Does methylene blue help in the early identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v7i1.20622Keywords:
Ancillary technique, Methylene blue smear, Recurrent laryngeal nerve.Abstract
Background: Identification of recurrent laryngeal nerve is of utmost importance during thyroid surgery. Different anatomical landmarks have been used to recognize and preserve the nerve. Injury may lead to vocal cord paralysis. Different adjuvant methods have been used to aid in the identification of the nerve.
Objective: To determine whether methylene blue smear helps to identify the recurrent laryngeal nerve safely and efficiently.
Methodology: Observational cross sectional study done in 30 patients who underwent different thyroidectomies within a duration of one year. Recurrent laryngeal nerve identified using methylene blue smear and compared with the conventional visualization techniques exercising different known anatomical landmarks. The duration and ease of identification of the nerve was noted and graded.
Results: Total of 39 recurrent laryngeal nerves were identified from 28 females and two males. The duration and the ease of dissection of the nerve was inconstant. Earliest time for recognition of the nerve was one and half minutes while the slowest time was 12 minutes.
Conclusion: No matter what techniques are used, visual identification and verification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve is of paramount importance. No techniques demonstrated added advantage to one another.
Downloads
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright © Journal of Kathmandu Medical College
The ideas and opinions expressed by authors or articles summarized, quoted, or published in full text in this journal represent only the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of Journal of Kathmandu Medical College or the institute with which the author(s) is/are affiliated, unless so specified.
Authors convey all copyright ownership, including any and all rights incidental thereto, exclusively to JKMC, in the event that such work is published by JKMC. JKMC shall own the work, including 1) copyright; 2) the right to grant permission to republish the article in whole or in part, with or without fee; 3) the right to produce preprints or reprints and translate into languages other than English for sale or free distribution; and 4) the right to republish the work in a collection of articles in any other mechanical or electronic format.