Protection of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve in Thyroid Reoperation

Objective To investigate the surgical protective treatment of the recurrent laryngeal nerve in thyroid reoperation. Methods The clinical data of 52 patients who received thyroid reoperation were analyzed retrospectively. Results The patients received nodule enucleating,partial thyroidectomy and bilateral subtoal thyroidectomy in the first thyroid operation,and then received unilateral subtoal thyroidectomy,unilateral total thyroidectomy plus isthmectomy,bilateral subtoal thyroidectomy,unilateral total thyroidectomy plus subtoal thyroidectomy in the opposite side and total thyroidectomy and /or neck dissections in thyroid reoperation. The temporal and permanental recurrent laryngeal nerve injury took place in 5 cases. Conclusion Recurrent laryngeal nerve should be revealed in benign thyroid disease reoperation,but needn't be revealed reluctantly in reoperation in thyroid cancer.