title: Value of intra-operative neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve in total thyroidectomy for benign goitre.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the impact of intra-operative neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve during total thyroidectomy for benign goitre.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-centre retrospective study using historical controls was conducted for a 10-year period, comprising a series of 767 patients treated by total thyroidectomy for benign goitre. Of these, 306 had intra-operative neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and 461 did not. Post-operative laryngeal mobility was assessed in all patients by direct laryngoscopy before hospital discharge and at post-operative follow-up visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 6 out of 461 patients (1.30 per cent) in the control group and 6 out of 306 patients (1.96 per cent) in the intra-operative neuromonitoring group developed permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. No statistically significant difference was observed between the two patient groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intra-operative neuromonitoring does not appear to affect the post-operative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy rate or to reliably predict post-operative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. However, it can accurately predict good nerve function after thyroidectomy.
authors.affiliation: ENT and Head & Neck Department,Amiens University Hospital,France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Page
authors.affiliation: ENT and Head & Neck Department,Amiens University Hospital,France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cuvelier
authors.affiliation: ENT and Head & Neck Department,Amiens University Hospital,France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biet
authors.affiliation: ENT and Head & Neck Department,Amiens University Hospital,France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Strunski
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006042:Goiter / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods*; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D061226:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Complications; Inferior; Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring; Laryngeal Nerve; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Palsy; Thyroid Gland