Exposing recurrent laryngeal nerve in thyroidectomy: clinical significance and comparision of different Approaches / 中华内分泌外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the methods and significance of exposing recurrent laryngeal nerve in thyroidectomy.Methods 328 recurrent laryngeal nerve were dissected and exposed.In 216 procedures(3 nerve were not recurrent,and all were in right lateral.),150(45.73%)nerve were dissected by infra thymid gland route,178(54.27%)by lateral thyroid gland route.Results There was no permanent injury of recurrent laryngeal nerve.It took 5 minutes on average to reveal nerve by infra thyroid gland route and there were 5 cases (2.00%)of temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.It took 3 minutes on average to reveal nerve by lateral thyroid gland route,and there were 2 cases(1.12%)of temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.Conclusions It is safe and convenient to expose recurrent laryngeal nerve during operation.Lateral route has advantages of less time consuming,minimal injury and less bleeding.