The significance of routine exposure of recurrent laryngeal nerve in thyroidectomy

Objective To investigate the significance of routine exposure of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN)in thyroidectomy.Methods The data of consecutive 232 patients with thyroidectomies during 2009-2010 were retrospectively reviewed.All operations,either lobectomy or total thyroidectomy were performed by the same surgeons.The RLN was identified routinely during the operation.Results Totally 280 RLNs were exposed in 181 thyroid lobectomies and 51 total thyroidectomies(98.9%).Ten patients experienced post-operative hoarseness(3.6%).Seven patients were diagnosed with paralysed vocal cord post-operatively,although the RLN were identified intact during the surgeries,and their voice became normal in 2 months.Another 3 patients'RLNs were transected injured and re-anastomosed during the same procedures and their voice became normal in 4 months.Conclusions Exposing the recurrent laryngeal nerve in the thyroidectomy is an effective way to prevent permanent injury to RLN. Key words: Thyroidectomy;  Recurrent laryngeal nerve;  Nerve injury