Respiratory difficulty after parathyroidectomy due to laryngospasm

[摘要] A 38-year-old woman was diagnosed as having hyperparathyroidism. Surgery to remove 3.5 parathyroid glands was scheduled along with intraoperative neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal/superior laryngeal nerves. Even though the neuromonitoring during the surgery indicated intact recurrent laryngeal nerves, on removal of the endotracheal tube, the anesthesiologist found the patient could not be ventilated without unusual effort using the reservoir bag and tight pressure on the oxygen mask. Surgeons performing throat surgery should be aware that laryngospasm is another possible occurrence for midline paralysis of the vocalis after surgery involving the recurrent laryngeal nerves, and that iatrogenic damage to the recurrent/superior laryngeal nerves is not the only cause of respiratory difficulty after neck surgery.

[学科分类] 传染病学

[关键词] Parathyroidectomy;respiratory difficulty;recurrent laryngeal nerve;laryngospasm