(98.9%).Ten patients experienced post-operative hoarseness(3.6%).Seven patients were diagnosed with paralysed vocal cord post-operatively,although the RLN were identified intact during the surgeries,and their voice became normal in 2 months.Another 3 patients'RLNs were transected injured and re-anastomosed during the same procedures and their voice became normal in 4 months.Conclusions Exposing the recurrent laryngeal nerve in the thyroidectomy is an effective way to prevent permanent injury to RLN. Key words: Thyroidectomy; Recurrent laryngeal nerve; Nerve injury
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
