Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026
05:25
Identification and Protection of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve during Transoral Robotic Thyroidectomy
Published on: October 24, 2025
[Visual identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroidectomy]
Fabio Procacciante1, Giulia Diamantini, Fabiana Caciolo
1U.O.C. Chirurgia Generale-Endocrina, Centro di alta qualificazione per le endocrinopatie complesse di interesse chirurgico, Azienda Policlinico "Umberto I', "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Roma. fabio.procacciante@uniroma1.it
Annali Italiani Di Chirurgia
|August 13, 2011
Summary
Thyroidectomy can injure the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN). This study details a visual identification technique to safeguard the RLN, significantly reducing nerve damage during thyroid surgery.
Area of Science:
- Head and Neck Surgery
- Surgical Anatomy
- Nerve Preservation
Context:
- Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injuries are a known complication of thyroidectomy.
- Despite various proposed techniques, minimizing RLN damage remains a surgical challenge.
Purpose:
- To describe a systematic technical method for the identification and preservation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during thyroidectomy.
- To evaluate the efficacy of this visual identification technique in preventing RLN injury.
Summary:
- A total of 175 patients underwent thyroidectomy using a systematic approach to identify the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) in the tracheoesophageal groove.
- The technique involved avoiding ligature, section, or electro-coagulation before definitive nerve identification and preservation.
- Unilateral RLN lesions occurred in 2.8% of cases, with temporary vocal deficit in 1.7%.
Impact:
- The described visual identification method allows for the visualization and preservation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) in the majority of thyroidectomy cases.
- This approach has demonstrated success in limiting nerve damage to a very low incidence.
Related Concept Videos
01:23The Thyroid Gland
The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck and covers the anterior surface of the trachea. The gland has two lateral lobes connected by a thin tissue mass called the isthmus. Internally, each lobe comprises many small spherical structures known as thyroid follicles, surrounded by a network of blood vessels.
The follicles have a central cavity lined by simple cuboidal to squamous epithelial cells called follicular cells. These cells produce the glycoprotein...
The follicles have a central cavity lined by simple cuboidal to squamous epithelial cells called follicular cells. These cells produce the glycoprotein...
01:21Larynx
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The larynx consists of various components, including cartilage, muscles, and vocal cords. Its structure includes three large unpaired cartilages—the thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis—and three smaller paired cartilages—the arytenoids, corniculates, and...
Anatomy of the Larynx
The larynx consists of various components, including cartilage, muscles, and vocal cords. Its structure includes three large unpaired cartilages—the thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis—and three smaller paired cartilages—the arytenoids, corniculates, and...