The usefulness and significance of naso-pharyngo-laryngo-tracheal fiberscopy in thyroid surgery.

The authors conducted naso-pharyngo-laryngo-tracheal fiberscopic examinations before and after thyroid surgery. Preoperative examination included an inspection of vocal cord movement, the compression and deformity of the trachea caused by goiters, changes in the color of the tunica mucosa tracheae, and the presence of tumorous invasion. Postoperatively, this method was employed primarily to determine the presence of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, changes in the tracheal mucosa caused by manipulations in thyroid surgery and in cases in which surgery involved the tracheal wall, and to inspect the treated condition at the original tracheal site and detect the presence of possible recurrences. The manipulations can be easily carried out, causing little pain, and the procedure is economically feasible. Since it can provide more useful information than any other examination method, the active use of endoscopic examination by surgeons themselves at numerous facilities would appear desirable.