Background. The study's aim was to determine whether conventional hemostasis (CH) or the Harmonic Scalpel (HS) results in shorter operative times for thyroidectomy and to evaluate the incidence of postoperative complications with each approach. Methods. A literature search was conducted from study inception to September 30, 2008. Included studies randomized thyroidectomy patients to either CH o...

Objective. Our goal is to study the feasibility of using intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) in minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy (MIVAT/P) with emphasis given to the identification of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN). Methods. Consecutive series of forty-seven patients with seventy-seven recurrent laryngeal nerves at risk undergoing both MIVAT/P and IONM we...

We recently began performing intraoperative electrophysiologic monitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve during high-risk thyroidectomies. Neuromonitoring can detect stimulation of these nerves and thereby prevent a mechanical or thermal injury that can result in neurapraxia or axonotmesis. Monitoring is also useful during dissection in ...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To enhance understanding of spontaneous laryngeal muscle reinnervation following severe recurrent laryngeal nerve injury by testing the hypotheses that 1) nerve fibers responsible for thyroarytenoid muscle reinnervation can originate from multiple sources and 2) superior laryngeal nerve is a source of reinnervation. STUDY DESIGN Prospective, controlled, animal model. M...

Vocal fold paralysis may occur for a wide range of reasons, from cardiac chamber enlargement, intoxication by chemical products, and mediastinal, neck, lung and intracranial tumors. Given the vast array of possibilities and the various points where the vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves (the latter is a branch of the first and innervates most laryngeal intrinsic muscles) may be injured, often...

Lesions to the laryngeal nerves, despite their low incidence, are the most severe long term complications after thyroidectomy.Visualization after careful dissection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is now the gold standard among thyroid surgeons. The Zuckerkandl tubercle (TZ) is a constant landmark for the identification of the RLN. Recent studies show the occurrence of two or more branch...

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Though intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) during thyroid surgery has gained universal acceptance for localizing and identifying the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), its role in reducing the rate of RLN injury remains controversial. In order to assess the effect of IONM during thyroid surgery, its value in reducing the incidence of RLN palsy was systematically evaluated. ...

Objective. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of laryngeal nerve (LN) monitoring (LNM) during total endoscopic thyroidectomy via breast approach, with emphasis on the identification rates for RLN and EBSLN and the incidence of RLN paralysis. Materials and Methods. This retrospective study included 280 patients who underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy with or without LNM. RLN and EBSLN were identif...

The following unusual variations were observed while making a routine dissection of a newborn white child. The left subclavian artery arises from the right subclavian on the right side of the neck. It then curves upward and to the left and passes dorsally, in succession, the right internal jugular vein, common carotid artery, vagus, cervical sympathetic and inferior laryngeal nerves, and the sc...