Muhammad Arif, Imtiaz Ahmed.
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Palsy During Thyroidectomies.
J Surg Pak Jan ;6(3):12-5.

To detect overall rate of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy during thyroidectomies and factors influencing it, a prospective study was conducted on patients with thyroid enlargement presenting at Surgical Unit 11, LMCH Jamshoro during a period of six years from Jan 1995 to Dec 2000. Two hundred flue patients (177 females, 28 males) with thyroid enlargement were managed, of whom 170 patients were operated. After clinical examination, appropriate investigations and post operative histopathology, different types of thyroid diseases were noted. The size of thyroid gland and weight of thyroid tissue removed measured. The surgeons were divided into consultants, residents under supervision of consultants and residents independently. Post operative RLN palsy noted by direct laryngoscopy on operation table, hoarseness of voice and later on by indirect laryngoscopy. Overall RLN palsy rate was 16/170 (9.4%), permanent in 8 patients (4.7%) and transient in 8 (4.7%). Incidence was high among cases operated by resident (13.2%) a compared to operated by consultants (7.62%). Incidence was lowest among solitary nodules (2.43%) while high in carcinoma thyroid (37.5%), Recurrent goiters (33.3%) and toxic goiters (50%). Among thyroid <50gm of tissue removed the incidence was only (1.54%) while among thyroid > 150gm it was 22.7%.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com