Open AccessA laryngoscopy-based classification system for perioperative abnormal vocal cord movement in thyroid surgery
Author(s) -
Jingwei Xin,
Xiaoli Liu,
Hui Sun,
Jingting Li,
Daqi Zhang,
Yanwei Fu
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of international medical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.421
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1473-2300
pISSN - 0300-0605
DOI - 10.1177/0300060514535367
Subject(s) - medicine , laryngoscopy , asymptomatic , recurrent laryngeal nerve , surgery , thyroidectomy , vocal cord paralysis , retrospective cohort study , thyroid , perioperative , cord , anesthesia , intubation , paralysis
Objective A retrospective cohort study to develop a classification scheme for abnormal vocal cord movement (AVCM) before and after thyroid surgery.Methods Clinical and laryngoscopic data from patients who underwent partial or total thyroidectomy were analysed. AVCM was classified as mild (type I), moderate (type II) or severe (type III), according to laryngoscopic findings.Results The study included 1619 patients, of whom 39 had preoperative AVCM and 65 had postoperative AVCM. Recovery rates for preoperative, postoperative and total type I AVCM were higher than the corresponding type III AVCM. Recovery rates for total type II AVCM were higher than those for type III AVCM at 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Asymptomatic patients had better recovery rates than symptomatic patients.Conclusion We have developed a useful classification system for patients with AVCM after thyroidectomy. Pre- and postoperative laryngoscopy can identify asymptomatic AVCM and is essential to evaluate the extent of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in these patients.