European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Thyroid swelling is a condition commonly encountered by General Surgeons. Some patients need only Medical Management, whereas others need Surgical management in the form of Hemi or Total Thyroidectomy. Compared to RLN the EBSLN is less studied in terms of course and relation to thyroid gland intraoperatively. In our study we observed the course and relation of EBSLN with respect to the thyroid gland during surgery.
Materials and Methods: A prospective analysis of 60 patients who underwent thyroidectomy in General Surgery department in Rajah Muthiah Medical College was done. Intraoperatively, the EBSLN was visually identified and preserved before proceeding to ligate the superior thyroid vessels. The nerve was classified according to the Cernea classification.
Results: In 60 patients, 95 nerves were planned to be identified. The nerve was type 1 in 28/95 (29.5%), Type 2a in 46/95 (48.5%), and Type 2b in 11/95 (11.5%) patients. The nerve could not be identified in 10/95 (10.5%) patients.
Conclusion: The course and relation of EBSLN with respect to thyroid gland varies in different thyroid pathologies.