Is Superior Laryngeal Nerve Really Safe During Thyroidectomy Using Ultrasonic Dissector.

We see new advances in the practice of surgery nearly everyday. New techniques and devices became available and even newer ones are under developement. Ultrasonic Dissectors (UDs) which are primarily developed for laparoscopic surgery found widespread use in thyroid surgery. UDs while closing the nearby vessels cause overheating of neighboring tissues in a 1-3 mm. area. Due to the generated heat UDs might cause nerve injury. We would like to see if usage of UDs during thyroidectomy poses a risk for superior laryngeal nerve injury compared to conventional thyroidectomy where vessels are first sealed with sutures then cut. To this end patients in both conventional and ultrasonic dissector thyroidectomy arms will be checked for superior laryngeal nerve function the day following operation and six months later.