Laryngeal Nerve Palsy

Laryngeal nerve palsy may occur during thyroid surgery as a result of the close relationship laryngeal nerves with gland and its feeding vessels. It represents second most common complication thyroidectomy, accounting for up to 9.8% cases. Although patients recover within 6–12 months after (transient palsy), condition prove permanent in 2.3% Causes be related excessive traction dissection, crushing, thermal injury, inadvertent or planned (because tumor infiltration) transection. Symptoms range from voice changes (hoarseness, dysphonia) dysphagia unilateral injuries stridor asphyxia bilateral palsy, which represent fearsome surgery. Prevention, based on thorough knowledge anatomy, adequate training, meticulous surgical possible use intraoperative monitoring devices, is mandatory. This chapter discusses all aspects applied prevention multidisciplinary treatment palsies.