Use of a disposable electrode for recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring.
Our experience with a non-invasive, disposable electrode for intra-operative identification and monitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve is described. The electrode system, while simply attached to the endotracheal tube, acts as a laryngeal surface electrode and detects electromyographic activity of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles when the recurrent laryngeal nerve is stimulated. We have successfully used this electrode to monitor 19 recurrent laryngeal nerves in 15 patients who have undergone partial or total thyroidectomy. We feel that this device can be useful particularly in cases of re-exploration and malignancies of the thyroid gland.
Srinivasan
V
V
Department of ENT Surgery, James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth, U.K. 106020.1256@compuserve.com
Premachandra
D J
DJ
D004209:Disposable Equipment; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004566:Electrodes; D004576:Electromyography; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve; D013965:Thyroidectomy