Thyroid Surgery Guidelines for Voice Evaluation — Letter to JAMA OTO
Letter to editor submitted to JAMA Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery in response to Shonka & Terris (2016). Argues that current AAO-HNS and ATA guidelines are insufficient — vocal capability recording before and after any thyroid/parathyroid surgery is the gold standard.
Vocal functions reviewed: SLN = tension (high pitch, volume increase); RLN-ant = adduction for phonation; RLN-post = glottic opening. “The patient acts as her own control.” Letter was declined by reviewers who “could not see the value in detecting a problem if the patient doesn’t tell the surgeon.” Notes the “Ostrich approach to surgery.”
Migration note: Complements post #6. Both could support a Neurolaryngology or thyroid surgery educational page.