We have located links that may give you full text access.
Intraoperative laryngeal nerve monitoring during thyroidectomy.
Archives of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery 2009 December
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether nerve integrity monitor testing during thyroidectomy predicts recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) function after surgery.
DESIGN: Prospective cohort outcomes study
PATIENTS: The study included 210 consecutive patients with thyroid abnormalities who underwent thyroidectomy.
METHODS: All patients were intraoperatively monitored with a nerve integrity monitoring system (Xomed NIM II; Medtronic Inc, Fridley, Minnesota), and their vocal cord function was assessed with fiberoptic laryngoscopy before and after surgery. Normal and impaired vocal cord function were compared using an independent t test with respect to postoperative vocal cord mobility, length of the RLN dissection, and the minimum stimulus needed to generate a response at the completion of surgery.
RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the stimulus in milliamperes required to stimulate normal vs abnormal functioning nerves at the completion of the procedure at the cricoarytenoid joint (P = .02) and at the distal end of the RLN dissection (P < .01). A greater length of dissected nerve was associated with normal vocal cord function; however, it was not statistically significant (P = .07).
CONCLUSION: These data suggest that an RLN that responds at lower-intensity stimulation (</=0.5 mA) at the end of thyroid surgery is associated with normal vocal cord mobility.
DESIGN: Prospective cohort outcomes study
PATIENTS: The study included 210 consecutive patients with thyroid abnormalities who underwent thyroidectomy.
METHODS: All patients were intraoperatively monitored with a nerve integrity monitoring system (Xomed NIM II; Medtronic Inc, Fridley, Minnesota), and their vocal cord function was assessed with fiberoptic laryngoscopy before and after surgery. Normal and impaired vocal cord function were compared using an independent t test with respect to postoperative vocal cord mobility, length of the RLN dissection, and the minimum stimulus needed to generate a response at the completion of surgery.
RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the stimulus in milliamperes required to stimulate normal vs abnormal functioning nerves at the completion of the procedure at the cricoarytenoid joint (P = .02) and at the distal end of the RLN dissection (P < .01). A greater length of dissected nerve was associated with normal vocal cord function; however, it was not statistically significant (P = .07).
CONCLUSION: These data suggest that an RLN that responds at lower-intensity stimulation (</=0.5 mA) at the end of thyroid surgery is associated with normal vocal cord mobility.
Full text links
Related Resources
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app