Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy after thyroid cancer surgery: a laryngological and surgical problem

Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis is one of the most frequent complications after thyroid surgery due to goiter and cancers. A higher probability of this complication occurs after secondary procedure of the thyroid and in malignant cases. The symptoms may differ and depend on many factors. Generally, patients need careful ENT and surgical care including diagnosis and treatment. Four hundred and sixty-six patients who underwent thyroid operation due to cancer were analyzed. The group was composed of 227 papillary carcinoma, 87 follicular carcinoma, 51 medullary carcinoma, and 101 anaplastic carcinoma. Two hundred and fifty-three total thyroidectomies, 82 lobectomies and subtotal second lobe operations, 91 subtotal thyroidectomies, and 40 biopsies (wedge resections) were performed. In all 426 total and subtotal thyroidectomies an attempt to identify the recurrent laryngeal nerves was carried out. For 360 patients (77%) the surgical procedure was primary and for 106 patients (23%) the operation was secondary. Preoperative and postoperative laryngoscopic examinations were performed in all patients. Every patient with palsy underwent special laryngological procedures if needed (tracheotomy, phoniatric rehabilitation, conservative treatment and surgery in lack of improvement). The rate of postoperative vocal cord paralysis was 4.7%. The permanent palsy rate was 3.5%. In 1.2% recovery was observed. Of the 4.7% palsy rate, 3.2% concerned unilateral palsy and 1.5% bilateral pathology. Using the χ2 test, no significant differences between the rate of unilateral and bilateral paralysis and between temporary and permanent paralysis were found. On the basis of our material and results, identification the recurrent laryngeal nerves should be mandatory at surgery, thereby avoiding paralysis. Special laryngological procedures and surgical care from the beginning of paralysis are necessary for patients with vocal cord palsy. It allows to diagnose and treat patients with quite good results.