Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Changes of Laryngeal Mobility and Symptoms Following Thyroid Surgery: 6-Month Follow-Up

  • Original Scientific Report
  • Published:
World Journal of Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

Swallowing disorders are frequent complaints after thyroidectomy even in the absence of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. The aim of this study was to assess different symptoms in relation to laryngeal mobility following thyroidectomy.

Materials and methods

53 patients (mean age 52.4 ± 12.5 years; 36 female) with initially benign diagnosis and intact recurrent nerve functioning were prospectively evaluated. Laryngeal movement was analyzed by ultrasound preoperatively and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. In addition, a dysphagia and voice-specific quality-of-life questionnaire was used.

Results

Mean laryngeal movement differed between genders preoperatively and postoperatively resulting in a recovery predominantly in women (reduction of mobility at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively in females was 6.0, 3.7, and 1.5 mm, and in males 13.8, 11.7, and 10.3 mm, respectively). Mainly, women reported hoarseness (9 females) and cervical discomfort (7 females, 3 males) 1 month postoperatively. After 6 months, these complaints resolved (cervical discomfort 1 female).

Conclusion

Laryngeal mobility was significantly impaired postoperatively and only females revealed a recovery close to baseline after 6 months. Although showing only a small grade of recovery of laryngeal movement, subjective clinical symptoms were found to be rare in male patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. http://www.destatis.de

  2. Musholt TJ, Musholt PB, Garm J et al (2006) Changes of the speaking and singing voice after thyroid or parathyroid surgery. Surgery 140(6):978–989

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Hong KH, Kim YK (1997) Phonatory characteristics of patients undergoing thyroidectomy without laryngeal nerve injury. Otolaryngol Laryngol Head Neck Surg 117(4):399–404

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Lombardi CP, Raffaelli M, D’Alatri L (2006) Voice and swallowing changes after thyroidectomy in patients without inferior laryngeal nerve injuries. Surgery 140(6):1026–1034

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Sinagra DL, Montesinos MR, Tacchi VA (2004) Voice changes after thyroidectomy without recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. J Am Coll Surg 199(4):556–560

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Silva IC, Netto IP, Vartanian JG (2012) Prevalence of upper aerodigestive symptoms in patients who underwent thyroidectomy with and without the use of intraoperative laryngeal nerve monitoring. Thyroid 22(8):814–819

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Dralle H (2015) Surgical assessment of complications after thyroid gland operations. Chirurg 86:70–77

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Gabriel P, Chilla R (1978) Dysphonia following strumectomy. Laryngeal and vocal cord changes as sequelae of thyroid surgery. Chirurg 49:576–579

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Stojadinovic A, Shaha AR, Orlikoff RF (2002) Prospective functional voice assessment in patients undergoing thyroid surgery. Ann Surg 236:823–832

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Lee J, Na KY, Kim RM et al (2012) Postoperative functional voice changes after conventional open or robotic thyroidectomy: a prospective trial. Ann Surg Oncol 19:2963–2970

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Lombardi CP, Raffaelli M, De Crea C et al (2009) Long-term outcome of functional post-thyroidectomy voice and swallowing symptoms. Surgery 146:1174–1181

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Scerrino G, Inviati A, Di Giovanni S et al (2013) Esophageal motility changes after thyroidectomy; possible associations with postoperative voice and swallowing disorders: preliminary results. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 148:926–932

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Hyun K, Byon W, Park HJ et al (2014) Comparison of swallowing disorder following gasless transaxillary endoscopic thyroidectomy versus conventional open thyroidectomy. Surg Endosc 28:1914–1920

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Jung SP, Kim SH, Bae SY et al (2013) A new approach in open thyroidectomy: efficacy for postoperative voice, sensory and swallowing symptoms. A randomized study. Ann Surg Oncol 20:3869–3876

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Lombardi CP, Raffaelli M, D’Alatri L et al (2008) Video-assisted thyroidectomy significantly reduces the risk of early postthyroidectomy voice and swallowing symptoms. World J Surg 32:693–700

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Dwivedi RC, St. Rose S, Chisholm EJ et al (2012) Evaluation of swallowing by sydney swallow questionnaire (SSQ) in oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with primary surgery. Dysphagia 27(4):491–497

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Sundgren P, Maly P, Gullberg B (1993) Elevation of the larynx on normal and abnormal cineradiogram. Br J Radiol 66:768–772

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Lippert H (ed) (2011) Head and neck II, Chap. 7.5. Elsevier, Urban & Fischer Verlag, Munich, p 628

    Google Scholar 

  19. Debruyne F, Ostyn F, Delaere P et al (1997) Acoustic analysis of the speaking voice after thyroidectomy. J Voice 11:479–482

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. McIvor NP, Flint DJ, Gillibrand J (2000) Thyroid surgery and voice-related outcomes. Aust N Z J Surg 70:179–183

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Pereira JA, Girvent M, Sancho JJ et al (2003) Prevalence of long-term upper aerodigestive symptoms after uncomplicated bilateral thyroidectomy. Surgery 133:318–322

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Park KS, Lee KE, Ku DH et al (2013) Antiadhesive effect and safety of oxidized regenerated cellulose after thyroidectomy: a prospective, randomized controlled study. J Korean Surg Soc 84:321–329

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Alkan Z, Yigit O, Adatepe T et al (2014) Effect of anti-adhesive barrier use on laryngotracheal movement after total thyroidectomy: an electrophysiological study. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 66(1):71–77

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Teymoortash A, Berger R, Lichtenberger G et al (2008) Function and dysfunction of the superior laryngeal nerve. HNO 56:889–894

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Minni A, Ruopollo G, Barbaro M et al (2014) Long term (12 to 18 months) functional voice assessment to detect voice alterations after thyroidectomy. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 18:1704–1708

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Wasserman JM, Sundaram K, Alfonso AE et al (2008) Determination of the function of the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve after thyroidectomy. Head Neck 30(1):21–27

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Burns P, Timon C (2007) Thyroid pathology and the globus symptom: are they related? A two year prospective trial. J Laryngol Otol 121(3):242–245

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Maung K, Hayworth D, Nix P et al (2005) Thyroidectomy does not cause globus pattern symptoms. J Laryngol Otol 119(12):973–975

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Walther EK (1998) Deglutition disorders. HNO 46(8):712–728

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

There are no relationships to disclose in the subject of this manuscript. This manuscript consists of parts of the doctoral thesis of A. Aschoff.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Endocrine Surgery, Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany

    Antje E. Gohrbandt, Anna Aschoff, Hauke Lang & Thomas J. Musholt

  2. Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany

    Bernhard Gohrbandt

  3. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany

    Annemarie Keilmann

Authors
  1. Antje E. Gohrbandt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anna Aschoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bernhard Gohrbandt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Annemarie Keilmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hauke Lang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Thomas J. Musholt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antje E. Gohrbandt.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gohrbandt, A.E., Aschoff, A., Gohrbandt, B. et al. Changes of Laryngeal Mobility and Symptoms Following Thyroid Surgery: 6-Month Follow-Up. World J Surg 40, 636–643 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-015-3323-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-015-3323-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation