Comparing Functional Results of Superior Laryngeal Nerve in Thyroid Surgery with and without Identifying the Nerve

Abstract

Background: Thyroid operations is surgically challenging due to its important anatomical features. Harm to the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) can lead to harmful voice alterations, the intensity of which varies based on the voice requests of the patient. So, the objective of research was the evaluation of functional results of superior laryngeal nerve in thyroid procedure with and without identifying the nerve.

Materials and Methods: In this prospective non-randomized study, patients of both genders, who underwent total thyroidectomy during July 2018 to March 2019 in the Amir Alam hospital, were entered into the research. An appropriate method of surgery for upper thyroid pole dissection followed by lateralization and exposure of cricothyroid space was utilized on the right side, to preserve SLN (EBSLN) after its recognition. On the left side, superior thyroid vessels were ligated near the superior thyroid pole without any effort of nerve recognition.

Results: Totally, 50 cases (29 females and 21 males) who underwent total thyroidectomy in a period of 6 months. Assessment of all cases demonstrated that only 1 subject presented symptoms of temporary nerve paralysis in the left side.

Conclusions: Intraoperative identification can elude injury to the SLN (EBSLN). Routinely intraoperative assessment of the nerve is not necessary because the rate of damage of SLN in thyroidectomy is low.