RESUMO
OBJECTIVE@#To study the significance of exposure of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN ) in thyroid gland surgery.@*METHOD@#Three hundred and thirty-two thyroidectomy cases were studied from January 2008 to June 2011. All patients had general anesthesia, and RLN were exposed during operation. One hundred and thirty-one cases were operated with total lobectomies, 138 cases with subtotal thyroidectomy, 51 cases with total lobectomies and contralateral subtotal thyroidectomy, 12 cases with total thyroidectomy.@*RESULT@#Five hundred and thirty-three RLNs were exposed, 4 cases came with hoarseness postoperatively, All cases recovered within 3 months.@*CONCLUSION@#Exposure the recurrent laryngeal nerve in the thyroidectomy was available and could protect RLN.