[May recurrent goiter be resected bilaterally? Value and results of intraoperative laryngoscopy]

Operations for recurrent goiter are considered to range among the most difficult procedures in thyroid surgery and are marked by unusually high subsequent damages of the recurrent nerve. Results from 89 patients with recurrent goiter operated over the last six years and our own experiences with intraoperative laryngoscopy are presented. This procedure is applicable in 60% of all cases with true bilateral thyroid recurrency and accounts for a realistic help in deciding whether to continue the operation with simultaneous resection of the contralateral side.