The left recurrent laryngeal nerve at birth: anatomy and surgical applications.

The aim of this study was to define the origin, course, caliber and relations of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve (N Laryngeus recurrens) in order to localize the nerve during surgery for esophageal atresia. Eighteen anatomic specimens were dissected and 12 surgical cases were analysed. Left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy after this particular form of neonatal surgery is a very real risk. It seemed useful to describe an anatomic technique of identifying the nerve in the mediastinum during such surgery, in order to prevent this complication.