AI Article Synopsis
- Vocal cord paresis or paralysis is a significant risk in thyroid surgeries, with incidence rates ranging from 1.5% to 20%, potentially leading to hoarseness or severe breathing issues depending on whether the nerve is affected unilaterally or bilaterally.
- The study examined 255 patients who underwent thyroid surgery, assessing risk factors for recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (RLNI), and found that 9.8% experienced vocal cord insult, with higher rates in total/near-total surgeries and in cases of malignant lesions.
- Key factors increasing the likelihood of RLNI included male sex, total thyroidectomy procedures, and diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma compared to benign conditions.
Article Abstract
Background: Vocal cord paresis or paralysis caused by insult to the recurrent laryngeal nerve is one of the main hazards in thyroid surgery. The frequency of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy varies between 1.5-20%. Hoarseness is found with unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve insult (RLNI). Bilateral insult produces dyspnea and life-threatening glottal obstruction. The frequency of insult is more in re-do surgeries, Graves' disease, and thyroid carcinoma operations.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors of RLNI in thyroid surgery for benign or malignant lesions.
Methods: This retrospective investigation recruited 255 participants of both genders, aged 21-59 yrs. (average 39 yrs.), who were scheduled for thyroid surgery at King Hussein Hospital, King Hussein Medical City, Amman, Jordan, from October 2019 to October 2022. An indirect laryngoscopic examination was done for all participants pre and post surgery. Factors of RLNI such as benign or malignant lesions and type of surgery were investigated. Significance was tested with the chi-square test. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: RLNI was recorded in 25/255 patients (9.8%) following thyroidectomy. Temporary unilateral vocal cord insult was recorded in 17/255 (6.7%) participants out of which it became permanent for 3/255 (1.2%) participants. Bilateral vocal cord insult was recorded in 8/255 (3.1%) participants but did not become permanent for any of them (P < 0.05). A remarkable increase in the frequency of RLNI was found in total/near-total thyroidectomy patients (7/27, 25.9%) compared to patients with bilateral or unilateral subtotal thyroidectomy(18/228, 7.9%; P < 0.05), in malignant lesions (18/105, 17.1%) compared to in benign lesions(7/150, 4.7%; P < 0.05), and in men (9/74, 12.2%) compared to in women(16/181, 8.8%; P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Thyroid carcinoma, total thyroidectomy, and male sex were correlated with a remarkable risk of surgical RLNI.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10495145 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/medarh.2023.77.213-217 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!