J Korean Soc Laryngol Phoniatr Logoped.  2016 Dec;27(2):108-113. 10.0000/jkslpl.2016.27.2.108.

Analysis of Voice and Swallowing Symptoms after Thyroidectomy in Patients without Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury in Early Postoperative Period

• Kim H
• Keum BR
• Kim GH
• Jeon SS
• Kim H
• Kim SK
• Hong SJ
• Hong SM
• Kim YB
• Park IS

• KMID: 2369119
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jkslpl.2016.27.2.108

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
After thyroidectomy, many patients experience problems report such things as reduced voice range and vocal fatigue, swallowing problems without superior and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate voice and swallowing problems before and after thyroid surgery without laryngeal nerve injury.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ninety-three patients who underwent thyroidectomy without laryngeal nerve injury and completed the follow-up evaluations were studied between June 2013 and December 2015. Each evaluation was performed preoperatively, as well as 1 week, 1 month postoperatively. Analysis was performed including voice handicap index (VHI), dysphagia handicap index (DHI), and acoustic voice analysis.
RESULTS
Patients show significant variation of parameters in the fundamental frequency (F), maximal phonation time (MPT), shimmer, jitter and soft phonation index (SPI) early after operation, and most of them showed recovery of parameters after 1month of operation. Perceptive complaint of voice and swallowing also showed significant decreased after operation (p<0.005). After 1 month of operation, MPT, highest frequency and frequency ranges still showed significant decreased parameters. Comparing acoustic and perceptive parameters of total thyroidectomy and lobectomy, there was no significant changes between them except highest frequency (p=0.042).
CONCLUSION
The results from both subjective and objective evaluations show voice and swallowing disturbance after thyroidectomy even in the absence of laryngeal nerve and provide patients information about the recovery process after surgery. Highest frequency parameter showed most significant changes after operation.

Keyword

Thyroidectomy; Voice disorders; Dysphagia

MeSH Terms

Acoustics
Deglutition Disorders
Deglutition*
Fatigue
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Laryngeal Nerve Injuries
Laryngeal Nerves
Phonation
Postoperative Period*
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries*
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve*
Thyroid Gland
Thyroidectomy*
Voice Disorders
Voice*