Branching Patterns of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve in Thyroidectomy Patients

Authors

  • Saira Nizam ENT Department Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar
  • Adnan Yar Muhammad ENT Department Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar
  • Waseem Khan Topi Hospital Swabi
  • Khursheed Anwar ENT Department Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar
  • Fazal Rehman ENT Department Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52206/jsmc.2022.12.3.670

Abstract

Background: Historically, the Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) has been considered to branch after it enters the larynx, but numerous studies have demonstrated that it often branches before. The wide variability of this extra laryngeal branching (ELB) has significant implications for the risk of iatrogenic injury. Accurate knowledge of anatomical variations of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) provides information to prevent inadvertent intraoperative injury.
Objectives: Our study aimed to assess extra laryngeal branching of recurrent laryngeal nerve to find out branching patterns of RLN and to study whether there is any correlation between right and left side branching of RLN.
Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective analysis conducted on patients of Thyroid surgeries that is total and Near-total thyroidectomies. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar from 1st Jan 2014 till 31st Dec 2020, with total of 269 patients. We excluded hemi thyroidectomies and recurrent cases.
Results: The prevalence of single branching RLN was found to be 29.3% with 79 out of 269 patients. The branching pattern was found not statistically significant with age and gender. Surgeons need to pay special attention to the branching pattern of RLN so as to preserve it during surgery.
Conclusion: The anatomy of the RLN is highly variable, and ELB is likely to have been underreported in intraoperative studies. Because of its high likelihood, the possibility of ELB needs to be assessed in patients to prevent iatrogenic injury and long-term postoperative complications.
Key Words: Total thyroidectomy, Recurrent laryngeal nerve.Extralaryngeal branching.

Author Biography

Adnan Yar Muhammad, ENT Department Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar

Asistant Professor

ENT HMC

Additional Files

Published

09/26/2022

How to Cite

1.
Saira Nizam, Adnan Yar Muhammad, Waseem Khan, Khursheed Anwar, Fazal Rehman. Branching Patterns of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve in Thyroidectomy Patients. J Saidu Med Coll Swat [Internet]. 2022 Sep. 26 [cited 2023 Jun. 4];12(3):143-7. Available from: https://jsmc.pk/index.php/jsmc/article/view/670

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 3 (2022): Journal of Saidu Medical College, Swat

Section

Original Article

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