title: The Efficacy of Intraoperative Neuromonitoring During Robotic Thyroidectomy: A Prospective, Randomized Case-Control Evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluates the efficacy of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) on voice performance in robotic thyroidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was based on a prospective randomized series. Between June 2011 to September 2012, 50 patients with thyroid cancer who underwent robotic thyroidectomy were enrolled. The IONM and non-IONM groups consisted of 25 patients each. Voice Handicap Index (VHI), voice range profile (VRP), and laryngoscopy were used to assess voice function before surgery and at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after the operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No palsy was diagnosed by laryngoscopy in either group. VHI values were similar in both groups. In the IONM group, there was significantly earlier recovery in VRP minimum intensity compared with the non-IONM group. However, there were no differences of mean change of VRP maximum frequency and intensity or minimum frequency between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that IONM facilitated more rapid recovery of voice function, especially in VRP minimum intensity, during robotic thyroid surgery.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Yoon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Surgery, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ju-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 3 1st Division of Surgery, Research Center for Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences and Morphology, University of Insubria , Varese, Italy .
authors.forename: Gianlorenzo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dionigi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeoung Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hoon Yub
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods*; D009420:Nervous System; D011446:Prospective Studies; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult