甲状腺手术中喉返神经显露的意义

目的阐明甲状腺手术中显露喉返神经（recurrent laryngeal nerve,RLN）的优点。方法在452例不同类型的甲状腺手术中显露喉返神经,手术前后喉镜检查声带运动情况。结果共显露喉返神经748根,暂时性喉返神经损伤14例（占1．88％）,永久性损伤2例（占0．27％）。结论甲状腺手术中显露喉返神经可有效防止其损伤并有利于手术疗效。     

甲状腺囊肿穿刺注药致喉返神经麻痹1例

患者，女，23岁。左颈部无疼性圆形肿物缓慢生长2年余，经检查诊断为甲状腺囊肿，咽喉部检查无异常发现，随即行囊肿穿刺，抽吸出浆油样液体3ml，然后注入相同数量的2％碘酊。注射完毕，病人即感到头晕，咽部不适，声音嘶哑，轻度憋气，休息片刻症状缓解，但声嘶无改善。经间接喉镜检查，发现左侧声带瘫痪，经药物治疗2月余，病情无好转。83d后就诊于我院。体检：病人一般情况好，声音嘶哑，呼吸通畅，声时15s（正常对照35s）。左甲状腺侧叶囊性肿物，直径3．5cm．无压痛，无红肿。肿物可随吞咽动作上下移动。间接喉镜下区左侧声带不动，固…     

甲状腺手术解剖喉返神经对其损伤的预防作用

目的：探讨甲状腺手术中解剖喉返神经对预防喉返神经损伤的作用。方法：回顾性分析我科1993年1月～2005年5月手术治疗的甲状腺病变患者517例,解剖喉返神经组（解剖组）163例187侧,未解剖喉返神经组（未解剖组）354例438侧。未解剖组按常规甲状腺手术保护喉返神经行走区的神经。解剖组于甲状腺下极下方离气管食管间沟0～1cm处先找到喉返神经,顺其向上解剖;或先找到喉返神经入喉处,顺其向下解剖。边解剖喉返神经边切除甲状腺病变,解剖长度视甲状腺病变而定。结果：解剖组喉返神经部分解剖123侧,全程解剖64侧,除2例甲状腺癌已侵犯喉返神经术前已有声带麻痹外,无一例发生医源性喉返神经损伤。未解剖组发生喉返神经损伤3例3侧,喉返神经损伤发生率为0．7％,明显高于解剖组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论：甲状腺手术中解剖喉返神经对喉返神经损伤有预防作用。解剖喉返神经的长度视病变大小及部位而定。远离气管食管间沟的良性病变可不解剖喉返神经。     

喉返神经的解剖显露在甲状腺手术中的价值

目的 探讨甲状腺手术喉返神经（RLN）的解剖特点和方法，以减少神经的损伤。方法 回顾分析2000年1月-2005年10月256例甲状腺手术的临床资料，常规显露RLN201例（211条），不显露RLN55例，并对RLN解剖特点、损伤情况和预防进行分析。结果 显露RLN者暂时性损伤率为1．00％（2／201），无永久性损伤；未显露者暂时性损伤率为7．27％（4／55），永久性损损伤率为3．64％（2／55），两组暂时性损伤率之间和永久性损伤率之间经统计学处理差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。“非返性喉下神经”发生率为0．95％（2／211）；67．30％（142／211）RLN在入喉前有分支，59．24％（125／211）的RLN位于甲状腺下动脉的深面，30．81％（65／211）位于动脉的浅面，5．68％（12／211）穿行于动脉的分叉处，4．27％（9／211）与动脉无关。结论 RLN的行程过程中解剖关系较为复杂；甲状腺手术中有计划显露RLN可以预防其损伤。     

喉返神经解剖在甲状腺手术中的意义

目的探讨甲状腺术中解剖喉返神经(recurrent laryngeal nerve,RLN)在预防神经损伤中的作用。方法回顾分析174例甲状腺肿瘤,84例术中常规解剖喉返神经,90例按传统方法对喉返神经行径区进行保护,未解剖喉返神经。结果解剖喉返神经组神经暂时性损伤1例,无永久性损伤病例,总损伤率为1.2%;未解剖喉返神经组暂时性损伤3例,永久性损伤3例,总损伤率为6.7%,经统计学处理(x2检验),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论甲状腺手术中解剖喉返神经能减少喉返神经的损伤,但术者需充分掌握神经行径的解剖特点,术中正确地辨认喉返神经。     

甲状腺切除病例喉返神经损伤的分析

目的：研究甲状腺切除术的主要并发症－－喉返神经（ＲＬＮ）麻痹的相关因素。方法：回顾性研究１５６３例甲状腺手术患者的临床资料,重点分析ＲＬＮ损伤与术式、ＲＬＮ在术中是否被分离保护以及与甲状腺疾病的病理关系。结果：ＲＬＮ损伤率是７．８％,与组织病理恶性程度明显相关（Ｐ〈０．０１）,但术中如明确找到ＲＬＮ并加以保护,术后则无ＲＬＮ永外性损害,暂时麻痹仅１．６％。结论：术中对ＲＬＮ的保护应该强调避免医源性     

甲状腺手术显露喉返神经保留甲状腺动脉

目的探讨显露喉返神经及保留甲状腺动脉手术方法对预防喉返神经损伤及甲状旁腺功能低下的临床价值。方法回顾分析247例甲状腺手术患者,55例行甲状腺全切及次全切除术,192例行甲状腺部分切除术。术中均保留甲状腺上、下动脉,常规显露喉返神经,术前及术后均行电子喉镜检查,血钙及甲状旁腺素检测。结果247例患者,术后均无声嘶症状出现,无术后出血并发症发生,均无手足抽搐及麻木症状出现,术后检测血钙及甲状旁腺素均在正常范围,术后电子喉镜显示无声带麻痹。随访4～36个月,所有患者均未发生永久性甲状旁腺功能低下及声带麻痹症状。结论术中显露喉返神经及保留甲状腺动脉可以避免喉返神经损伤,保全甲状旁腺功能,值得在甲状腺手术方法上推广。     

甲状腺手术中喉返神经的保护

目的：探讨甲状腺手术中保护喉返神经的方法。方法：术前经B超证实36例甲状腺疾病患者病变部位、范围及性质,术中依靠一些解剖标志寻找和识别喉返神经并加以保护。结果：36例患者术后32例无声带并发症,4例术后声嘶,随访3～6个月,2～6个月声嘶恢复正常。结论：手术中解剖喉返神经必须遵循规范化操作原则,首先在甲状腺下极甲状腺下动脉周围寻找喉返神经,若有困难可在喉返神经入喉处,亦可在颈动脉鞘迷走神经附近寻找。     

甲状腺良性病变手术与喉返神经损伤

目的 探讨甲状腺良性病变的手术致喉返神经(recurrent laryngeal nerve,RLN)损伤的主要相关因素。方法回顾分析586例甲状腺良性病变的手术资料,探讨RLN损伤与手术方式、RLN在手术中是否预先分离保护的关系。结果586例手术病人发生RLN损伤者为34例,占5.80％,其中以甲状腺次全切除术RLN受损率最高,占88.24％(30/34);术中明确预先解剖出RLN并予以保护者,术后暂时声带麻痹的发生率为0.91％,无永久性声带麻痹。结论 甲状腺次全切除术RLN损伤率最高,可能与缝合殁体时RLN被误伤有关。术中先行游离RLN并予以保护,缝合甲状腺残体时,应尽量在食管沟平面以上注意保留后包膜的完整是减少医源性RLN损伤的重要措施。     

甲状腺手术中的喉返神经显露

目的 探讨甲状腺手术中喉返神经显露对避免损伤喉返神经的作用。方法 回顾性分析150例甲状腺手术患者的临床资料，其中甲状腺瘤125例，术中均顺利显露同侧喉返神经；甲状腺癌25例，其中仅10例能显露喉返神经。结果 随访6个月～4年，甲状腺瘤术后声带麻痹(单侧)5例，其余120例术后声带运动良好，发声正常。甲状腺癌15例术后并发声带麻痹，10例声带运动正常。结论 甲状腺腺叶切除术中，常规显露喉返神经能减少喉返神经的损伤。对显露过长的喉返神经，术中应利用游离筋膜覆盖，以免术后瘢痕形成压迫喉返神经致声带麻痹。     

Intra-parenchymal thyroid epidermal cyst presenting with a left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy

We present a rare case of an intra-parenchymal thyroid epidermal cyst presenting with a left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. There was a complete recovery of the nerve function following surgical excision of the lesion. Theories of aetio-pathogenesis of the cyst and underlying mechanisms responsible for the nerve paralysis are explored.     

Benign thyroid adenoma causing recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in a child

The standard teaching is that only malignant thyroid masses produce recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. An unusual exception to this rule is reported.     

Predictive factors for recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and hypoparathyroidism after thyroid surgery

Objectives: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and hypoparathyroidism following thyroidectomy. Design: Retrospective case–control study. Setting: Tertiary clinic. Participants: From September 1990 to September 2005, 3250 consecutive patients who had a thyroidectomy for treatment of various thyroid diseases. Main outcome measures: The rates of nerve palsy and hypoparathyroidism were evaluated based on thyroid pathology, the choice of operative procedure, whether the nerve was identified, and the experience of the surgeon. Results: Overall, the rate of nerve palsy was 1.8% and that of hypoparathyroidism was 6.6%. On univariate analysis the rates of complications were siginificantly higher in the patients who had an extended thyroidectomy, identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve during surgery, repeat surgery and patients older than 50 years of age. Complications were no commoner in operations performed by trainees under supervision than experienced surgeons. On multivariate analysis extended thyroidectomy had a 12 fold (95% CI 1.7, 92) increased risk of nerve palsy. Repeat surgery had a 3 fold (95% CI 2.1, 4.7) increased risk of postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Conclusion: Extentended thyroidectomy and repeat surgery had a significant effect on the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and postoperative hyperparathyroidism respectively following thyroid surgery.     

Assessment of recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery with laryngeal mask airway

OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility of using laryngeal mask anesthesia (LMA) with bronchoscopic evaluation of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) integrity when stimulated. DESIGN: Single-institution prospective case series. SETTING: A single, mid-Atlantic region academic medical center. PATIENTS: Twenty-seven adult volunteers. INTERVENTIONS: Laryngeal mask anesthesia for thyroid surgery, monitored by flexible laryngoscopy and nerve integrity testing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Success rates for LMA use in thyroid surgery, bronchoscopic visualization of laryngeal glottis, and documentation of RLN integrity following surgery. RESULTS: We report our experience on 27 consecutive cases in which LMA with RLN stimulation was used for thyroid surgery. Twenty-five of 27 patients underwent successful LMA and visual documentation of RLN integrity by bronchoscopic inspection of nerve stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Direct visualization of vocal cords using a fiberoptic bronchoscope via an LMA provides a safe and feasible method of laryngeal assessment following thyroid dissection. Continuous real-time video monitoring may be the next step in development of this technique as a patient safety measure for thyroid and parathyroid surgery.     

Bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy following blunt neck trauma

Blunt trauma neck to larynx is an uncommon injury that results in a wide spectrum of damage to endolaryngeal soft tissues as well as underlying cartilaginous skeleton leading to upper airway obstruction requiring emergency tracheostomy. A case report of blunt trauma neck anterior is presented who developed upper airway obstruction necessitating tracheostomy. Indirect Laryngoscopy and fibre optic examination identified vocal cord paralysis as primary cause of upper airway obstruction although X ray soft tissue neck and CT neck revealed fracture hyoid as well as hematoma surrounding the laryngeal frame work. Emergency tracheostomy was done and patient recovered uneventfully.     

Sarcoidosis as a cause of left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy

Vocal cord paralysis is an unusual complication of sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis may affect vocal cord function by either direct involvement of the cord or by involvement of the neural pathways, including the nucleus ambiguous, the 10th cranial nerves, and the superior and recurrent laryngeal nerves. There have been only two previous case reports of sarcoidosis with mediastinal adenopathy causing compression of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve and vocal cord paralysis. We present a third such case.     

Histopathology of vocal cord palsy from recurrent laryngeal nerve damage

The detailed postmortem laryngeal findings of a man with an established vocal cord palsy from an inoperable bronchial carcinoma is presented. Fine dissection of the monoblock specimen from skull base to superior mediastinum allowed sampling of vagus, recurrent and superior laryngeal nerves at different levels for fiber counts in order to compare the affected left and unaffected right side. Horizontal slicing of the whole larynx showed that the main cause of lateral displacement of the paralyzed left cord was gross atrophy of the underlying intrinsic laryngeal muscles. Cricothyroid muscle and superior laryngeal nerves were unaffected. Lateral cord drift due to underlying muscle atrophy is a better explanation of paralyzed cord position in this case than the Wagner and Grossmann theory of cord palsy.