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Importance of pre-operative recognition of the nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Ikuo Nagayama ,
Yozo Okabe ,
Hideaki Katoh  and
Mitsuru Furukawa
Ikuo Nagayama*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Japan.
Yozo Okabe
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Japan.
Hideaki Katoh
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Japan.
Mitsuru Furukawa
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Japan.
*
Dr Ikuo Nagayama, Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawashi, Ishikawaken, Japan. Fax: (0762) 34-4265
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Abstract

The nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve is vulnerable during thyroid surgery. Pre-operative recognition of this nerve allows surgeons to avoid injuring the nerve. This anomaly depends upon the aortic arch anomaly and, therefore, in some cases, surgeons are able to predict the presence of this nerve pre-operatively by chest X-ray or barium swallow. Two patients with nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve are reported, one of whom, a 48-year-old man, had an abnormal shadow of the aortic arch, which led to confirmation of a right aberrant subclavian artery. Barium swallow plays a decisive role in the diagnosis of nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve, and this test is mandatory in patients who complain of difficulty in swallowing.

Keywords

Laryngeal nervenonrecurrentSubclavian arteryright aberrantThyroid glandsurgery
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 108 , Issue 5 , May 1994 , pp. 417 - 419
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1994

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