title: The Utility of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Monitoring During Open Pharyngeal Diverticula Procedures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The recurrent laryngeal nerve is at risk of injury during open pharyngeal diverticula operations. The utility of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) monitoring during these procedures was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was performed of 8 open pharyngeal diverticulectomies completed between 2009 and 2014. Intraoperative RLN monitoring took place during all operations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Open pharyngectomy and myotomy was successfully performed in all cases. In two cases the RLN was encountered outside of its normal course. The identity of the nerve was confirmed with electrical stimulation and normal EMG response. Vocal fold motion was preserved in all cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of intraoperative nerve monitoring in pharyngeal diverticula procedures may be beneficial, especially during open operations for Killian-Jamieson diverticulum (KJD) and large Zenker diverticulum (ZD), where the RLN is typically encountered outside of its normal course.
authors.affiliation: University Voice and Swallowing Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Coughlan
authors.affiliation: University Voice and Swallowing Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA verma@uci.edu.
authors.forename: Sunil P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Verma
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods*; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D010611:Pharyngectomy; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve; D061226:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016672:Zenker Diverticulum / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: endoscopic Zenker’s; recurrent laryngeal nerve injury; surgical management; swallowing; voice disorders