Ansa-recurrent nerve anastomosis for vocal cord paralysis due to mediastinal lesions.

Recurrent laryngeal or vagus nerve injuries in the mediastinum are repaired rarely because of technical difficulties. Impairment in phonation is especially severe in patients with respiratory dysfunction. We performed a simple and less invasive reconstruction, ansa cervicalis-recurrent laryngeal nerve anastomosis in the neck, to improve phonation in 2 patients. Although the reinnervated vocal cord did not regain normal movement, both of the patients obtained excellent improvement in phonation.