Candaş Erçetin1, Alper Şahbaz2, Sami Acar3, Fırat Tutal4, Nihat Aksakal5, Serkan Sarı6, Yeşim Erbil7. 1. Department of General Surgery, Health Sciences University, Bağcılar Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey. 2. Department of General Surgery, Health Sciences University, Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey. 3. Department of General Surgery, Acıbadem Taksim Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey. 4. Department of General Surgery, Kolan International Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey. 5. Department of General Surgery, İstanbul University Istanbul School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey. 6. Department of General Surgery, Health Sciences University, İstanbul Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey. 7. Department of General Surgery, İstanbul University İstanbul School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Parathyroid glands and recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLNs) are at risk during thyroid surgery. However, the identification of the nerves has reduced these risks. Intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) during thyroid surgery has gained widespread acceptance as an aid to the gold standard of visually identifying the RLN. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the identification of the RLN during thyroidectomy by using IONM. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven hundred forty-eight patients were included in our prospectively designed study. Of these 748 patients, 1496 nerves at risk were studied. Group 1 consisted of 736 nerves that were identified using IONM, whereas Group 2 consisted of 760 visually identified nerves. RESULTS: In the non-IONM group, the rate of temporary nerve palsy was lower in patients operated by experienced surgeons than in patients operated by residents (p= 0.001). In the IONM group, RLN injury rates were similar between experienced surgeons and residents. CONCLUSION: In spite of the fact that the duration of the operation was lower with IONM, the abbreviated duration may not appear to have clinical significance. The main advantage is for less experienced surgeons. IONM significantly decreases RLN palsy rates of the surgeons with limited experience in thyroid surgery.
OBJECTIVES: Parathyroid glands and recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLNs) are at risk during thyroid surgery. However, the identification of the nerves has reduced these risks. Intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) during thyroid surgery has gained widespread acceptance as an aid to the gold standard of visually identifying the RLN. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the identification of the RLN during thyroidectomy by using IONM. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven hundred forty-eight patients were included in our prospectively designed study. Of these 748 patients, 1496 nerves at risk were studied. Group 1 consisted of 736 nerves that were identified using IONM, whereas Group 2 consisted of 760 visually identified nerves. RESULTS: In the non-IONM group, the rate of temporary nerve palsy was lower in patients operated by experienced surgeons than in patients operated by residents (p= 0.001). In the IONM group, RLN injury rates were similar between experienced surgeons and residents. CONCLUSION: In spite of the fact that the duration of the operation was lower with IONM, the abbreviated duration may not appear to have clinical significance. The main advantage is for less experienced surgeons. IONM significantly decreases RLN palsy rates of the surgeons with limited experience in thyroid surgery.