Frequency of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury in Thyroid Surgery For Benign Thyroid Disease

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (RLNI) after thyroid surgery for benign disease.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Otorhinolaryngology Department, Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi and Combined Military Hospital, Quetta, from May 2015 to May 2018.

Methodology: All the patients underwent preoperative evaluation of vocal cords by indirect laryngoscopy for vocal cord disease and function. Lobectomy, subtotal thyroidectomy or total thyroidectomy were performed under general anaesthesia by the consultants having more than three years post-fellowship experience of thyroid surgery. Immediate postoperative visualization of vocal cords was performed at the time of endotracheal tube extubation with a laryngoscope by an otolaryngologist with the help of an anesthesiologist to assess vocal cord mobility.

Results: Out of 179 cases, there were 42 (23.46%) males and 137 (76.54%) female patients. The recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was found in 11 (6.2%) cases. The statistical analysis did not show an association of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury with agegroups, gender or type of thyroid surgery (p>0.05).

Conclusion: The frequency of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury RLNI after thyroid surgery for the benign disease was 6.2%.