• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.232-234
• /
• 1997

After the first report of mitral stenosis as a cause of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy by Ortner in 1897, many authors have described that some kinds of cardiovascular disease might contribute to the development of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. The estimated rate of aortic aneurysm related with recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy is about 5%. Aortic aneurysm is classified into 3 types according to the involving segment of aorta in which aneurysms develop, and the first class-aneurysm in ascending aorta and aortic arch-is known to be the only type related to recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. Recently we experienced two cases of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy each of which had aneurysm on aortic arch as a major contributing factor. We report these cases with brief review of the literature.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
• /
• v.57 no.3
• /
• pp.392-399
• /
• 2024

The recurrent laryngeal nerve is a bilateral branch of the vagus nerve that is mainly associated with the motor innervation of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx. Despite its bilateral distribution, the right and left recurrent laryngeal nerves display unequal length due to embryological processes related to the development of the aortic arches. This length asymmetry leads to theories about morphological compensations to provide symmetrical functions to the intrinsic muscles of the larynx. In this study we investigated the developmental and cross-sectional morphometrics of the recurrent laryngeal nerves in human fetuses. Fifteen stillbirth fetuses donated to anatomical and medical research were used for investigation. Fetuses had intrauterine age ranging from 30 to 40 weeks estimated by biometry methods. Specialized anatomical dissection of the visceral block of the neck was performed to prepare histological samples of the recurrent laryngeal nerves in its point of contact with the larynx, and morpho-quantitative techniques were applied to evaluate the epineurium and perineural space of the recurrent laryngeal nerves. No statistical difference in the cross-sectional morphology of the epineurium and perineural space between right and left recurrent laryngeal nerves intra-individually was confirmed, however, we found evidence that these structures are under greater development in the left recurrent laryngeal nerve during 30 to 40 weeks of intrauterine life. Our data suggest that the nerves are under morphological development that possibly set the stage for accommodation of larger diameter and myelinization of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve during post-natal life.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.188-191
• /
• 2000

In thyroid and parathyroid surgery, damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve(RLN) is the most common iatrogenic cause of vocal cord paralysis. Identification and preservation of the BLNs and meticulous technique can siginificantly decrease the incidence of this complication. We experienced one case of NRRLN in a patient with the parathyroid adenoma. During the dissection, there was no branch to be considered as RLN in tracheoesophageal groove. While searching for the RLN, We found a white structure coursing horizontally at the level of cricoid cartilage directly arising from the vagus nerve in the carotid sheath. That structure was nonrecurrent recurrent laryngeal nerve(NRRLN) and NRRLNs are exceedingly rare. Awareness of the possibility of NRRLN will prevent the surgeon from accidentally severing one if it is encountered during surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.50 no.5
• /
• pp.391-394
• /
• 2017

Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury can develop following cervical or thoracic surgery; however, few reports have described intraoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring. Consensus regarding the use of this technique during thoracic surgery is lacking. We used intraoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring in a patient with contralateral vocal cord paralysis who was scheduled for completion pneumonectomy. This case serves as an example of intraoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring during thoracic surgery and supports this indication for its use.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.105-109
• /
• 2009

The laryngeal peripheral nerve system is presented on the basis of our results in the animal. This present paper forcused on the localization of each laryngeal motoneuron, the myotopical arrangements of motoneurons innervating the pharyngeal and esophageal striated muscles whitin the nucleus ambiguous in the motor nerve supply, and the pathway to the larynx in the sensory and symphathetic nerve supplies. Regarding the parasympathetic nerve supply, the neural ganglia and the ganglionic cells in and around the laryngeal nerves and in the laryngeal framework are demonstrated. Most of this innervations, however, is still unclear. In addition, we presented about external branch of superior laryngeal nerve and inferior laryngeal nerve. Discuss from the literature are also reported.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.178-184
• /
• 2000

Laryngeal evoked EMG is the objective and quantitative method to measure the innervation of laryngeal muscle. If there is a mobility disorder of vocal cords, the cause and location of neural lesion co be understood by the laryngeal evoked EMG and if there is a vocal cord paralysis, the degree of recovery and the policy of treatment can be determined by it. Recently, the studies of reinnervation after recurrent laryngeal nerve injury have been actively carried out. Laryngeal evoked EMC is useful to these studies. The aim of study is to know whether noninvasive methods for stimulating the recurrent laryngeal nerve and for recording of compound action potential(CAP) using surface electrode are as useful as the invasive method using needle electrode. We obtained EMG of laryngeal muscle by various stimulating and recording methods : 1) Direct nerve stimulation by placing nerve cuff electrode made out of silastic tube and platinum wire and recording by insertion of hook wire electrode into posterior cricoarytenoid(PCA) and thyroarytenoid(TA) muscles, respectively. 2) Recording of compound action potential by surface electrode after stimulation of recurrent laryngeal nerve by the insertion of 27 gauge of needle electrode. 3) Recording of compound action potential by surface electrode after stimulating the recurrent laryngeal nerve by transcutaneous blunt rod electrode at tracheoesophageal groove. The amplitude, duration and latency of the CAP evoked by recurrent laryngeal nerve stimulation were compared among the three groups. The amplitude of CAP was smallest in the group recorded from posterior cricoarytenoid and hyroarytenoid muscle, and that recorded by surface electrode after stimulation by needle electrode was largest. The difference in amplitude between the group by hook wire recording and the two groups by surface electrode recording was significant statistically. There is no significant difference in duration and latency among three groups. Since the waveform of CAP from all three methods has similar duration, latency, we concluded that noninvasive method is a useful as invasive methods.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.71-75
• /
• 2012

Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis is the most common and serious complication after thyroid cancer surgery. The objective of this study was to report the advantages of the vein wrapping technique for nerve reconstruction in patients with thyroid cancer invading the recurrent laryngeal nerve and its effects on postoperative phonatory function. The subjects were three patients who underwent resection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve during surgical extirpation of papillary thyroid cancer. Free ansa cervicalis nerve graft or direct neurorrhaphy with a vein wrapping technique was used to facilitate nerve regeneration, protect the anastomosed nerve site mechanically, and prevent neuroma formation. One-year postoperative laryngoscopic examination revealed good vocal cord mobility. Maximum phonation time ($19.5{\pm}0.3$ sec) was longer than a previously-reported value in conventional reconstruction patients ($18.8{\pm}6.6$ sec). The present phonation efficiency index ($7.88{\pm}0.78$) was higher than that previously calculated in conventional reconstruction ($7.59{\pm}2.82$). The mean value of the Voice Handicap Index-10 was 6, which was within the normal range. This study demonstrates improvement in phonation indices measured 1 year after recurrent laryngeal nerve reconstruction. Our results confirm that the vein wrapping technique has theoretical advantages and could be favored over conventional reconstruction techniques for invenerate nerve injuries.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.5-10
• /
• 1996

From October 1991 to June 1995, 4 medialization thyroplasties and I arytenoid adduction were simultaneously performed with the thyroid surgery when the unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve was paralyzed before or during thyroidectomy. Four cases were papillary carcinoma with direct invasion to the unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve, and one case was huge adenomatous goiter and the recurrent laryngeal nerve was incidentaly cut. Hoarseness was present preoperatively with mean duration of 15 months and aspiration was also present in three cases. After phonosurgery, voice was improved in 4 out of 5 cases and aspiration subsided in 2 out of 3 cases. In one case, hoarseness continued after total thyroidectomy and thyroplasty type I and the arytenoid adduction with planned due to posterior glottic gap of 2mm. We suggest that the thyroplasty type I or arytenoid adduction are primary phonosurgical procedures which ran be performed concomitantly with neck surgeries in the patients with paralysis of the unilateral recurrent laryngeal or vagus nerve damage during neck surgeries.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.132-136
• /
• 1998

Nonrecurrence of the inferior laryngeal nerve always results from a vascular anomaly during embryonic development of the aortic arches. The nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve is important clinically for two reasons, it is vulnerable during thyroid surgery and it is associated with difficulty in swallowing. It can be suspected preoperatively from signs associated with the vascular anomaly : dysphagea, thoracic x-ray images showing evidence of retroesophageal subclavian artery, or situs inversus viscerum. If such signs are noted, a barium swallow test and chest computed tomography are justified. We experienced a case of Rt. nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve, which is diagnosed thyroid papillary carcinoma.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.13-15
• /
• 2015

Intraoperative neuromonitoring of thyroid surgery has gained universal validity to help in nerve identification, safe nerve dissection, and prediction of postoperative vocal cord function. In this article, standard intraoperative neuromonitoring procedure, interpretation about loss of signal, and the indications covered by health insurance will be described.