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Implementation of systematic neuromonitoring training for thyroid surgery

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Abstract

Neural monitoring is increasingly applied to thyroid surgery and yet few surgeons have received formal training in intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM). Standardized application of neural monitoring is an expected outcome of formal training programs in IONM. This study was designed to document a systematic training course that focuses on standardized state-of-art IONM knowledge. Seventeen 1-day courses were organized by the Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Insubria Medical School (Varese-Como, Italy), between 2009–2010. The course included didactic and practical training sessions. Some specific steps and checklist identified for courses included: knowledge of IONM technology and troubleshooting algorithms; IONM anesthetic perspectives, standards of IONM equipment set up and technique. A total of 75 trainees completed a questionnaire after completion of the respective courses. Questions probed demographic data, operative IONM experience and evaluation of course content. Data gathered showed that 97% of participants had no prior experience with the standardized approach of IONM technique (i.e. stimulation of the vagal nerve). The most useful parts of the course were judged to be (a) algorithms for perioperative IONM problem solving (30%), (b) live surgery with hands-on training (25%), (c) standardization of IONM technique (25%), and (d) IONM equipment set-up (20%). Poor reimbursement for hospital thyroid procedures is the main reason of limitation of IONM technology. The course offered participants novel knowledge and training and gave participants a systematic and standard approach to IONM technique.

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Conflict of interest

Authors have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.The Authors declare that they do not have any competing interest. There was no industry sponsorship of the course mentioned in the text.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrine Surgery Research Center, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Insubria (Varese-Como), Via Guicciardini, 21100, Varese, Italy

    G. Dionigi, L. Boni & S. Rausei

  2. Department of Anesthesia, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

    A. Bacuzzi

  3. Department of Endocrine Surgery, 3rd Chair of General Surgery, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland

    M. Barczynski

  4. Department of Surgery, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    A. Biondi

  5. Department of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsaio-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

    F. Y. Chiang

  6. Department of General, Visceral, and Vascular Surgery, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany

    H. Dralle

  7. Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    G. W. Randolph

  8. Department of Surgery, University Magna Grecia, Catanzaro, Italy

    R. Sacco

  9. Endocrine Surgery Unit, Hospital Universitari del Mar, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    A. Sitges-Serra

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  1. G. Dionigi
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  2. A. Bacuzzi
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  3. M. Barczynski
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  4. A. Biondi
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  5. L. Boni
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  6. F. Y. Chiang
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  7. H. Dralle
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  8. G. W. Randolph
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  9. S. Rausei
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  10. R. Sacco
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  11. A. Sitges-Serra
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Dionigi.

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Dionigi, G., Bacuzzi, A., Barczynski, M. et al. Implementation of systematic neuromonitoring training for thyroid surgery. Updates Surg 63, 201–207 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13304-011-0098-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13304-011-0098-z

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