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Neuromonitoring in Thyroid Surgery

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Evidence-Based Endocrine Surgery

Abstract

Over the years, the thyroid surgery has evolved into a sophisticated operation with attention to reduce morbidity related to thyroid surgery. Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury is the most feared complication of thyroid surgery and it directly impacts patient’s postoperative voice outcome. We recognize that a structurally intact nerve does not essentially equate a functional nerve. While visualization of the RLN during surgery remains the gold standard and sound anatomical knowledge and experience are important tools, intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) is now emerging as a valuable adjunct in preventing RLN injury during surgery of the thyroid and parathyroid glands. This chapter presents an overview of IONM with the standards of RLN monitoring techniques, and its applications particularly, in surgical decision-making during thyroid surgery as well as recent advances in the technique.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Division of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Dipti Kamani, Selen Soylu & Gregory W. Randolph

  2. Division of Surgical Oncology, Endocrine Surgical Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Gregory W. Randolph

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  1. Dipti Kamani
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  2. Selen Soylu
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  3. Gregory W. Randolph
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Correspondence to Gregory W. Randolph .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrine Surgery, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

    Rajeev Parameswaran

  2. Department of Endocrine Surgery, SGPGI Hospital, Lucknow, India

    Amit Agarwal

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Kamani, D., Soylu, S., Randolph, G.W. (2018). Neuromonitoring in Thyroid Surgery. In: Parameswaran, R., Agarwal, A. (eds) Evidence-Based Endocrine Surgery. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1124-5_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1124-5_15

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