scholarly journals Optimal Management of the Unilateral Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Involvement in Patients with Thyroid Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2129
Author(s):  
Satoru Miyamaru ◽  
Daizo Murakami ◽  
Kohei Nishimoto ◽  
Narihiro Kodama ◽  
Joji Tashiro ◽  
...  

We aimed to determine the optimal management of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) involvement in thyroid cancer. We enrolled 80 patients with unilateral RLN involvement in thyroid cancer between 2000 and 2016. Eleven patients with preoperatively functional vocal folds (VFs) underwent sharp tumor resection to preserve the RLN (shaving group). Thirty-three patients underwent RLN reconstruction with RLN resection (reconstruction group). We divided the reconstruction group into two subgroups based on preoperative VF mobility (normal-reconstruction and paralyzed-reconstruction subgroups). In the cases where RLN reconstruction was difficult, phonosurgeries including arytenoid adduction (AA), with or without thyroplasty type I, or nerve muscle pedicle implantation with AA were performed later (phonosurgery group). We evaluated and compared vocal function among the evaluated periods and different groups. Postoperative vocal function in the shaving and normal-reconstruction subgroups was favorable. There were no significant differences between the two groups. In the paralyzed-reconstruction and phonosurgery groups, postoperative vocal function was significantly improved, and vocal function in the paralyzed-reconstruction subgroup was significantly better than that in the phonosurgery group. For optimal management of unilateral RLN involvement in thyroid cancer, first, sharp dissection should be performed, and if this is impossible, a simultaneous RLN reconstruction procedure should be adopted whenever possible.

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuji Sanuki ◽  
Eiji Yumoto ◽  
Ryosei Minoda ◽  
Narihiro Kodama

Unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) is one of the most serious problems in conducting surgery for thyroid cancer. Different treatments are available for the management of UVFP including intracordal injection, type I thyroplasty, arytenoid adduction, and laryngeal reinnervations. The effects of immediate recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) reconstruction during thyroid cancer surgery with or without UVFP before the surgery were evaluated with videostroboscopic, aerodynamic, and perceptual analyses. All subjects experienced postoperative improvements in voice quality. Particularly, aerodynamic analysis showed that the values for all patients entered normal ranges in both patients with and without UVFP before surgery. Immediate RLN reconstruction has the potential to restore a normal or near-normal voice by returning thyroarytenoid muscle tone and bulk seen with vocal fold denervation. Immediate RLN reconstruction is an efficient and effective approach to the management of RLN resection during surgery for thyroid cancer.


2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 120-122
Author(s):  
N.V. Kovalenko ◽  
◽  
D.V. Fainshtein ◽  
V.V. Ponomaryev ◽  
A.Yu. Nenarokomov ◽  
...  

The incidence of thyroid cancer in the period from 2008 to 2018 in the Russian Federation increased from 74,8 to 114,1 cases per 100,000 population. The risk of damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve during primary operations ranges from 0,5 to 23 %, with repeated operations increases to 62 %. The Volgograd regional clinical oncological dispensary uses the technique of intraoperative restoration of the function of the recurrent laryngeal nerve by means of a micro-neural anastomosis with the main trunk of the vagus nerve. We have experience in performing 6 similar operations. The description of this technique is given on the example of a clinical case. The described technique allows you to completely restore the voice and mobility of the vocal folds of the larynx. Respiratory function is fully restored, which makes it possible to avoid the formation of a tracheostomy in case of bilateral nerve damage, and if even unilateral paresis led to decompensated respiratory failure.


1996 ◽  
Vol 110 (8) ◽  
pp. 748-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Rubio ◽  
M. R. Fernández ◽  
J. Figols ◽  
J. Rama

AbstractThe effectiveness of anastomosis of a divided recurrent laryngeal nerve was evaluated in six adult mongrel dogs. Videolaryngoscopy and evoked compound muscle action potentials in the intrinsic laryngeal muscles were performed at six months and the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles and recurrent laryngeal nerves were processed for histomorphometric studies. Recovery of compound muscle action potentials in all re-innervated muscles and histomorphometric findings confirmed a good grade of axonal regeneration. The most significant histomorphometric changes observed were: a reactive hypertrophy of type I fibres in the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles of the re-innervated side, and a high nerve fibre density in the distal stump to the anastomosis. However, incomplete recovery of motion and fasciculated movements of the reinnervated vocal folds were observed. Reduction of effective motor units in the re-innervated muscles might be a factor that cause incomplete restoration of vocal fold movements.


2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 342-348
Author(s):  
Viktor Makarin ◽  
Anna Uspenskaya ◽  
Arseniy Semenov ◽  
Natalya Timofeeva ◽  
Roman Chernikov ◽  
...  

Laryngeal muscles paresis ranks second in prevalence of postoperative complications after thyroid surgery. Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) results in reduction of cases with dysphonia and prevents such severe complication as bilateral paresis. Currently there are two types of monitoring: intermittent and continual. When using intermittent IONM surgeon has no opportunity to control electrophysiology state of RLN during intervals between stimulations. In case of continual IONM date on amplitude and latency are available to surgeon in real time every second, allowing him instantly react to any disturbance of neural transmission to prevent its damage by changing surgical manipulation. This work presents the first experience of using continual neuromonitoring of RLN in Russia, the procedure is described in details its safety. It is represented the possibility of prevention of bilateral laryngeal muscles paresis.


Oral Oncology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 118 ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Chiu Ho Quentin Mak ◽  
Chrysostomos Tornari ◽  
Noah Evans Harding ◽  
Daria Andreeva ◽  
Iain James Nixon ◽  
...  

1989 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 373-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gayle E. Woodson

The cricothyroid muscle (CT) appears to be an accessory muscle of respiration. Phasic inspiratory contraction is stimulated by increasing respiratory demand. Reflex activation of the CT may be responsible for the paramedian position of the vocal folds, and hence airway obstruction, in patients with bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paralysis. Previous research has demonstrated the influence of superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) afferents on CT activity. The present study addresses the effects of vagal and RLN afferents. Electromyographic activity of the CT and right posterior cricoarytenoid muscle was monitored in anesthetized cats during tracheotomy breathing and in response to tracheal or upper airway occlusion in the intact animal. This was repeated following left RLN transection, bilateral vagotomy, and bilateral SLN transection. Vagotomy abolished CT response to tracheal occlusion and markedly reduced the response to upper airway occlusion. Vocal fold position following RLN transection appeared to correlate with CT activity; however, observed changes were minor.


1998 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang-Ling Lu ◽  
Donna S. Lundy ◽  
Roy R. Casiano ◽  
Jun-Wu Xue

This study investigated the prethyroplasty and postthyroplasty voices of patients with glottic incompetence of mobile vocal folds related to vocal fold bowing and scarring. Seventeen patients underwent vocal function evaluation preoperatively and 1 month postoperatively with videostrobolaryngoscopic examination, acoustic and aerodynamic analysis, and perceptual judgment of voice characteristics. The postoperative voice outcome in this group of patients was compared to that of a group of patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Patients with vocal fold bowing showed significant improvement in glottic gap size and hoarseness after the surgery. There was minimal improvement on other test measures. Patients with vocal fold scarring exhibited worse preoperative and postoperative vocal functions, with little voice improvement after surgery. The outcome of thyroplasty type I in cases of vocal fold bowing or scarring is not as good as that in unilateral vocal fold paralysis.


2012 ◽  
Vol 146 (6) ◽  
pp. 900-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Sheahan ◽  
Ann O’Connor ◽  
Matthew S. Murphy

Objective. Despite preservation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), transient vocal cord paralysis (VCP) occurs after 1.2% to 10.9% of thyroidectomies. The objective of this study was to study risk factors for transient VCP after thyroidectomy. Study Design. Prospective cohort study. Setting. Academic teaching hospital. Subjects and Methods. Two hundred fifteen consecutive thyroid surgeries performed by a single surgeon. All patients underwent preoperative and postoperative laryngoscopy. Patients with preexisting VCP or without postoperative laryngoscopy were excluded. Clinical and operative data were recorded prospectively at the time of thyroid surgery. The association between possible risk factors and occurrence of postoperative transient VCP was studied. Results. Six patients were excluded (2 with preexisting VCP and 4 without postoperative laryngoscopy). There was 1 intentional sacrifice of an RLN and 1 unintentional RLN transection. Of the remaining 322 RLNs at risk, 15 (4.7%) had postoperative VCP. Operative findings of cancer invading the RLN requiring sharp dissection to separate the nerve ( P = .006) and operative findings of RLN extensively draped along the thyroid or intimately associated with the thyroid parenchyma at Berry’s ligament ( P = .03) were significantly associated with VCP. Revision surgery ( P = .06) trended toward significance. Malignancy, central compartment neck dissection, extralaryngeal RLN branching, hyperthyroidism, and retrosternal extension were not significant. Of cases with follow-up laryngoscopic documentation of vocal function, 85% (11/13) showed full resolution of VCP, with 1 further case showing partial recovery. Conclusion. Invasive cancer and variants in the anatomic course of the RLN are risk factors for transient VCP after thyroidectomy.


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