title: The recurrent laryngeal nerve and the inferior thyroid artery--anatomical variations during surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recognition of variations of the inferior laryngeal nerve is essential. We aimed to investigate the relationship of the inferior laryngeal nerve with the inferior thyroid artery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study was undertaken between August 2005 and August 2006. A total of 253 adult patients undergoing thyroid surgery were included in this prospective, non-randomized study. Both sides of the thyroid gland were considered separately.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen variations of the nerve were clarified. In the most observed variation, the nerve was deep to the artery. Two and three nervous branches were seen in 22.5% and 1.6% of the patients, respectively. Bifurcation of the nerve was mostly observed on the left side. No non-recurrent laryngeal nerve was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To avoid the risk of nerve damage during thyroid surgery, a good knowledge of the variations of the inferior laryngeal nerve is essential. This is important to achieve an undisturbed quality of life for the thyroid patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, 35100, Turkey. ozer.makay@ege.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ozer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Makay
authors.forename: Gokhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Icoz
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Mahir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akyildiz
authors.forename: Enis
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yetkin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000098:blood supply*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy