Analysis of 183 Cases on Skills to Identify and Protect Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve and Parathyroid Gland in Thyroid Surgery

Objective To discuss the technical improvement of identification and protection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid glands in thyroid surgeries and clinical effects.Method A retrospective analysis was conducted on 183 patients who have undergone thyroid surgery of them.81 cases during which the recurrent laryngeal nerve was exposed under the inferior thyroid artery were grouped as the control group,102 cases found the way to expose recurrent laryngeal nerve through Zukerkandl tubercle as the treatment group.The occurrence of postoperative complications as recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism in both groups we are observed.Results All 102 patients in the treatment group were clinically cured.One patient(0.9%) was complicated by temporary hoaseness after surgery.Temporarily hypoparathyroidism happened in 2(1.9%) patientes who had subtotal thyroidectomy with cervical lymph node dissection.Thirty twe cases (31.3%) showed a transient asymptomatic decrease of serum calcium.Three(3.7%) out of 81 cases in the control group had an injury of recurrent laryngeal nerve,and 2(2.4%) had hypoparathyroidism.The difference was statistically significant.Conclusion The improvements of thyroid surgery skills particularly for the identification and protection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid glands,were able to minimize intraoperative bleeding,thus reduceing postoperative complications and promoting recovery.