Prevalence of Upper Aerodigestive Symptoms in Patients Who Underwent Thyroidectomy with and without the use of Intraoperative Laryngeal Nerve Monitoring

Patient-Reported Dysphagia After Thyroidectomy

“…Swallowing symptoms and persistence of complaints reported in our study, including sensation of residue, painful swallowing, and difficulty swallowing, are consistent with previous studies of patients following thyroidectomy. 5,7,10,11,13 However, in contrast to previous studies, which used crosssectional or retrospective methods, ours was designed a priori to assess the longitudinal nature of dysphagia complaints. This study also allowed patients to describe what they were experiencing and the affect these symptoms had on quality of life in their own words.…”

“…[4][5][6][7][8] Swallowing complaints are common after surgery, but patients are generally counseled that symptoms should spontaneously resolve within the immediate 2-week postoperative period. 9 Mechanistically, postoperative swallowing dysfunction can affect the oropharyngeal and pharyngoesophageal phases, 5,10 often resulting in globus sensation, choking, psychological stress, and reduced quality of life. 5,8,10,11 Informed consent prior to thyroidectomy tends to focus on cancer extirpation, surgical healing, and potential complications.…”

“…9 Mechanistically, postoperative swallowing dysfunction can affect the oropharyngeal and pharyngoesophageal phases, 5,10 often resulting in globus sensation, choking, psychological stress, and reduced quality of life. 5,8,10,11 Informed consent prior to thyroidectomy tends to focus on cancer extirpation, surgical healing, and potential complications. 4,12 The most common adverse effects and complications cited during this process are vocal fold paralysis and hypocalcemia.…”

“…6,8 Nonetheless, postthyroidectomy dysphagia has been documented. 7,10,11,13 Objective dysphagia can be managed with swallow therapy and, in select circumstances, surgical intervention (eg, laryngoplasty). Dysphagia complaints despite normal findings on objective instrumental swallowing evaluation (ie, subjective dysphagia) have few management options beyond reassurance and compensatory (or management) strategies but can have substantial quality-of-life consequences.…”

Long-term esophageal motility changes after thyroidectomy: associations with aerodigestive disorders

“…The role of the type of endocrine neck disease, the technique used and the extent of surgery play an unclear role in the origin of these symptoms; neither the possible advantages of minimally-invasive techniques have been clarified (5,15,(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33). Another possible risk factor for aerodigestive complaints is the intraoperative bleeding (34). The hemostatic tools are usually used at our Institution with the aim of reducing the incidence of this event this as well as possible (35)(36)(37)), but we have not investigated yet the possible advantages of this practice in reducing these symptoms.…”