Selective vagus-recurrent laryngeal nerve anastomosis in thyroidectomy with cancer invasion or iatrogenic transection

Purpose Immediate recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) reconstruction at the time of thyroid cancer extirpation can provide excellent postoperative phonatory function. This study is to present our experience with the methods of RLN reconstruction, and to evaluate the role of selective vagus to RLN anastomosis (SVR) in thyroidectomy. Methods Respective review of RLN reconstruction in thyroid surgery from January 2004 to October 2018 was conducted in two tertiary referral academic medical centers. Immediate RLN reconstruction was performed for primary thyroidectomy patients with intraoperative nerve tumor invasion or iatrogenic transection. Laryngofiberoscopic examination, voice evaluation of maximum phonation time, and GRBAS scale were performed preoperatively, on the second day after surgery, and monthly postoperatively for the first year. Results A total of 37 patients were enrolled. Twenty-nine RLNs were resected caused by tumor-associated trauma; the other nerves were inadvertently transected. Direct anastomosis (DA) was performed in eight patients, free nerve graft (FNG) was performed in four patients, ansa cervicalis to RLN anastomosis (ARA) was performed in eight patients, and SVR was performed in 17 patients. The mean periods from the reinnervation surgery of DA, SVR, ARA, and FNG to the phonation recovery were 46 +/- 19 (days), 41 +/- 29 (days), 83 +/- 21 (days), and 137 +/- 32 (days), respectively. There were improvements in the GRBAS scale of perceptual voice quality at 1 month for DA and SVR, 2months for ARA. Conclusions Intraoperative SVR reinnervation demonstrated voice improvement postoperatively and might be an effective treatment for thyroidectomy-related permanent unilateral vocal cord paralysis.