[Anatomy of recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery].

OBJECTIVE

To study the anatomic characteristics of recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery.

METHOD: A retrospective review of surgical data of 307 patients undertook thyroid surgery was conducted.

RESULT: Total 342 recurrent laryngeal nerves were identified during the surgery(184 on the right side, left 158). 215 (62.9%) nerves were deep to the inferior thyroid artery, 106(31.0%)were superficial to the artery, 21(7.5%) were between the arterial branches. A nerve bifurcation was found in 203(59.4%). None of nerve bifurcation was found in 136(39.8%). 3(0.9%)were confirmed to hold non-recurrent laryngeal nerves during operations. No patient showed permanent laryngeal recurrent nerve paralysis postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

The careful dissection and protection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve was an effective method to prevent its injury during thyroid surgery.