Objective To explore the clinical significance of exposure the recurrent laryngeal nerve（RLN） for preventing the RLN injury in thyroidectomy. Methods The data of 1 723 patients with thyroid diseases undergoing total or subtotal thyroidectomy from September 2006 to August 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. RLN were exposed in 914 cases, 1 203 RLNs were exposed（exposed group）. RLN were unexposed in 809 cases, 1 013 sides were cut（unexposed group）. To compare RLN injury rate after operation and recovery of vocal cord in 6 months after operation between the two groups. Results In exposed group, 11 cases had RLN injury, the rate of RLN lesion was 0.91%. In unexposed group, 21 cases had RLN injury, the rate of RLN lesion was 2.07%. The differences between the two groups had statistical significance（P＜0.05）. When six months after operation, 0 case and 13 cases in exposed group and unexposed group respectively occurred permanent RLN injury, the differences between the two groups had statistical significance（P＜0.01）. Conclusion Exposure of RLN in total and subtotal thyroidectomy can significant avoid RLN injury, especially RLN permanent injury.
目的 探讨甲状腺手术方式和喉返神经损伤（RLN）的关系。 方法 回顾性分析2009年1月至2012年6月期间于笔者所在医院科室接受开放性甲状腺手术的985例患者的临床资料，探讨甲状腺手术方式和RLN损伤的关系。 结果 本组患者术后发生RLN损伤26例（2.6%），未发生RLN损伤959例（97.4%）。logistic回归分析结果显示，年龄、性别、超声刀应用、麻醉方式及肿块良恶性与RLN损伤均无关（P＞0.05），而手术范围（OR=3.726，P=0.007）和显露RLN（OR=0.302，P=0.006）则是RLN损伤的影响因素，行扩大性手术及未显露RLN者的RLN损伤率较高。 结论 在开放性甲状腺手术中，手术范围以及显露RLN是RLN损伤的独立影响因素，术中显露并注意保护RLN，对避免RLN损伤具有重要意义。
ObjectiveTo investigate the predictive value of recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph nodes (RLN) status for supraclavicular lymph node (SLN) metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 83 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent McKeown three-field lymphadenectomy from January 2017 to April 2018 in our hospital, including 53 males and 30 females with an average age of 64.07±7.05 years.ResultsThe SLN metastasis rate of the patients was 24.1%. The rate in the thoracic and abdominal metastases positive (N1-3) group and negative (N0) group was 37.8% and 13.0%, respectively, with a statistical difference (P<0.05). The rate of SLN metastasis was significantly different between the RLN metastasis positive (RLN+) and negative (RLN–) groups (39.1% vs. 18.3%, P<0.05). One side of RLN metastasis could lead to SLN metastasis on the opposite side. No correlation between the SLN metastasis and age, gender, location, differentiation degree, maximum tumor diameter, T-staging or histologic type was observed (P>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis in chest or abdomen was an independent predictor of SLN metastasis.ConclusionRLN+ is not the independent predictor for SLN metastasis. SLN should be dissected in N1-3 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma without considering tumor location and T-staging. Bilateral SLN dissection should be recommended even if RLN metastasis is only unilateral.
ObjectiveTo explore the influencing factors affecting lymph nodes posterior to the right recurrent laryngeal nerve (LN-prRLN) metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and construct a clinical nomogram prediction model to provide a reference for LN-prRLN dissection decision-making. MethodsThe clinical data of PTC patients admitted to the General Surgery Department of Baoding No.1 Central Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 325 patients underwent LN-prRLN dissection, and they were divided into non-metastatic group (269 cases) and metastasis group (56 cases) according to the presence or absence of LN-prRLN metastasis. By comparing the differences of clinical and pathological characteristics between the two groups, the risk factors of LN-prRLN metastasis were analyzed and discussed, and then the nomogram prediction model of LN-prRLN metastasis was constructed with the risk factors, and the effectiveness of the model was verified and evaluated. ResultsIn 325 patients, 56 cases (17.23%) occurred LN-prRLN metastasis. The results of univariate analysis showed that gender, extrathyroidal extension, lymph nodes anterior to right recurrent laryngeal nerve (LN-arRLN) metastasis, location of cancer focus, and lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM) were related to LN-prRLN metastasis of PTC (P<0.05). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that male [OR=3.878, 95%CI (1.192, 12.615)], with extrathyroidal extension [OR=2.836, 95%CI (1.036, 7.759)], with LN-arRLN metastasis [OR=10.406, 95%CI (3.225, 33.926)], right cancer focus [OR= 5.632, 95%CI (1.812, 17.504)] and with LLNM [OR=3.426, 95%CI (1.147, 10.231)] were the risk factors of LN-prRLN metastasis. Receiver operating characteristic curves of nomogram prediction model based on the above risk factors showed that the area under the curve was 0.865, 95%CI was (0.795, 0.934), Jordan index was 0.729, sensitivity was 0.873, and specificity was 0.856, which had higher prediction value. The C-index of Bootstrap test was 0.840 [95%CI (0.755, 0.954) ]. Calibration curves showed that predictive value close to the ideal curve, had good consistency. The clinical decision curve analysis showed that the model had good clinical prediction effect on LN-prRLN metastasis of PTC. ConclusionsMale, extrathyroidal extension, LN-arRLN metastasis, right cancer focus and LLNM are independent risk factors for LN-prRLN metastasis of PTC. The nomogram prediction model based on the above independent risk factors has high discrimination and calibration, which is helpful for surgeons to make clinical decisions.
Objective To explore anatomical features and variation of non-recurrent laryngeal nerve and to summarize identification method, operation skill, and damage treatment experience of it. Method The clinical data of 15 patients with non-recurrent laryngeal nerve in 4 054 patients who underwent thyroidectomy from our division by the same medical group from January 2006 to January 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 6 626 recurrent laryngeal nerve (left side 3 248, right side 3 378) were exposed in 4 054 cases. Fifteen patients with non-recurrent laryngeal nerve were detected with an incidence of 0.23% (15/6 626), all located on the right side. There were 3 males and 12 females. There were 3 cases of type Ⅰ, 10 cases of type Ⅱa, 2 cases of type Ⅱb. And 2 patients with non-recurrent laryngeal nerve were injured. Conclusions Incidence of non-recurrent laryngeal nerve is lower, most of which occur on right side of neck, there is a high injury rate for its special anatomical location. It’s key to prevent nerve injury for careful interpreting preoperative auxiliary examination results and improving awareness of non-recurrent laryngeal nerve, fining dissection, conventional exposuring recurrent laryngeal nerve, and accurate using nerve monitor during operation.
Objective To compare the advantages and disadvantages of using the harmonic scalpel and bipolar coagulation forceps versus harmonic scalpel and conventional clamp-and-tie technique in open thyroid surgery.Methods One hundred patients indicated for thyroid surgery were randomly divided into two groups：the bipolar coagulation forceps group underwent surgery with harmonic scalpel and bipolar coagulation forceps，and the conventional clamp-and-tie group with harmonic scalpel and conventional clamp-and-tie technique，respectively.All operations were performed by the same group of doctors.The total operation time，intraoperative bleeding，mass diameter，postoperative drainage，and surgical complications （postoperative bleeding， postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis，seroma，and permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism） were compared.Results There were 48 valid cases in the bipolar coagulation forceps group， and 49 cases in the conventional clamp-and-tie group. There were no significant differences between two groups patients of age，gender，disease composition，and mass diameter（P＞0.05）.With the same operative approach， the total operation time，intraoperative bleeding，and the incidence of transient postoperative hypoparathyroidism in the bipolar coagulation forceps group were significantly lower than those in the conventional clamp-and-tie group （P＜0.001）.The postoperative drainage in the bipolar coagulation forceps group was more than that in the conventional clamp-and-tie group （P＜0.05）.There was no single case of postoperative bleeding，postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis，seroma，and permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism in both groups.Conclusions The combination of harmonic scapel with bipolar coagulation forceps provides significant advantages over the combination of harmonic scapel with conventional clamp-and-tie technique in open thyroid surgery.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safty of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and parathyroid if Pseudomonas aeruginosa injection (PAI) is used after total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection (CND).MethodsFrom Mar. 2016 to Oct. 2017, we recruited 113 patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) who accepted total thyroidectomy and CND. During operation, 1 mL of PAI was applied in 58 patients (local spray group) and 55 not (control group). The hoarseness, hypoparathyroidism, chylous fistula, drainage volume, hospital stay, and incidence of complications were compared between the two groups.ResultsThe two groups embraced few difference in age, gender, BMI, tumor site, the diameter of tumor and the number of metastatic and the harvested lymph nodes (P>0.05). There were nobody who has suffered in hoarseness and permanent hypoparathyroidism in both groups at any time after operation. There was no significant differences of complication between the two groups. The drainage volume at 24 h after operation in the local spraying group was more than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.023). There were 2 patients had chylous fistula after surgery in the control group but none in the local spray group. The total volumes of drainage, incidence of fever and incision infection, the mean stay in the hospital, and the postoperative pain score had no statistic significance in the both groups.ConclusionAfter total thyroidectomy and CND, local spraying of PAI in the wound cavity is safe and will not damage the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
OBJECTIVE In order to investigate the opportunity of repair and prognosis of recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries after thyroidectomy. METHODS Twelve cases with recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries after thyroidectomy were immediately and delayed operated on nerve repair and reinnervation. In immediate operation, 5 cases were repaired by direct recurrent laryngeal nerve suture, and 1 case was treated by transposition of the phrenic nerve to the recurrent laryngeal nerve and sutured the adductor branch to the branch of ansa cervicalis. In delayed operation, 3 cases were treated by anastomosis the main trunk of ansa cervicalis to the adductor branch of recurrent laryngeal nerve, and 3 cases were operated on neuromuscular pedicle to reinnervate posterior cricoarytenoid muscle. RESULTS Followed up 6 months, the effect was excellent in 1 case who was immediately operated by selective reinnervation of the abductor and adductor muscles of the larynx, better in 9 cases, and poor in 2 cases who were delayed operated over 12 months. CONCLUSION It can be concluded that the earlier reinnervation is performed, the better prognosis is.
ObjectiveTo research the relevancy between the amplitudes of EMG signal of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during thyroidectemy with the movement of vocal cords after operation by applying the intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) and verify the proper warning criterion. MethodsFrom April 2013 to October 2013, 130 patients (214 nerves at risk) underwent complex thyroidectomy with the application of IONM. According to the degree of amplitude changing on different sites of RLN (proximal site and distal site) before closing incision, all the patients were divided into 10 groups. Every patient's vocal cords movement after operation by laryngoscopy and simulated the neural function in real time were compared. ResultsSeven patients got abnormal movement of vocal cords, the corresponding amplitudes of the EMG signal of RLN were in the range between 0 to 50%, 1 case from Group 6 (40%≤Rp/Rd<50%), 1 case from Group 8 (20%≤Rp/Rd<30%), 1 case from Group 9 (10%≤Rp/Rd<20%), 4 cases from Group 10 (0≤Rp/Rd<10%), and there's no permanent RLN palsy. ConclusionThe final amplitude of RLN decrease below 50%R1 would probably lead to vocal cords' abnormal movement, and when it decrease below 30%R1, the possibility of abnormal movement would increase; 50% decrease of EMG amplitude can be used as a warning criterion to prevent nerve function damage.