Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
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Ann R Coll Surg Engl · Sep 2001
Use of the laryngeal mask airway in thyroid and parathyroid surgery as an aid to the identification and preservation of the recurrent laryngeal nerves.
A prospective study was carried out in patients undergoing thyroid and parathyroid surgery using a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) and electrical nerve stimulation to identify the recurrent laryngeal nerves. A total of 150 consecutive patients undergoing thyroid and parathyroid surgery by a single surgeon were assessed for suitability of anaesthesia via the LMA. Peroperatively, a fibre-optic laryngoscope was passed through the LMA to enable the anaesthetist to visualise the vocal cords while adduction of the cords was elicited by applying a nerve stimulator in the operative field. ⋯ There were no cases of vocal cord dysfunction resulting from surgery. The LMA can be safely used for thyroid and parathyroid surgery even in the presence of a deviated or narrowed trachea. It can assist in identification and preservation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and is, therefore, of benefit to both patient and surgeon.