Evaluation of vocal cord function after thyroid surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To compare clinical evaluation and indirect laryngoscopy with videolaryngostroboscopy (VLS), which is a new method of diagnosing abnormalities and dysfunction of the vocal folds.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

Teaching hospital, Turkey.

SUBJECTS: 218 patients who required thyroidectomy and who had no vocal abnormality preoperatively.

INTERVENTIONS: Clinical evaluation, indirect laryngoscopy, and VLS before operation and on the second postoperative day.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sensitivity and specificity.

RESULTS

The specificity of all three investigations was 100%. The sensitivity of VLS was 100%, of clinical evaluation 81%, and of indirect laryngoscopy 67%.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical evaluation and indirect laryngoscopy are safe ways of evaluating abnormalities of the vocal cords postoperatively. It would probably not be cost-effective to use VLS routinely, but for differential diagnosis and evaluation of prognosis of vocal abnormalities after thyroidectomy it is more accurate.