title: [Intraoperative neuro-monitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Experience of 1000 consecutive patients].
abstract: Intraoperative neuro-monitoring was introduced in thyroid surgery several years ago resulting in a facilitated identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and less recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries. Between 1999 and 2005 data of all patients undergoing thyroid resection were recorded and analyzed yearly. The intraoperative identification of recurrent laryngeal nerve succeeded in 99.2% (1768 nerves at risk). The percentage of complete resecting surgical procedures raised from 17% to 84%. Minimal vocal cord dysfunction, associated with hematoma and edema in most cases, was diagnosed laryngoscopically in 2.9%. The permanent palsy rate of 0.8% in the first year decreased down to 0.32%. Routinely introduction of intraoperative neuro-monitoring in thyroid surgery is associated with a demonstrable decreased palsy rate. Anyway, the rate of minimal vocal cord movement disorders and transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsies is not changed.
authors.affiliation: Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Deutschland, Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Thoraxchirurgie.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moroni
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jonas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sapienza
authors.forename: Colasanti
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: M
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bahr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000295:instrumentation; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*