Biomaterial Database

The recurrent laryngeal nerve in thyroid surgery. 2008

J P O'Neill, and J E Fenton

Department of Otolaryngology, Mid Western Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle, Limerick.

The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is an essential nerve for phonation and psychosocial interaction. Throughout the annals oflaryngological history, vocal cord paralysis has been a well recognised disorder. A rich heritage of scientific investigation and research has considered the complexity of vocal cord function, laryngoscopic presentation and surgical rehabilitation. Identification and preservation of the RLN is the major concern in thyroid surgery. Controversy exists regarding the correct pre- and postoperative management in vocal cord evaluation. We fully review this topic and challenge, in part, the recent Thyroid Clinical Guidelines as published by RCSI.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007431	Intraoperative Complications	Complications that affect patients during surgery. They may or may not be associated with the disease for which the surgery is done, or within the same surgical procedure.	Peroperative Complications,Surgical Injuries,Complication, Intraoperative,Complication, Peroperative,Injuries, Surgical,Complications, Intraoperative,Complications, Peroperative,Injury, Surgical,Intraoperative Complication,Peroperative Complication,Surgical Injury
D007828	Laryngoscopy	Examination, therapy or surgery of the interior of the larynx performed with a specially designed endoscope.	Laryngoscopic Surgical Procedures,Surgical Procedures, Laryngoscopic,Laryngoscopic Surgery,Surgery, Laryngoscopic,Laryngoscopic Surgeries,Laryngoscopic Surgical Procedure,Laryngoscopies,Procedure, Laryngoscopic Surgical,Procedures, Laryngoscopic Surgical,Surgeries, Laryngoscopic,Surgical Procedure, Laryngoscopic
D011183	Postoperative Complications	Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery.	Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D012009	Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve	Branches of the vagus (tenth cranial) nerve. The recurrent laryngeal nerves originate more caudally than the superior laryngeal nerves and follow different paths on the right and left sides. They carry efferents to all muscles of the larynx except the cricothyroid and carry sensory and autonomic fibers to the laryngeal, pharyngeal, tracheal, and cardiac regions.	Laryngeal Nerve, Inferior,Inferior Laryngeal Nerve,Inferior Laryngeal Nerves,Laryngeal Nerve, Recurrent,Laryngeal Nerves, Inferior,Laryngeal Nerves, Recurrent,Nerve, Inferior Laryngeal,Nerve, Recurrent Laryngeal,Nerves, Inferior Laryngeal,Nerves, Recurrent Laryngeal,Recurrent Laryngeal Nerves
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013959	Thyroid Diseases	Pathological processes involving the THYROID GLAND.	Disease, Thyroid,Diseases, Thyroid,Thyroid Disease
D013965	Thyroidectomy	Surgical removal of the thyroid gland. (Dorland, 28th ed)	Thyroidectomies
D014826	Vocal Cord Paralysis	Congenital or acquired paralysis of one or both VOCAL CORDS. This condition is caused by defects in the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, the VAGUS NERVE and branches of LARYNGEAL NERVES. Common symptoms are VOICE DISORDERS including HOARSENESS or APHONIA.	Laryngeal Nerve Palsy, Recurrent,Laryngeal Paralysis,Acquired Vocal Cord Palsy,Bilateral Vocal Cord Paresis,Congenital Vocal Cord Palsy,Paralysis, Unilateral, Vocal Cord,Paralysis, Vocal Cord, Unilateral,Partial Paralysis (Paresis) Vocal Cords,Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Palsy,Total Vocal Cord Paralysis,Unilateral Paralysis, Vocal Cord,Unilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis,Unilateral Vocal Cord Paresis,Vocal Cord Palsy,Vocal Cord Palsy, Congenital,Vocal Cord Paralysis, Unilateral,Vocal Cord Paresis,Vocal Fold Palsy,Laryngeal Paralyses,Palsies, Vocal Cord,Palsies, Vocal Fold,Palsy, Vocal Cord,Palsy, Vocal Fold,Paralyses, Laryngeal,Paralyses, Vocal Cord,Paralysis, Laryngeal,Paralysis, Vocal Cord,Pareses, Vocal Cord,Paresis, Vocal Cord,Vocal Cord Palsies,Vocal Cord Paralyses,Vocal Cord Pareses,Vocal Fold Palsies
D061226	Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries	Traumatic injuries to the RECURRENT LARYNGEAL NERVE that may result in vocal cord dysfunction.	Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Contusion,Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury,Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Transection,Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Trauma,Recurrent Laryngeal Neuropathy, Traumatic