Methylene Blue Spray for Identification of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve and Parathyroid Gland

Thyroid disorders constitute the second most common endocrine disease following diabetes mellitus. Thyroid surgery is one of the most frequently operated Head and Neck surgeries. Post-thyroidectomy complications are not uncommon. Parathyroids and Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve (RLN) are two of the complications of thyroidectomy that cause significant postoperative morbidity Due to the advances in thyroids surgeries, the occurrence of postoperative complications has been decreased, but when occurred, they cause lifelong handicap. The most important complications encountered are injury to the RLN and parathyroids. Meticulous dissection is a key factor in minimizing the occurrence of complications During thyroidectomy, careful dissection can protect the parathyroid glands and RLN. Various methods were used including capsular dissection, attention to protection of the arterial supply to parathyroids, avoiding unnecessary manipulation in the area of RLN Methylene blue spraying is a new technique that allows identification of both parathyroid glands and recurrent laryngeal nerves

Inclusion criteria

• Age of 16 years and older.
• Both sexes.
• Patients who are candidate for thyroid surgery and euthyroid.

Exclusion criteria

• - Patients with hyper- or hypo-thyroid status.
• Patients who were unfit for surgery.
• Patients with unilateral or bilateral vocal cord palsy on preoperative indirect laryngoscopy
• Patients with thyroid malignancy by preoperative FNAC.
• Patients with hypersensitivity to methylene blue were excluded.