title: [The post-operative recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis and its course (author's transl)].
abstract: Benign diseases of the thyroid may also be the cause of pre-operative paralysis of the recurrent laryngeal nerves. the frequency of palsies in uncomplicated strumectomies is approximately 4 to 5%. A markedly higher risk exists in endothoracic goitres which must be delivered by thoracotomy, in recurrencies and thyroiditis. Dissection, crush lesions, strain and nerves mistakenly pulled into a ligature are the most frequent causes of injury; haematoma, oedema, heat by diathermy, lesions caused by a scar and a neuritis of the nerve are less common. 30 to 50% of unilateral laryngeal nerve palsies are without symptoms. An exact examination, however, reveals some alterations of the voice. A logopedic treatment combined with electro-therapy accelerates the compensation of the intact vocal cord. In bilateral paralysis of the recurrent laryngeal nerves a tracheotomy is necessary because of respiratory distress. After 6 to 9 months a glottis-widening procedure may be performed since no further recovery can be expected. A unilateral paralysis has a recovery rate of 40%; therefore in 2 to 3% of uncomplicated strumectomies a definite paralysis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve is observed.
mesh_terms: D005931:Glottis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D061224:Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D061226:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; D012306:Risk; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014140:Tracheotomy; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*
vernacular_title: Die postoperative Rekurrensparese und ihr Verlauf.