Flexible Laryngoscopy Findings in Patients Undergoing Thyroidectomy in North-Central Nigeria

Thyroidectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in Africa and indeed globally. Although the prevalence of vocal cord paralysis (VCP) and incidental laryngopharyngeal pathologies (LPPs) is reported to be low, the rate of occurrence is not known in our environment. Therefore, preoperative laryngeal examination provides not only a more accurate assessment of operative risks but also additional information that may help avoid legal problems with undetected preoperative voice disorders.

To evaluate the flexible laryngoscopy findings and determine the prevalence of VCP and incidental LPPs in patients undergoing thyroidectomy.

A cross-sectional study among patients with goitre who were being planned for thyroidectomy using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Ethical clearance and informed consent were obtained. Flexible laryngoscopy was performed, and data was analyzed using the Statistical Product and Service Solutions version 28.0.

Eighty-two patients were evaluated. Preoperative flexible laryngoscopy showed VCP in 4 (4.9%) patients, incidental LPPs in 7 (8.5%), and both conditions in 1 (1.2%). Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) was found in most (three of the eight patients). Other incidental LPPs were right vocal cord nodule in 2 (2/8), bilateral vocal cord nodule in 1 (1/8), right arytenoid mass in 1 (1/8), and left arytenoid subluxation in 1 (1/8).

This study showed VCP's prevalence to be 6.1% and 9.8% for incidental LPPs in patients with goitre undergoing thyroidectomy. LPRD was the most commonly identified pathology.