Intraoperative identification of the nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery

VernacularTitle:甲状腺外科手术中喉不返神经的解剖研究
Author: Tanglei SHAO ; Weiping YANG ; Hai WANG ; Jiazeng DING ; Xiaotai JIN ; Jiahan YIN ; Zhihao WU ; Weiyao CAI ; Hongwei LI
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Thyroidectomy; Anatomy; Nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve; Intraoperative complications
From: Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2009;24(12):963-965
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Objective To discuss how to identify the nerve and prevent the injury of the nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery. Methods The clinical data of 3078 patients undergoing thyroid resection were retrospectively analyzed. Results From January 1981 to December 2001,3078 thyroidectomy was performed at our department with the routine exploration of the recurrent laryngeal nerve.4241 recurrent laryngeal nerves were identified,among them there were 12 nonrecurrent laryngeal nerves(0.28%,12/4241),ofwhich all were right-sided.One patient was male and 11 female.Of these 12 cases,there were 2 of type Ⅰ(16.67%,2/12),6 of type Ⅱ(50%,6/12)and 4 of type Ⅲ (33.33%,4/12).One ofthe type Ⅰ patients suffered from intraoperative injury of his nonreurrent laryngeal nerve.Conclusions The careful intraoperative identification of the nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve helps prevent it from the inadvertent injury.