Limits of neuromonitoring in thyroid surgery.

W e read with interest the comprehensive article by Dr Brauckhoff et al,1 and we appreciated their aim of determining the impact of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) to discriminate between a nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve (non-RLN) and a recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) in helping to avoid injury to the aberrant nerve. We would like to offer an additional remark. Considering the increasing trend in the use of IONM,2 it is important to evaluate the current limits of IONM technology.

[1]  C. Sekulla,et al.  Latencies Shorter than 3.5 ms After Vagus Nerve Stimulation Signify a Nonrecurrent Inferior Laryngeal Nerve Before Dissection , 2011, Annals of surgery.

[2]  T. Sloan,et al.  Electrophysiologic recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring during thyroid and parathyroid surgery: International standards guideline statement , 2011, The Laryngoscope.

[3]  H. Dralle,et al.  Why monitor the recurrent laryngeal nerve in thyroid surgery? , 2010, Journal of endocrinological investigation.

[4]  Ka-Wo Lee,et al.  Surgical anatomy and neurophysiology of the vagus nerve (VN) for standardised intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) of the inferior laryngeal nerve (ILN) during thyroidectomy , 2010, Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery.

[5]  C. Sekulla,et al.  What are normal quantitative parameters of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) in thyroid surgery? , 2010, Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery.

[6]  G. Dionigi,et al.  Standardization of Intraoperative Neuromonitoring of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve in Thyroid Operation: To the Editor , 2010, World Journal of Surgery.

[7]  T. Fahey Randomized clinical trial of visualization versus neuromonitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerves during thyroidectomy , 2010 .

[8]  W. Kuo,et al.  Standardization of Intraoperative Neuromonitoring of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve in Thyroid Operation , 2010, World Journal of Surgery.

[9]  J. Serpell,et al.  The Motor Fibers of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Are Located in the Anterior Extralaryngeal Branch , 2009, Annals of surgery.

[10]  P. Angelos,et al.  Neuromonitoring in Thyroid Surgery: Attitudes, Usage Patterns, and Predictors of Use Among Endocrine Surgeons , 2009, World Journal of Surgery.

[11]  C. Sekulla,et al.  Intraoperative Monitoring of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve in Thyroid Surgery , 2008, World Journal of Surgery.

[12]  G. Dionigi,et al.  What is the learning curve for intraoperative neuromonitoring in thyroid surgery? , 2008, International journal of surgery.

[13]  S. Sidhu,et al.  NERVE STIMULATION IN THYROID SURGERY: IS IT REALLY USEFUL? , 2007, ANZ journal of surgery.

[14]  E. Kruse,et al.  [Not all vocal cord failure following thyroid surgery is recurrent paresis due to damage during operation. Statement of the German Interdisciplinary Study Group on Intraoperative Neuromonitoring of Thyroid Surgery concerning recurring paresis due to intubation]. , 2004, Der Chirurg; Zeitschrift fur alle Gebiete der operativen Medizen.

[15]  C. Sekulla,et al.  Validity of intra-operative neuromonitoring signals in thyroid surgery , 2004, Langenbeck's archives of surgery (Print).