Evaluation of vocal cord function after thyroid surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To compare clinical evaluation and indirect laryngoscopy with videolaryngostroboscopy (VLS), which is a new method of diagnosing abnormalities and dysfunction of the vocal folds.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Teaching hospital, Turkey.


METHODS
218 patients who required thyroidectomy and who had no vocal abnormality preoperatively.


METHODS
Clinical evaluation, indirect laryngoscopy, and VLS before operation and on the second postoperative day.


METHODS
Sensitivity and specificity.


RESULTS
The specificity of all three investigations was 100%. The sensitivity of VLS was 100%, of clinical evaluation 81%, and of indirect laryngoscopy 67%.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical evaluation and indirect laryngoscopy are safe ways of evaluating abnormalities of the vocal cords postoperatively. It would probably not be cost-effective to use VLS routinely, but for differential diagnosis and evaluation of prognosis of vocal abnormalities after thyroidectomy it is more accurate.
Koçak
S
S
Department of Surgery, Ankara University Medical School, Turkey.
Aydintug
S
S
Ozbaş
S
S
Koçak
I
I
Küçük
B
B
Baskan
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014741:Video Recording; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000503:physiopathology*