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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*
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

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.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2015 

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