Identification Of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Research Articles

Impact of Intermittent Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) on the Learning Curve for Total Thyroidectomy by Residents in General Surgery.

Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RNL) identification constitutes the standard in thyroidectomy. Intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) has been introduced as a complementary tool for RLN functionality evaluation. The aim of this study is to establish how routine use of IONM can affect the learning curve (LC) in thyroidectomy. Patients undergoing total thyroidectomy performed by surgery residents in their learning curve course in 2 academic hospitals, were divided into 2 groups: Group A, including 150 thyroidectomies performed without IONM by 3 different residents, and Group B, including 150 procedures with routine use of intermittent IONM, by other 3 different residents. LC was measured by comparing operative time (OT), its stabilization during the development of the LC, perioperative complication rate. As previously demonstrated, the LC was achieved after 30 procedures, in both groups, with no differences due to the use of IONM. Similarly, there were no significant differences among the 2 groups, and between subgroups independently matched, for both OT and complications, even when comparing RLN palsy. Direct nerve visualization and IONM assessment rates were comparable in all groups, and no bilateral RLN palsy (transient or permanent) were reported. No case of interrupted procedure to unilateral lobectomy, due to evidence of RLN injury, was reported. The study demonstrates that the use of IONM thyroid surgery, despite requiring a specific training with experienced surgeons, does not particularly affect the learning curve of residents approaching this kind of surgery, and for this reason its routine use should be encouraged even for trainees.

Complications of thyroidectomy: Insights from a single-centre study in northeast India

To study and compare the frequency of post-operative complications associated with thyroid surgeries indicated for various benign and malignant pathologies and assess the outcome of management of such complications in a tertiary care hospital in Northeast India. An analytical study was done at a tertiary care hospital in Assam over a period of 1 year from May 2022 to June 2023. Data was collected from 53 patients who underwent surgery at this hospital. Hemithyroidectomy, subtotal, near-total, and total thyroidectomies were performed in 31(58.4%), 2 (3.7%), 6 (11.3%) and 14 (26.4%) cases respectively. The overall rate of complications was 39.6%. Permanent hypocalcaemia was observed to be the most common complication, followed by transient hypocalcaemia and transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. The complications were found to be more frequent in surgery for malignant thyroid disease. There was no mortality in our study. A better understanding of thyroid gland anatomy, meticulous haemostasis and Identification of Recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid glands lead to favourable post-operative outcomes. Appropriate post-operative care with early identification and management of complications plays an essential role in reducing the duration of postoperative hospital stay and limiting patient morbidity.

Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Does Not Reduce the Risk of Temporary and Definitive Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Damage during Thyroid Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Endoscopic Findings from 73,325 Nerves at Risk.

While intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) helps the early identification of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) damage, IONM's role in RLN damage prevention is not defined, given the lack of large studies on the subject. In a PRISMA-compliant framework, all original thyroid surgery prospective studies providing early postoperative endoscopic data for all patients were pooled in a random-effects meta-analysis. We compared the temporary (and definitive where available) RLN damage rates according to IONM use and IONM type (intermittent, I-IONM, or continuous, C-IONM). We identified 2358 temporary and 257 definitive RLN injuries in, respectively, 73,325 and 66,476 nerves at risk. The pooled temporary and definitive RLN injury rates were, respectively, 3.15% and 0.422% considering all procedures, 3.29% and 0.409% in cases using IONM, and 3.16% and 0.463 in cases not using IONM. I-IONM and C-IONM, respectively, showed a pooled temporary RLN injury rate of 2.48% and 2.913% and a pooled definitive injury rate of 0.395% and 0.4%. All pooled rates had largely overlapping 95% confidence intervals. Our data suggest that IONM does not affect the temporary or definitive RLN injury rate following thyroidectomy, though its use can be advised in selected cases and for bilateral palsy prevention.

Unexpected mapping of recurrent laryngeal nerve by fluorescence-guided surgery using near-infrared indocyanine green angiography

Background. The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) damage and parathyroid gland injury are the most severe complications of thyroid surgery. The possibility of RLN confirmation in the near-infrared spectrum after the injection of indocyanine green (ICG) was not yet been studied. Aim: to evaluate the ICG angiography for the identification of RLN during thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Materials and methods. ICG angiography of RLN was performed in 7 patients. An intraoperative neuromonitoring was applied as a method of controlling RLN. During the operation, parathyroid glands and RLN were identified by visual inspection (naked eye). To further confirm the location of the parathyroid glands by autofluorescence, an intravenous injection of ICG was performed with a concentration of 0.25 mg/kg followed by the application of the image-based system. Results. A good signal was achieved in the near-infrared spectrum from the RLN in all cases after the ICG injection. Sufficient blood perfusion of the RLN could be considered as a reasonable explanation for the exhibition of a good ICG near-infrared signal. Conclusions. ICG use might be a helpful approach for the confirmation of the RLN in addition to routine visual identification. Such function could be applied during fluorescence-guided surgery to evaluate the parathyroid gland autofluorescence. Visualization of RLN by ICG angiography is considered as an additional useful feature to prevent RLN injury.

The Role of Methylene Blue Spray to Keep Parathyroid Gland Safe during Thyroidectomy

Abstract Background Thyroidectomy is one of the most surgical interventions in endocrine surgery. When the operation is performed in respective surgical centers, the operation is safe with low morbidity and 0% mortality. Patients and Methods The study was a quasi-experimental study carried out at Ain Shams University Hospital. Sixty patients with benign and malignant goiter disorders underwent primary (not recurrent) total thyroidectomy. The patients were assigned into two groups: group 1 (interventional group) included 30 cases operated upon with methylene blue spraying technique and group 2 (control group) 30 cases established with the conventional technique. Methylene blue was sprayed over the thyroid lobe and perilober area. Parathyroides and recurrent laryngeal nerve were identified and evaluated. Results Recurrent laryngeal nerve was not stained and remained white in all cases while all other tissues were stained blue. Four to seven minutes later the parathyroid glands washed out the blue stain and regain their original yellow color. Thyroid gland wash-out time was 19 min. Conclusion Methylene blue spraying is a new technique that allows identification of both parathyroid glands and recurrent laryngeal nerves. This technique is safe, effective, and technically feasible.

Comparing Thyroidectomy Techniques, Surgical Loupe and Neuromonitoring Between ENT and Endocrine Surgeons-an Observational Study.

Thyroid surgery is performed by ENT head and neck (ENT-HNS), endocrine (ES) and general surgeons (GS). Each modality adopts different surgical techniques causing difference in outcome, operative time and postoperative complication. A retrospective chart review of thyroid surgeries performed by two ENT-HNS, three ES of a single tertiary center was conducted. We compared the use of neuromonitoring and surgical loupe and subsequent patient outcomes between surgeries performed by ENT-HNS versus ES, focusing on parathyroid gland identification, operative duration, vocal cord paralysis and length of hospital stay. A total of 167 patients underwent thyroid surgery. Surgical loupes were used in all the surgeries performed by ENT-HNS vs. 85% by the ES. Parathyroid glands were identified in all the surgeries performed by ENT-HNS versus 95% by ES. Neuromonitoring was used in all the surgeries performed by ENT-HNS, and none by the ES. Vocal cord paralysis developed in two patients of ES versus none in the ENT-HNS. Mean operative duration for total thyroidectomy in ENT-HN surgeries, 183.7min vs. 151min in the ES. The mean hospital stay of patients was 3.6 ± 1.6 days for ENT-HNS, and 5.45 ± 3 days for ES. Identification of parathyroid gland and recurrent laryngeal nerve by neuromonitoring and surgical loupes may increase operative time but decrease the rate of vocal cord paralysis and increases the chance of parathyroid gland identification.

An assessment of the role of surgical loupe technique in prevention of postthyroidectomy complications: a comparative prospective study.

Eighty patients with thyroid nodules who underwent thyroidectomy procedure were divided randomly into two comparable groups, group A subjected to thyroidectomy by using binocular magnification loupe, group B underwent conventional thyroidectomy without using magnification. Patients' demographics, operation time, and postoperative morbidities were recorded. All cases had preoperative and postoperative vocal cords assessment by video laryngoscopy. Pathology, laboratory, and radiology investigations were also conducted. Out of 80 patients, there were 58 females and 22 males. Benign thyroid pathology was found in 74 patients and malignant pathology in 6 patients. The mean operating time was 106min in group A compared to 138.5min in group B. The mean amount of intraoperative bleeding was 30ml in group A while 50ml in group B. There were no cases of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve in both groups; there was better identification in group A. There was only one patient who suffered from a temporary RLN injury in group A, while three cases of temporary and one case of permanent RLN injury were recorded in group B. Permanent hypoparathyroidism was diagnosed in only one patient in group B. The utilization of binocular surgical loupe magnification in thyroid surgery is considered a safe and effective maneuver that has the advantages of decreasing the overall operating time and significantly reducing postoperative complications.

An Exposition on Surgical Experiences in Identification, Exposure, and Injuries of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve (RLN) During Thyroid Operations: Gleanings, Narrative, and the Reflections.

Identifying and preserving the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is of paramount importance during thyroid surgeries. Iatrogenic injuries to RLN (RLNI) are considered one of the most serious and feared complications of thyroidectomies. Surgically, there are four routes/approaches (lateral, inferior, superior, and medial) for localizing and identifying the RLN. This study aims to estimate the incidence of RLNI in the context of various approaches taken intra-operatively for nerve localization and identification. This retrospective analytical study included 54 cases of thyroidectomies operated for various benign and malignant thyroid disorders in a tertiary care center from January 2018 to December 2020. Intraoperative search, identification, and dissection of the nerve were done with superior, inferior, medial, and lateral approaches. The chi-square test and exact test were used to analyze the data and p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Pre- and post-operative recurrent laryngeal nerve evaluation was done with 90 degrees Hopkins laryngoscope. Overall in this series, the incidence of post-thyroidectomy RLNI was 3.7% and 3.7% for permanent and temporary nerve insults, respectively. Non-recurrent RLN on the right side was identified in one case and extra-laryngeal branching of RLN was identified in two cases. There was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.929) between the different approaches taken and the incidence of RLNI. The type of surgery and pathology also expressed no statistically significant relevance with the incidence of RLNI (p = 0.463 and p = 0.277, respectively). Adoption of a particular surgical approach to localize and identify RLN during thyroid surgery carries no statistically significant difference between RLNI and approaches taken. Meticulous handling and dissection of the tissue in the correct surgical plane are crucial determinants in preventing RLNIs.

Intraoperative Neuromonitoring and Optical Magnification in the Prevention of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries during Total Thyroidectomy.

Background and Objectives: Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paralysis is a fearful complication during thyroidectomy. Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) and optical magnification (OM) facilitate RLN identification and dissection. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the influence of the two techniques on the incidence of RLN paralysis and determine correlations regarding common outcomes in thyroid surgery. Materials and Methods: Two equally sized groups of 50 patients who underwent total thyroidectomies were examined. In the first group (OM), only surgical binocular loupes (2.5×-4.5×) were used during surgery, while in the second group (IONM), the intermittent NIM was applied. Results: Both the operative time and the length of hospitalization were shorter in the OM group than in the IONM group (median 80 versus 100 min and median 2 versus 4 days, respectively) (p &lt; 0.05). The male patients were found to have a five-fold higher risk of developing transient dysphonia than the females (adjusted OR 5.19, 95% IC 0.99-27.18, p = 0.05). The OM group reported a four-fold higher risk of developing transient hypocalcemia than the IONM group (OR 3.78, adjusted OR 4.11, p = 0.01). Despite two cases of temporary bilateral RLN paralysis in the IONM group versus none in the OM group, no statistically significant difference was found (p &gt; 0.05). No permanent RLN paralysis or hypoparathyroidism have been reported. Conclusions: Despite some limitations, our study is the first to compare the use of IONM with OM alone in the prevention of RLN injuries. The risk of recurrent complications remains comparable and both techniques can be considered valid instruments, especially if applied simultaneously by surgeons.

Analysis of Risk Factors for Phonation Disorders after Thyroid Surgery.

Phonation disorders after thyroidectomy are among the most common complications and occur as a result of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury. The multivariate analysis of risk factors for phonation disorders after thyroidectomy was assessed. A group of 830 patients with 1500 RLNs at risk of injury during thyroidectomy were analyzed retrospectively. The impact of the method of RLN identification, age, sex, BMI, kind of thyroid surgery, pathology, surgeon’s experience and thyroid volume on vocal cord paralysis was analyzed. We found that the retrosternal goiter and the volume above 100 mL were the most important risk factors for both transient and permanent paralysis. Thyroid cancer had a statistically significant impact on the increase in permanent paralysis, while this indication had practically no impact on transient paralysis. Among patients over 65 years with obesity, the probability of transient complications approximately doubled, with no effect on the permanent paralysis. Men were approximately 1.7 times more likely to develop any type of phonation disorder. Secondary operations more than doubled the risk of transient and permanent vocal cord paralysis. Thyroidectomy with only visual RLN identification was associated with a risk of both transient and permanent vocal cord paralysis almost two times higher, compared to neuromonitoring.

Intraoperative neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve is indispensable during complete endoscopic radical resection of thyroid cancer: A retrospective study.

ObjectiveComplete endoscopic radical resection of thyroid cancer, especially through the areolar approach, can achieve curative and acceptable cosmetic effects in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. However, some inherent characteristics of endoscopic procedures hamper functional protection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN). Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) is considered the most important accessory to protect the nerves during conventional radical thyroidectomy. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and necessity of IONM during complete endoscopic radical resection of thyroid cancer.MethodsA total of 106 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma were enrolled in the study between February 2013 and April 2018. Based on the use of the IONM technique, all patients were divided into the IONM (n = 54) and non‐IONM groups (n = 52). Overall, 66 RLNs were involved in the IONM group, and 61 RLNs were involved in the non‐IONM group. The time and ratio of RLN identification and the number of transient and permanent RLN injuries between both groups were compared.ResultsCompared to the non‐IONM group, the IONM group required less time for RLN identification (3.05 ± 1.58 vs. 9.36 ± 4.82 min, p < .01). The ratio of RLN identification in the IONM group was much higher than that in the non‐IONM group (100.00% vs. 88.52%, p = .01). A significant difference was observed in RLN transient injury between the two groups (one case accounting for 1.51% in the IONM group vs. eight cases accounting for 13.11% in the non‐IONM group; p = .03).ConclusionIONM significantly improved RLN identification and reduced transient RLN injuries during complete endoscopic radical resection.Level of Evidence3b.

Methylene Blue Spray versus Conventional Surgical Techniques for Identification of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve and Parathyroid Glands during Thyroidectomy

Methylene Blue Spray versus Conventional Surgical Techniques for Identification of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve and Parathyroid Glands during Thyroidectomy

The value of intraoperative nerve monitoring against recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in thyroid reoperations.

Reoperative thyroidectomy is challenging for surgeons because of the higher incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy. RLN identification is the gold standard during thyroidectomy; however, it is sometimes difficult to perform thyroid reoperations. In recent years, intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) has gained increased acceptance, and the use of IONM can be a valuable adjunct to visual identification. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of IONM during thyroid reoperation.A total of 109 patients who met our criteria at the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University from January 2010 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into the IONM group and the visualization-alone group (VA group) according to whether neuromonitoring was used during the operation. The patients’ characteristics, perioperative data, and intraoperative information including the RLN identification, time of RLNs confirmation, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and the rate of RLN injury were collected.Sixty-five procedures (94 RLNs at risk) were performed in the IONM group, whereas 44 (65 RLNs at risk) were in the VA group. The rate of RLN identification was 96.8% in the IONM group and 75.4% in the VA group (P < .05). The incidence of RLN injury was 5.3% in the IONM group and 13.8% in the VA group (P > .05). The incidence of surgeon-related RLN injury rate was 0% in the IONM group compared to 7.7% in the VA group (P < .05), but the tumor-related or scar-related RLN injury rate between the 2 groups were not significantly different (4.3% vs 3.1%, 1.1% vs 3.1%, P > .05).IONM in thyroid reoperation was helpful in improving the RLN identification rate and reducing the surgeon-related RLN injury rate, but was ineffective in reducing the tumor-related and scar-related RLN injury rate. In the future, multicenter prospective studies with large sample sizes may be needed to further assess the role of IONM in thyroid reoperations.

Distance of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve in Relation to Superior Parathyroid Gland During Thyroid Surgery.

In thyroid surgery, it is essential to identify and preserve recurrent laryngeal nerve to avoid injury to the nerve which will lead to nerve paralysis or paresis. The meticulous dissection of recurrent laryngeal nerve is important for careful identification and preservation of the nerve to prevent post operative vocal cord paresis and hoarseness. A single centre prospective, cross sectional study was conducted from May 2019 to January 2021 in Department of ENT and Head and Neck surgery in Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital. The data on distance between recurrent laryngeal nerve and superior parathyroid gland during thyroidectomy were collected. The mean distance of recurrent laryngeal nerve in relation to superior parathyroid gland during thyroid surgery was 5.03±1.79 millimeters. The recurrent laryngeal nerve lies within 5mm of superior parathyroid gland in 83.05% cases and between 6 and 10mm in 15.25 % of cases. The recurrent laryngeal nerve is found in the close proximity to the superior parathyroid gland. The visual method of identification of recurrent laryngeal nerve can be widely adopted in thyroid surgery to prevent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.

New Developments in Anterior Laryngeal Recording Technique During Neuromonitored Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery.

A recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury resulting in vocal fold paralysis and dysphonia remains a major source of morbidity after thyroid and parathyroid surgeries. Intraoperative neural monitoring (IONM) is increasingly accepted as an adjunct to the standard practice of visual RLN identification. Endotracheal tube (ET) surface recording electrode systems are now widely used for IONM; however, the major limitation of the clinical use of ET-based surface electrodes is the need to maintain constant contact between the electrodes and vocal folds during surgery to obtain a high-quality recording. An ET that is malpositioned during intubation or displaced during surgical manipulation can cause a false decrease or loss of electromyography (EMG) signal. Since it may be difficult to distinguish from an EMG change caused by a true RLN injury, a false loss or decrease in EMG signal may contribute to inappropriate surgical decision making. Therefore, researchers have investigated alternative electrode systems that circumvent common causes of poor accuracy in ET-based neuromonitoring. Recent experimental and clinical studies have confirmed the hypothesis that needle or adhesive surface recording electrodes attached to the thyroid cartilage (transcartilage and percutaneous recording) or attached to the overlying neck skin (transcutaneous recording) can provide functionality similar to that of ET-based electrodes, and these recording methods enable access to the EMG response of the vocalis muscle that originates from the inner surface of the thyroid cartilage. Studies also indicate that, during surgical manipulation of the trachea, transcartilage, percutaneous, and transcutaneous anterior laryngeal (AL) recording electrodes could be more stable than ET-based surface electrodes and could be equally accurate in depicting RLN stress during IONM. These findings show that these AL electrodes have potential applications in future designs of recording electrodes and support the use of IONM as a high-quality quantitative tool in thyroid and parathyroid surgery. This article reviews the major recent developments of newly emerging transcartilage, percutaneous, and transcutaneous AL recording techniques used in IONM and evaluates their contribution to improved voice outcomes in modern thyroid surgery.

A novel way of identification of recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgeries

Background: This was a report of a movement of the recurrent laryngeal nerve which can be demonstrated during thyroid surgeries which can be used for locating the nerve, or identifying it if already exposed and causing confusion with other nearby structures or when alone too.Methods: The nerve is located by observing for a superior-inferior movement of the recurrent laryngeal nerve transmitted by the loose areolar tissue over it and dissecting over this site to locate the nerve right underneath it. This was by direct observation of the movement which will be there so long as the thyroid is held retracted to the opposite side and is not separated from the thyroid at the tissues that constitute the condensation of pre-tracheal fascia called the Berry’s ligament.Results: The recurrent laryngeal nerve originates from the vagus and loops posteriorly and then upwards around the arch of aorta on the left side and the subclavian artery on the right side. When the thyroid gland is retracted away and thus the nerve put on slight stretch, a superior-inferior to and fro- movement of the nerve can be seen. This movement can be used for identification and dissection of the nerve along its course.Conclusions: A review of literature has been done and it is clear that this movement has not been hitherto identified or published

Preoperative Visualized Ultrasound Assessment of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve in Thyroid Cancer Surgery: Reliability and Risk Features by Imaging

BackgroundPreoperative identification and visualization of tumor infiltration of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) in patients with thyroid cancer is important. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the reliability and feasibility of preoperative assessment by ultrasound and to identify ultrasound imaging features potentially associated with tumor infiltration of the RLN.MethodsIn this prospective study, patients undergoing thyroid cancer surgery at our institution between August 2020 and January 2021 were included, and preoperative ultrasound visualization of the RLN and thyroid lesions was performed. RLN infiltration was also confirmed surgically in all cases. Five patients with enlarged lymph nodes were selected to undergo injection of carbon nanoparticles to confirm the correctness of RLN identification by preoperative ultrasound. The repeatability of RLN assessment by ultrasound was evaluated by comparing the correlation between pre- and intraoperative, intra- and inter-group assessments. Parameters of normal RLNs according to age, sex, and body mass index were established. Finally, ultrasound imaging features of patients with RLN tumor infiltration were analyzed to identify potential risk predictors.ResultsAccording to the ultrasonic assessment, RLNs of 70 patients appeared normal, while 14 of those patients appeared to be infiltrated by tumors. During surgery, the 70 cases of normal RLNs were confirmed, but only 8 of the 14 suspected cases of infiltration were confirmed. In all five patients injected with carbon nanoparticles, the location of RLNs adjacent to the marked lymph nodes observed by surgeons corresponded to the RLN location identified by preoperative ultrasound. The repeatability of RLN estimation varied from moderate to excellent. There were no significant differences in cross-sectional area, width, or thickness of normal RLNs according to age, sex, or body mass index. Indistinct margin with tumor, incontinuous shape as ultrasound features by the analysis of patients with surgically confirmed RLN infiltration were associated with tumor invasion.ConclusionWe show that preoperative ultrasound can be applied to visualize the RLN and may help predict tumor infiltration of the RLN.

Training in intraoperative neuromonitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerves reduces the risk of their injury during thyroid surgery

IntroductionEven though incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (RLNP) is low, it affects importantly the quality of life of patients and remains one of main medicolegal litigation problems in surgery. Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) has become widely accepted tool helping in recurrent laryngeal nerve identification, however no clear association of IONM with RLNP rate has been demonstrated. The aim of our study was to assess whether training in IONM influences rates of RNLP after thyroid surgery as an independent factor.Material and methodsWe analysed retrospectively 1235 patients who underwent thyroidectomy at the 1st Department of General and Endocrine Surgery, Medical University of Bialystok. Possible risk factors for RLNP were evaluated: application or not of IONM, the extent of surgery or thyroid pathology in correlation with surgeons’ experience in IONM (trained or untrained).ResultsThere were 2351 nerves at risk (NAR) and 39 RNLP were diagnosed after thyroid surgery (1.66%). Surgeons trained in IONM performed 52.2% of all operations (1200 NAR) with 7 RLNP (0.58%), whereas not-trained had 32 RLNP for 1151 NAR (2.8%; p < 0.001). After 182 thyroidectomies (357 NAR) guided by IONM (14.7%) 3 RLNP were observed (0.84%) vs. 36 palsies per 1994 NAR without IONM (1.81%; p = 0.189). The highest danger of RLNP was reported after reoperations and the lowest after subtotal thyroidectomies. We found no association between thyroid pathology and RLNP rate.ConclusionsAccording to our study training in IONM decreases chances of RLNP especially during total or near total thyroidectomy.

Nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve-an anatomical deviation

&lt;p&gt;Thyroidectomy is one of the most dispute and discussed surgery. Identification of recurrent laryngeal nerve is the most important step in this surgery. Among postop complications of thyroidectomy, the commoner is haematoma, transient hypocalcaemia and hoarseness.&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;We report a rare case of nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve in a 25-year-old male with swelling in the right thyroid lobe. A 25-year-old male presented to the ENT OPD with complaints of swelling in thyroid region for 6 months with no other symptoms. On examination there was a 2×3 cm size nodule in the right lobe of thyroid. Rest of ORL examination was normal. On ultrasonogram there was an enlarged right lobe of thyroid with a nodular goitre. Fine needle aspiration cytology showed colloid goitre. Patient was planned for right hemithyroidectomy. Right side type 1 nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve was identified at the level of superior pole of thyroid branching from vagus and entering the larynx at the level of cricothyroid joint was identified intraoperatively.&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;In conclusion, nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve though a very rare anomaly forms a crucial anatomical structure in thyroid surgery and is prone to injury. It is one of the preventable complications during thyroid surgery leading to postop vocal cord palsy. An in-depth anatomical knowledge and diligent surgical technique will help in identification and preservation of nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve.&lt;/p&gt;

Identification of recurrent laryngeal nerve: a dilemma in thyroid surgery

&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Surgery of the thyroid gland is one of the most common surgical procedures performed. Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury is the most dreaded complication of thyroid surgery. Hence reducing intraoperative injury is of utmost importance. Routine dissection and identification of the recurrent nerve remain controversial.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods:&lt;/strong&gt; This study consists of 70 patients who underwent thyroid surgery. This study was conducted at our institute during the period of 2 years (2018-2020). Patients were evaluated and operated. Patients with thyroid diseases and normal vocal cords were allocated to two groups randomly; in group A the nerve was identified and in group B the nerve was not identified.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;Results: Most of the patients participating in the study were in the age group of 33-42 years. Male to female disease ratio was 0.13:1. In our study out of 70 patients who underwent thyroid surgery, 18 (25.71%) patients suffered from recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. Amongst those 18 patients, 2 palsies (5.71%) were in Group A and 16 palsies (45.71%) were in Group B. Recurrent laryngeal nerve most commonly lied posterior to the inferior thyroid artery on both right (65.38%) as well as left side (45.45%). Most commonly injured recurrent laryngeal nerve was the right sided recurrent laryngeal nerve (77.77%).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/strong&gt; Careful dissection of nerve during thyroid surgery eliminates the risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. A thorough knowledge of thyroid gland, recurrent laryngeal nerve and its anatomical relations and variations is of utmost importance in preserving the recurrent laryngeal nerve in thyroid surgery.&lt;/p&gt;