title: Long-term outcome of functional post-thyroidectomy voice and swallowing symptoms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Voice and swallowing symptoms are frequently reported early after thyroidectomy even in the absence of laryngeal nerves injury. We evaluated the short-term and long-term outcomes of these functional alterations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consenting patients undergoing total thyroidectomy (TT) were enrolled. Videolaryngostroboscopy (VSL), acoustic voice analysis (AVA), and maximum phonation time (MPT) were performed pre-operatively, 3 months postoperatively, and >1 year postoperatively. Subjective evaluation of voice (Voice Impairment Score=VIS) and swallowing (Swallowing Impairment Score=SIS) were obtained pre-operatively, as well as 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and >1 year postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The long-term evaluation was completed in 110 patients. The percentage of patients with symptoms 1 week after operation was significantly higher than preoperatively, whereas it was significantly lower at long-term evaluation. VIS was significantly worse than pre-operatively, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery, but it was similar to pre-operative >1 year after TT. SIS was significantly worse 1 week after thyroidectomy but not 1 month and 3 months after thyroidectomy, and it was significantly lower than the pre-operative >1 year after TT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vocal and swallowing symptoms are frequent after TT. In the absence of laryngeal nerve injury, after an initial impairment, late after operation, patients experienced subjective amelioration of their voice and swallowing performances, which may be related to the resolution of compressive symptoms.
authors: Division of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors: Celestino Pio
authors: CP
authors: Lombardi
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Raffaelli
authors: Carmela
authors: C
authors: De Crea
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: D'Alatri
authors: Daria
authors: D
authors: Maccora
authors: Maria Raffaella
authors: MR
authors: Marchese
authors: Gaetano
authors: G
authors: Paludetti
authors: Rocco
authors: R
authors: Bellantone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061224:Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D061226:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014833:Voice Quality