A Focused Review on the Approach to the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve & Identification during Thyroidectomy

Thyroid surgeries are the most frequently performed endocrine procedures worldwide. The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) shows some anatomical variations that can potentially compromise the safety of thyroid surgery, Hence, Thyroid surgeons should have a number of different techniques available in the event that identification of the RLN proves troublesome. Moreover, sufficient knowledge of surgical anatomy, clinical experience, and meticulous surgical techniques are key factors in the identification and safe dissection of the RLN. In this article, we will discuss the Anatomy & variations in Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve, possible approaches to identify it & how to minimize the incidence of inadvertent injury to the nerve.