[Intraoperative electromyographic identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve].

BACKGROUND

Recurrent nerve palsy is the most important complication of thyroid surgery. Correct identification of the nerve during the surgical procedure is essential to avoid damage.

METHOD: We evaluated the intraoperative electromyographic identification procedure of the recurrent laryngeal nerves in 77 consecutive patients. The operations performed were 63 subtotal resections, 6 hemithyroidectomies, 4 hemithyroidectomies in combination with subtotal resection of the opposite side and 4 thyroidectomies.

RESULTS

Identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve by electrophysiologic nerve stimulation was successful in 97.4%. Recurrent nerve palsy was not seen in postoperative laryngoscopic control.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative electromyography improves the identification rate of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and allows electrophysiologic verification of nerve function as a result of injury to the thyroid.