This guideline provides recommendations for the management of patients requiring thyroidectomy with the objective of improving patients’ voice outcomes following surgery. The guideline is intended for any involved clinicians including but not limited to otolaryngologists, general surgeons, speech-language pathologists, family physicians, nurses, and anesthesiologists.
American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation
<div>If the decision is made to proceed with thyroid surgery, the surgeon should evaluate (or refer for evaluation of) vocal fold mobility in cases of (a) voice impairment, (b) thyroid cancer with suspected extrathyroidal extension, and/or (c) prior neck surgery that increases the risk of laryngeal nerve injury (Recommendation).</div>
<div>Following thyroid surgery, vocal fold mobility should be evaluated in patients with voice changes and clinicians should counsel these patients on options for voice rehabilitation (Recommendation).</div>
<div>The clinician should provide patient education regarding the potential impact of surgery on the voice (Recommendation).</div>
