Is intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during thyroidectomy better than identification alone at reducing the risk of true vocal fold palsy (TVFP)?
Background: TVFP is one of the most feared complications of thyroidectomy and is, along with hypoparathyroidism, one of the leading causes for litigation after thyroidectomy. Additionally, some individuals with unilateral TVFP have significant swallowing and aspiration problems. IONM of the RLN has been advocated by some as a tool to help limit this complication.
Explore this issue:
May 2011Study design: Literature and data review, with a meta-analysis.
Setting: A systematic literature search.