From 1975 to 1979 443 primary operations were performed in benign goiters. The total complication (intra- and immediately postoperatively) rate was 9.2%. Remarkable was the mortality rate of 0% and the rate of postoperative recurrent nerve palsy of 5.4%. The alterations of the surgical material by iodine prophylaxis and by extended thyroid diagnostics are shortly discussed. The topography of the recurrent nerve and its special items in endemic goiter area are described and the problems of intra-operative nerve preparation are commented.