Is there a role for routine laryngoscopy before and after parathyroid surgery?

The Surgeon : Journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland
George E FowlerSabapathy P Balasubramanian

Abstract

Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy is a potential complication of parathyroid surgery with significant morbidity and a cause of medico-legal litigation. Peri-operative laryngoscopy to assess RLN function helps identify a vocal cord palsy and guide management. The value of its routine use in asymptomatic patients is however unclear. The low risk of permanent palsy, rarity of true asymptomatic palsy and costs, discomfort and inconvenience to patients are arguments against routine laryngoscopy. This study assessed the results of routine laryngoscopy in patients having parathyroid surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). All patients having parathyroid surgery for PHPT (exclusion: re-do surgery and concurrent thyroidectomy) over a 3-year period were included from a tertiary endocrine surgical unit. Data on voice-related outcomes and pre- and post-operative laryngoscopy, including its local cost, were collected and analysed. Of 189 patients who underwent parathyroid surgery, 66 had a unilateral neck exploration. The incidence of vocal cord palsy was 0.5% (1 in 186 patients) and 1.7% (3 in 179 patients) for pre- and post-operative laryngoscopy respectively. The single patient with pre-operative cord palsy was asymptomatic. ...Continue Reading

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