Unilateral vocal cord paralysis is frequently observed in patients who undergo thyroid surgery. This study explored the correlation between acoustic voice analysis (objective measure) and Voice Handicap Index (VHI, a self-assessment tool). One hundred and forty patients who had thyroid surgery with or without postoperative unilateral vocal cord paralysis (PVCP and NPVCP) were included. The patients were evaluated by the VHI and Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) tools. VHI scores were significantly higher in PVCP patients than in NPVCP patients. Jitter (%) and shimmer (%) were significantly increased, whereas DSI was significantly decreased in PVCP patients. Receiver operating characteristics curve revealed that VHI scores were associated with the diagnosis of PVCP, of which VHI total score yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.81. Among acoustic parameters, DSI was highly associated to PVCP (AUC=0.82, 95%CI=0.75 to 0.89). Moreover, we found a correlation between VHI scores and voice acoustic parameters. Among them, DSI had a moderate correlation with functional and VHI scores, as suggested by an R value of 0.41 and 0.49, respectively. VHI scores and acoustic parameters were associated with the diagnosis of PVCP.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to observe the occurrence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury after McKeown esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, as well as its recovery and influencing factors within 7 months after surgery.
METHODS: From July 2020 to July 2021, among all patients who underwent minimally invasive McKeown esophagectomy, 90 patients who developed vocal cord paralysis after surgery were included in the study. These patients underwent endoscopic vocal cord function assessment every 1 to 2 months and continued until 7 months postoperatively.
RESULTS: Among all 388 patients undergoing esophagectomy, 23.2% (90/388) of patients suffered postoperative vocal cord paralysis. Left, right, and bilateral injuries were confirmed in 73 (81.1%), 12 (13.3%), and 5 patients (5.6%), respectively. With a median recovery time being 183 days, the cumulative overall recovery rate was 65.4% at 7 months, 68.6% for the left side, 55.6% for the right, and 20.0% for bilateral injuries. In multivariable analysis, cervical paraoesophageal lymph node dissection and conventional thoracoscopic-assisted esophagectomy were demonstrated to be independent risk factors associated with non-recovery of vocal cord paralysis.
CONCLUSIONS: After intensive endoscopic follow-up, a cumulative vocal cord paralysis recovery rate of 65.4% within 7 months was observed in patients after minimally invasive McKeown esophagectomy. Cervical paraoesophageal lymph node dissection and conventional thoracoscopic-assisted esophagectomy were demonstrated to be risk factors hindering vocal cord paralysis recovery.

喉返神经损伤修复研究长达100多年的历史，涉及到大量的理论研究及神经修复技术的进展，不同的年龄、病程、损伤类型与程度等对神经修复效果产生很大影响，单侧与双侧喉返神经修复要达到的目标不同，对神经修复技术的要求也不一样。本文对喉返神经损伤后再生的相关理论研究、神经损伤后的亚临床神经再支配、神经修复效果的影响因素，单侧与双侧喉返神经损伤修复的技术进展，喉返神经损伤再生修复尚存在的问题及未来研究方向作一综述。.

UNASSIGNED: This study aimed to introduce a new modified en-bloc resection method and evaluate its feasibility and safety in endoscopic thyroid surgery via bilateral areolar approach (BAA).
UNASSIGNED: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients who underwent lobectomy and ipsilateral central node dissection (CND) via the BAA approach were retrospectively reviewed. Their clinical characteristics and outcomes were evaluated, including operative duration, lymph node yield (LNY), surgical complications, recurrence rate, and metastasis rate, over a ten-year follow-up period. Simultaneous lobectomy and CND were performed in the modified en-bloc group, whereas lobectomy was performed first, followed by CND in the conventional group.
UNASSIGNED: The study included 108 patients in the modified en-bloc group and 213 in the conventional group. There were no significant differences in gender, age, tumor locations, tumor dominant nodule size, or the incidence of concomitant Hashimoto thyroiditis when comparing clinicopathologic characteristics. The comparison of operative duration (P = 0.14), blood loss (P = 0.13), postoperative hospital stay (P = 0.58), incidence of transient vocal cord paralysis (P = 0.90) and hypocalcemia (P = 0.60) did not show any differences. The mean LNY achieved in the central compartment of the modified en-bloc group (7.5 ± 4.5) was significantly higher than that in the conventional group (5.6 ± 3.6). Two patients in the modified en-bloc group and two in the conventional group experienced metastasis after surgery during the ten-year follow-up (1.8% vs. 0.9%, P = 0.60). The learning curve analysis showed a significant decrease in operative duration after the 25-35th cases for modified en-bloc resection.
UNASSIGNED: The modified en-bloc resection method in endoscopic thyroid surgery via BAA is a technically feasible and safe procedure with excellent cosmetic outcomes for selective PTC patients.

Objective:To analyze the characteristics of vocal fold movement and glottic closure in patients with laryngeal neurogenic injury. Methods:A total of 185 patients with vocal fold paralysis diagnosed by laryngeal electromyography as neurogenic damage to cricothyroid muscle, thyreoarytenoid muscle and posterior cricoarytenoid muscle were enrolled, they were divided into unilateral vocal fold paralysis group and bilateral vocal fold paralysis group, respectively, and superior laryngeal paralysis group, recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis group and vagal nerve paralysis group according to nerve injury. The characteristics of vocal fold movement and glottic closure were analyzed under strobe laryngoscope. The qualitative evaluation of vocal fold movement was fixed vocal fold, reduced vocal fold movement and normal vocal fold movement, and the qualitative evaluation of glottic closure was glottic closure and glottic imperfection. The results were analyzed statistically. Results:The proportion of normal, reduced and fixed vocal fold motion in bilateral vocal fold paralysis group was significantly different from that in unilateral vocal fold paralysis group（P<0.05）, the composition of normal and reduced vocal fold motion in bilateral vocal fold paralysis group（47.70%） was significantly greater than that in unilateral vocal fold paralysis group（12.27%）. There was no significant difference between the proportion of glottic closure and glottic imperfecta in bilateral vocal fold paralysis group and unilateral vocal fold paralysis group（P<0.05）. The proportion of decreased vocal fold motion in superior laryngeal nerve paralysis group（50.00%） was higher than that in recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis group（9.32%） and vagal nerve paralysis group（9.00%）. The proportion of decreased and fixed vocal fold motion in superior laryngeal nerve paralysis group, recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis group and vagal nerve paralysis group was statistically significant（P<0.05）.There was no significant difference in glottic closure among the three groups（P<0.05）. Conclusion:Vocal fold movement characteristics of patients with laryngeal neurogenic injury were mainly vocal fold fixation, or normal or weakened vocal fold movement. There may be missed diagnosis of unilateral vocal fold paralysis in clinical practice. In half of the patients with superior laryngeal nerve palsy, vocal fold movement is characterized by vocal fold fixation.
目的：分析喉肌神经源性损伤患者的声带运动及声门闭合特点。 方法：入选经喉肌电图确诊为环甲肌、甲杓肌及环杓后肌为神经源性损害的患者185例，分别按侧边分为单侧声带麻痹组及双侧声带麻痹组，按神经损伤分为喉上神经麻痹组、喉返神经麻痹组及迷走神经麻痹组。频闪喉镜下分析声带运动特点及声门闭合情况，声带运动定性评估为声带固定、声带运动减弱及声带运动正常，声门闭合定性评估为声门闭合及声门闭合不全。对结果进行统计学分析。 结果：双侧声带麻痹组声带运动正常、运动减弱及固定的构成比与单侧声带麻痹组间的差异有统计学意义（P<0.05），双侧声带麻痹组的声带运动正常及运动减弱的构成（47.70%）显著大于单侧声带麻痹组（12.27%）。双侧声带麻痹组声门闭合与声门闭合不全的构成比与单侧声带麻痹间的差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。喉上神经麻痹组声带运动减弱的构成比（50.00%）大于喉返神经麻痹组（9.32%）及迷走神经麻痹组（9.00%），声带运动减弱、固定的构成比在喉上神经麻痹组、喉返神经麻痹组与迷走神经麻痹组间的差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；3组间声门闭合情况比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。 结论：喉肌神经源性损伤患者的声带运动特征以声带固定为主，也可为声带运动正常及声带运动减弱，单侧声带麻痹在临床上可能存在漏诊；有50%的喉上神经麻痹患者的声带运动特征为声带固定。.

OBJECTIVE: Treating an infiltration of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) by thyroid carcinoma remains a subject of ongoing debate. Therefore, this study aims to provide a novel strategy for intraoperative phenosurgical management of RLN infiltrated by thyroid carcinoma.
METHODS: Forty-two patients with thyroid carcinoma infiltrating the RLN were recruited for this study and divided into three groups. Group A comprised six individuals with medullary thyroid cancer who underwent RLN resection and arytenoid adduction. Group B consisted of 29 differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC)patients who underwent RLN resection and ansa cervicalis (ACN)-to-RLN anastomosis. Group C included seven patients whose RLN was preserved.
RESULTS: The videostroboscopic analysis and voice assessment collectively indicated substantial improvements in voice quality for patients in Groups A and B one year post-surgery. Additionally, the shaving technique maintained a normal or near-normal voice in Group C one year post-surgery.
CONCLUSIONS: The new intraoperative phonosurgical strategy is as follows: Resection of the affected RLN and arytenoid adduction is required in cases of medullary or anaplastic carcinoma, regardless of preoperative RLN function. Suppose RLN is found infiltrated by well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) during surgery, and the RLN is preoperatively paralyzed, we recommend performing resection the involved RLN and ACN-to-RLN anastomosis immediately during surgery. If vocal folds exhibit normal mobility preoperatively, the MACIS scoring system is used to assess patient risk stratification. When the MACIS score > 6.99, resection of the involved RLN and immediate ACN-to-RLN anastomosis were performed. RLN preservation was limited to patients with MACIS scores ≤ 6.99.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the potential factors influencing new-onset postoperative transient vocal cord paralysis (VCP) in thyroid cancer patients.
METHODS: Case information of 8340 thyroid cancer patients hospitalized at China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin Province, China, in the Thyroid Surgery Department from January 2018 to December 2020 was collected retrospectively and analyzed. The possible influencing factors were analyzed using a χ2 test, rank-sum test, and multiple logistic regression analysis. A nomogram was used to construct the clinical prediction model that was validated in the validation set by receiver operating characteristic, calibration curves, and Decision curve analysis.
RESULTS: The strengthening the reporting of cohort, cross-sectional, and case-control studies in surgery (STROCSS) guideline was followed to conduct a retrospective cohort study. A total of 8340 patients, including 1817 (21.8%) men and 6523 (78.2%) women, were enrolled in this study. The rate of temporary VCP was 3.6% (308/8340). Based on the results of postoperative laryngoscopy, the patients were divided into VCP group and non-VCP group. Comparative analysis between the groups revealed that potential factors associated with postoperative transient VCP were tumor location on the dorsal side of the gland ( P =0.042), ultrasound showing a maximum nodal diameter >1 cm ( P =0.002), multifocal carcinoma ( P <0.001), invasion of surrounding tissue ( P =0.005), lymph node metastases in the central compartment ( P =0.034), lateral cervical lymph node metastasis ( P <0.001), and prolonged operation ( P <0.001). A multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors in postoperative transient VCP were T stage (OR=1.411, P =0.013, 95% CI: 1.075-1.853), multifocal carcinoma (OR=1.532, P =0.013, 95% CI: 1.095-2.144), and duration of surgery (OR=1.009, P <0.001, 95% CI: 1.006-1.012). Finally, a clinical prediction model was established via a nomogram and was validated in the validation set, although its diagnostic efficacy needs to be improved further.
CONCLUSIONS: High T stage, multifocal carcinoma, and prolonged operation time may be independent risk factors for the occurrence of postoperative transient VCP in patients undergoing initial surgery for thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: One-lung ventilation (OLV) is a commonly used technique to facilitate surgical visualization during thoracic surgical procedures. Double-lumen endotracheal tubes and one-lumen tracheal tube combined with bronchial blocker might lead to intubation-related laryngeal injury.
METHODS: In the perioperative period, how to avoid further damage to the vocal cord while achieving OLV during operation is challenging work.
METHODS: She was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, bilateral vocal cord paralysis, and lung tumor.
METHODS: We used a combination of a laryngeal mask airway with bronchial blocker to avoid further damage to the vocal cord when achieving OLV.
RESULTS: At 1-month follow-up, she had fully recovered without obvious abnormalities.
CONCLUSIONS: When OLV was required for patients with bilateral vocal cord paralysis, a combination of a laryngeal mask airway with bronchial blocker was considered a better choice.

BACKGROUND: To explore the effect of lower baseline amplitude on its predictive accuracy of postoperative vocal cord paralysis (VCP) in monitored thyroid surgery.
METHODS: Clinical and electrophysiological data were collected during thyroid surgeries performed between November and December 2021 at China-Japan Union Hospital. Univariate/multivariate regression analysis were applied to these data to examine a possible correlation. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate predictive efficacy.
RESULTS: A total of 631 nerves-at-risk (NAR) were identified in 460 patients who were divided into two groups according to postoperative development of VCP. The VCP group included a higher percentage of NAR with V1<1000 (68.2 vs. 40.7%, respectively; P =0.014) and NAR with R1<1400 (77.3 vs. 47.0%, respectively; P =0.005) compared with the non-VCP group. Multivariate regression analysis further identified V1<1000 [odds ratio (OR)=2.688, P =0.038], R1<1400 (OR=3.484, P =0.018) as independent risk factors for postoperative temporary VCP. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed the AUC value of V signal decline for predicting VCP was 0.87. The diagnostic efficiency of R signal decline reached as high as 0.973. A multivariate logistic regression analysis identified independent risk factors for V1<1000 and these included: higher BMI (OR=1.072, P =0.013), hypertension (OR=1.816, P =0.015), smoking (OR=1.814, P =0.031), and male sex (OR=2.016, P =0.027).
CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort, lower baseline amplitude was an independent risk factor for developing transient postoperative VCP. It also affected the predictive efficacy of intraoperative amplitude changes on VCP. Higher BMI, hypertension, smoking, and male sex may also be closely associated with lower initial amplitude. Thus, maintaining a higher initial amplitude is critical for patient safety during thyroid surgery.

This paper introduces professor FU Wenbin\'s clinical experience in the treatment of laryngeal herpes zoster with vocal cord paralysis, using the holistic mode of treatment, in which, acupuncture, moxibustion and consolidation regimens are integrated. Regarding the core pathogenesis of the disease, the invaded exogenous toxic heat is transformed into fire that flows to the throat. Soothing liver and releasing heat is the general principle of treatment, guiding the entire process of treatment. For acupuncture regimen, the filiform needling is used and the acupoint prescription is composed of Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 24+), Lianquan (CV 23), the four-gate points (bilateral Hegu [LI 4] and Taichong [LR 3]), the group points for conducting qi back to the primary (Zhongwan [CV 12], Xiawan [CV 10], Qihai [CV 6] and Guanyuan [CV 4]), as well as bilateral Fengchi (GB 20), Wangu (GB 12) and Yifeng (TE 17). Besides, the pricking technique is delivered to the posterior wall of the pharynx for soothing the liver, regulating the spirit, reducing the heat and benefiting the throat. For the moxibustion regimen, moxibustion is applied to Fengchi (GB 20), Feishu (BL 13), the four-flower points (bilateral Geshu [BL 17] and Danshu [BL 19]), Shenshu (BL 23) and Mingmen (GV 4), which nourishes the spleen and stomach and reduces the heat pathogen through the heating action of moxibustion specially. In the stage of consolidation, the bloodletting and cupping technique is used at Xinshu (BL 15), Ganshu (BL 18) and Jianjing (GB 21) to eliminate the liver stagnation and the intradermal needling is delivered to sustain the needling stimulation and consolidate the therapeutic effect.
介绍符文彬教授采用“一针二灸三巩固”的整合针灸模式治疗喉带状疱疹伴声带麻痹的临床经验。外感热毒化火并流窜喉部为本病核心病机，疏肝泄热为治则贯穿整个治疗过程。一针即毫针针刺，选取百会、印堂、廉泉、四关穴、“引气归元”组穴，双侧风池、完骨、翳风等，并点刺咽后壁以疏肝调神，泄热利咽；二灸即精灸疗法，选取风池、肺俞、四花穴、肾俞、命门等，可温养脾肾，以热引热；三巩固即选取心俞、肝俞、肩井运用刺络拔罐疏肝排淤，并通过皮内针埋针持续刺激巩固疗效。.