A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of the Laryngeal Mask Airway Versus the Endotracheal Intubation in the Thyroid Surgery: Evaluation of Postoperative Voice, and Laryngopharyngeal Symptom

Sore throat is a common postoperative complaint, occurring most often following tracheal intubation. Factors such as tracheal-tube size and cuff design have been shown to be important causative factors. Routine tracheal intubation for elective surgical procedures can result in pathological changes, trauma and nerve damage which may also account for postoperative throat symptoms. Sore throat following the use of a laryngeal mask appears to be related to the technique of insertion but the contribution of intracuff pressure remains to be clarified. It would appear, however, that high intracuff pressure is associated with nerve palsies due to neuropraxia and nerve compression. Careful insertion techniques for both the tracheal tube and laryngeal mask are of paramount importance in the prevention of airway trauma and postoperative sore throat.

To determine the incidence and predictive factors for complications after total thyroidectomy. Cross-sectional analysis of a national database on total thyroidectomy cases. The National Hospital Data Survey database was examined and all cases of total thyroidectomy performed during 1995 to 1999 were extracted. In addition to demographic information, postoperative complications including hypocalcemia, recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, wound complications, and medical morbidities were identified. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine potential predictive factors for postoperative complications. A total of 517 patients were identified (mean age, 48.3 years). The most common indications for total thyroidectomy were thyroid malignancy and goiter (73.9% of cases). Eighty-one patients (15.7%) underwent an associated nodal dissection along with total thyroidectomy, and 16 patients (3.1%) underwent parathyroid reimplantation. The mean length of stay was 2.5 days (95% confidence interval, 2.3-2.8 days). The incidence of postoperative wound hematoma was 1.0%, wound infection was 0.2%, and mortality rate was 0.2%. The incidence of postoperative hypocalcemia was 6.2%. Younger age was statistically associated with an increased incidence of hypocalcemia (P =.002, t test), whereas sex (P =.48), indication for surgery (P =.32), parathyroid reimplantation (P>.99), and associated neck dissection (P =.21) were not. The mean length of stay was 2.5 days and was unaffected by occurrence of postoperative hypocalcemia. The incidences of unilateral and bilateral vocal cord paralyses were 0.77% and 0.39%, respectively. Postoperative hypocalcemia is the most common immediate surgical complication of total thyroidectomy. Other complications, including recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, can be expected at rates approximating 1%.

The reported incidence of hoarseness following short-term tracheal intubation varies widely. It has been reported as being permanent in 3%. This suggests that an enormous problem exists considering the numbers of patients intubated daily in the United Kingdom. A prospective study of 235 adult patients undergoing general anaesthesia in a district general hospital included 167 patients whose tracheas were intubated. Of these 167, 54 (32%) complained of hoarseness postoperatively. All but five returned to normal within 7 days. The others were hoarse for 9, 10, 12, 54 and 99 days. Those who were hoarse for 54 and 99 days had vocal cord granulomata. Regression analyses showed that certain patient and anaesthetic factors had a significant effect on the hoarseness. This study confirms a low incidence of prolonged or permanent hoarseness following short-term tracheal intubation.