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Value of intra-operative neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve in total thyroidectomy for benign goitre

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 June 2015

C Page ,
P Cuvelier ,
A Biet  and
V Strunski
C Page*
Affiliation:
ENT and Head & Neck Department, Amiens University Hospital, France
P Cuvelier
Affiliation:
ENT and Head & Neck Department, Amiens University Hospital, France
A Biet
Affiliation:
ENT and Head & Neck Department, Amiens University Hospital, France
V Strunski
Affiliation:
ENT and Head & Neck Department, Amiens University Hospital, France
*
Address for correspondence: Dr C Page, Service d'ORL et de Chirurgie de la Face et du Cou, Centre Hospitalier Nord, Place Victor Pauchet, 80054 Amiens CEDEX, France Fax: 0322668623 E-mail: cyril_page@yahoo.fr
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Abstract

Objective:

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of intra-operative neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve during total thyroidectomy for benign goitre.

Methods:

A single-centre retrospective study using historical controls was conducted for a 10-year period, comprising a series of 767 patients treated by total thyroidectomy for benign goitre. Of these, 306 had intra-operative neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and 461 did not. Post-operative laryngeal mobility was assessed in all patients by direct laryngoscopy before hospital discharge and at post-operative follow-up visits.

Results:

In all, 6 out of 461 patients (1.30 per cent) in the control group and 6 out of 306 patients (1.96 per cent) in the intra-operative neuromonitoring group developed permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. No statistically significant difference was observed between the two patient groups.

Conclusion:

Intra-operative neuromonitoring does not appear to affect the post-operative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy rate or to reliably predict post-operative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. However, it can accurately predict good nerve function after thyroidectomy.

Keywords

Thyroid GlandComplicationsRecurrent Laryngeal Nerve PalsyLaryngeal NerveInferiorIntraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 129 , Issue 6 , June 2015 , pp. 553 - 557
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2015 

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