Abstract
This study evaluates the role of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) for thyroidectomy performed in cancer patients with emphasis on postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (RLNP). The study is a retrospective series comprising 76 thyroidectomy alone (control group) versus 76 thyroidectomy with IONM. In the control group the laryngeal nerves have been identified by visualization solely. In the IONM group both vagal nerve and RLN have been localized and monitored during thyroid resection. The main surgical outcome was RLN morbidity. All patients undergo pre- and postoperative laryngeal examination. Overall RLN morbidity was 3.9% in the IONM group and 9.2% in the control group (P < 0.05). There have been two cases of permanent RLNP (2.6%) in the control group and one in the IONM group (1.3%), one case of bilateral RLN injury in the control group. The incidences of temporary RLNP in the IONM group have been 2.6 versus 6.5% in the control group. IONM is an effective procedure in thyroid cancer patients.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lo CY, Kwok KF, Yuen PW (2000) A prospective evaluation of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis during thyroidectomy. Arch Surg 135(2):204–207
Timmermann W, Hamelmann WH, Thomusch O, Sekulla C, Grond S, Neumann HJ, Kruse E, Mühlig HP, Richter C, Voss J, Dralle H (2004) Effectiveness and results of intraoperative neuromonitoring in thyroid surgery. Statement of the Interdisciplinary Study Group on Intraoperative Neuromonitoring of Thyroid Surgery. Chirurg 75(9):916–922
Thomusch O, Sekulla C, Machens A, Neumann HJ, Timmermann W, Dralle H (2004) Validity of intra-operative neuromonitoring signals in thyroid surgery. Langenbecks Arch Surg 389(6):499–503
Barczyński M, Konturek A, Cichoń S (2009) Randomized clinical trial of visualization versus neuromonitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerves during thyroidectomy. Br J Surg 96(3):240–246
Casella C, Fusco M (2004) Thyroid cancer. Epidemiol Prev 28:88–91
Davies L, Welch HG (2006) Increasing incidence of thyroid cancer in the United States, 1973–2002. JAMA 295(18):2164–2167
Schlumberger M, Pacini F (2003) Thyroid tumors, 2nd edn. Editions Nucleon, Paris
Wu CW, Lu IC, Randolph GW, Kuo WR, Lee KW, Chen CL, Chiang FY (2010) Investigation of optimal intensity and safety of electrical nerve stimulation during intraoperative neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve: a prospective porcine model. Head Neck 32(10):1295–1301
Serpell JW, Yeung MJ, Grodski S (2009) The motor fibers of the recurrent laryngeal nerve are located in the anterior extralaryngeal branch. Ann Surg 249(4):648–652
Chiang FY, Lee KW, Chen HC, Chen HY, Lu IC, Kuo WR, Hsieh MC, Wu CW (2010) Standardization of intraoperative neuromonitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve in thyroid operation. World J Surg 34(2):223–229
Dionigi G, Chiang FY, Rausei S, Wu CW, Boni L, Lee KW, Rovera F, Cantone G, Bacuzzi A (2010) Surgical anatomy and neurophysiology of the vagus nerve (VN) for standardised intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) of the inferior laryngeal nerve (ILN) during thyroidectomy. Langenbecks Arch Surg 395(7):893–899
Lorenz K, Sekulla C, Schelle J, Schmeiss B, Brauckhoff M, Dralle H, German Neuromonitoring Study Group (2010) What are normal quantitative parameters of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) in thyroid surgery? Langenbecks Arch Surg 395(7):901–909
Cernea CR, Nishio S, Hojaij FC (1995) Identification of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) in large goiters. Am J Otolaryngol 16(5):307–311
Jonas J, Bähr R (2000) Neuromonitoring of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery. Am J Surg 179(3):234–236
Dionigi G (2009) Energy based devices and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury: the need for safer instruments. Langenbecks Arch Surg 394(3):579–580
Sackett DL (1989) Rules of evidence and clinical recommendations on the use of antithrombotic agents. Chest 95(2 Suppl):2S–4S
Heinrich S, Schäfer M, Rousson V, Clavien PA (2006) Evidence-based treatment of acute pancreatitis: a look at established paradigms. Ann Surg 243(2):154–168
Randolph GW (2010) The importance of pre- and postoperative laryngeal examination for thyroid surgery. Thyroid 20(5):453–458
Steurer M, Passler C, Denk DM, Schneider B, Niederle B, Bigenzahn W (2002) Advantages of recurrent laryngeal nerve identification in thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy and the importance of preoperative and postoperative laryngoscopic examination in more than 1000 nerves at risk. Laryngoscope 112:124–133
Dionigi G (2010) True incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury: time to audit!. Int J Clin Pract 64(4):523
Dionigi G, Boni L, Rovera F, Rausei S, Castelnuovo P, Dionigi R (2010) Postoperative laryngoscopy in thyroid surgery: proper timing to detect recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Langenbecks Arch Surg 395(4):327–331
Bilimoria KY, Bentrem DJ, Ko CY, Stewart AK, Winchester DP, Talamonti MS, Sturgeon C (2007) Extent of surgery affects survival for papillary thyroid cancer. Ann Surg 246(3):375–381
Chi SY, Lammers B, Boehner H, Pohl P, Goretzki PE (2008) Is it meaningful to preserve a palsied recurrent laryngeal nerve? Thyroid 18(3):363–366
Acknowledgments
Supported in part by grants from the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (FAR, Project 2007 “Il sistema di monitoraggio del nervo laringeo ricorrente e della branca sterna del nervo laringeo superiore durante interventi di tiroidectomia mininvasiva”). Written consent of the patients was obtained for publication of this report.
Conflict of interest
None.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Frattini, F., Mangano, A., Boni, L. et al. Intraoperative neuromonitoring for thyroid malignancy surgery: technical notes and results from a retrospective series. Updates Surg 62, 183–187 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13304-010-0036-5
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13304-010-0036-5