VOLUME 40 - NUMBER 5 - 2019

Utility of continuous intraoperative neural monitoring in thyroid surgery in a low volume centre


  • Florio G., D'Amata G., Crovaro M., Musmeci L., Manzi F., Carnì P., Del Papa M.
  • Methods, Techniques, Drugs, 455-458
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  • This retrospective study, of a single surgeon’s experience, evaluates the role of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) for total thyroidectomy, in a low-volume district general hospital. 128 patients with normal preoperative vocal fold function underwent thyroid surgery with routine use of nerve monitoring. Patients were followed for 6 months after surgery, and postoperative Romanerve function was determined by fiberoptic laryngoscopy. One (0,8%) patient was found to have a unilateral vocal fold paralysis, but after 6 months this patient had regained vocal fold motion. The technique of intraoperative neuromonitoring in thyroid surgery is safe and reliable in excluding postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy; it has high accuracy, specificity, sensitivity and negative predictive value. Neuromonitoring is useful to identify the recurrent laryngeal nerve and it can be a useful adjunctive technique for reassuring surgeons of the functional integrity of the nerve. Its application can be particularly recommended for low-volume thyroid operation centres.

  • KEY WORDS: Intraoperative neuromonitoring - Recurrent laryngeal nerve - Thyroid surgery.