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A new anchor electrode design for continuous neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve by vagal nerve stimulations

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Abstract

Purpose

Intraoperative neuromonitoring has the limitation that the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is still at risk for damage between two stimulations with a handheld bipolar stimulation electrode. The purpose of this study was to establish the vagal anchor electrode for real-time monitoring of the RLN in surgical routine and to be alerted to imminent nerve failure by electromyography (EMG) signal analysis whereby the nerve damage becomes reversible.

Patients and methods

This fully implantable electrode has been used in addition to a conventional handheld bipolar stimulation electrode during thyroid surgery on 45 consecutive patients (78 nerves at risk) stratified to low- and high-risk groups. The signal analysis was performed as real-time audio/video feedback by the use of a new multichannel EMG system.

Results

No complications were attributable to the use of the anchor electrode. The mean delay to place the anchor electrode was 1.45 min, whereas the mean stimulation time of the vagus nerve was 38 min. Stable and repeatable signals were evocable in all cases with one exception. No permanent RLN paralyses occurred in this study.

Conclusions

The vagal anchor electrode is safe and easy to use. It allows continuous neuromonitoring without any threats. The new technique will provide more security, especially during preparation steps on the RLN that are difficult for the surgeon.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from Dr. Langer Medical GmbH, Waldkirch, Germany. We are very grateful to Dr. Andreas Langer and Daniel Haberstroh from Dr. Langer Medical GmbH, Waldkirch, Germany, for administrative, technical, and material support. The authors wish to thank Dr. Uwe Pliquett, Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques, Heiligenstadt, Germany, for technical support, Dr. Uta-Carolin Pietsch and Dr. Markus Wehner, University Hospital Leipzig, Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Leipzig, Germany, for their excellent assistance and Lila Hunt for her kind support in proofreading this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    Rick Schneider, Joanna Przybyl, Johann Hauss, Sven Jonas & Steffen Leinung

  2. Kaiserin Elisabeth Spital, Department of Surgery, Vienna, Austria

    Michael Hermann

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  1. Rick Schneider
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  2. Joanna Przybyl
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  3. Michael Hermann
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Correspondence to Rick Schneider.

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Schneider, R., Przybyl, J., Hermann, M. et al. A new anchor electrode design for continuous neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve by vagal nerve stimulations. Langenbecks Arch Surg 394, 903–910 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-009-0503-y

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