Introduction:
Non recurrent laryngeal nerve (NRLN) is a rare entity associated with an
aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) also called arteria
lusoria[¹]. This association is
not well known by surgeons or by radiologists[²]. Being aware of it can help
to predict the presence of a NRLN before surgery and thus avoid its
injury.
In our department, between January 2016 and December 2018, a total of
472 total thyroidectomies, right lobectomies and right
parathyroidectomies have been done. We don’t use intraoperative
neuromonitoring (IONM), but dissection of inferior laryngeal nerve is
systematic. Four NRLN have been identified. Its frequency is estimated
to 0.8%.