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Introduction: Despite the increasingly broad use of intraoperative neuromonitoring, review of the literature and clinical experience confirms there is little uniformity in application of and results across different centers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of intraoperative neuromonitoring with a standardized evaluation of the signals to predict the postoperative functional outcome and its role in reducing the postoperative recurrent nerve palsy rates., Methods: 2365 consecutive patients underwent thyroidectomy by a single surgical team: in 1356 patients (group A) with intraoperative neuromonitoring, in 1009 (Group B) without it., Results: In group A a loss of signal was observed in 37 cases: we had 29 true positive cases, 1317 true negative, 8 false positive, and 2 false negative. Accuracy was 99.26%, positive predictive value 78.38%, negative predictive value 99.85%, sensitivity 93.55%, and specificity 99.4%. 29 unilateral nerve paralysis were observed (2.13%), 23 (1.69%) transient and 6 (0.44%) permanent. In group B 26 unilateral paralysis were observed (2.57%), 20 (1.98%) transient and 6 permanent (0.59%) Differences were not statistically significant., Conclusions: Intraoperative neuromonitoring is highly predictive of the postoperative nerve function. We obtained a very high sensitivity and negative predictive value, but also a good specificity and positive predictive value. For these reasons, in selected patients with loss of signal, the surgical strategy can be reconsidered. On the other hand, this study failed to demonstrate a statistically significant decrease in the nerve paralysis rate. Further studies are needed to better evaluate the real benefit of this technique., (Copyright © 2015 IJS Publishing Group Limited. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The frequency of neuromonitoring during thyroid surgery is underreported in Italy. The present survey depicts and describes the patterns of use, management, documentation for IONM devices of IONM during thyroid surgery by surgeons in Italy. A point prevalence survey was undertaken. Source data were mixed from Italian surgeons attending the 2014 International Neuromonitoring Study Group (INMSG) meeting, four IONM manufacturers available in Italy and surgical units were identified from Company sales data. Qualitative and quantitative data were used to analyze. Questions probed IONM prevalence, surgeon background, hospital geographic practice locations, type of hospital, rationale for IONM use, sources of initial capital investment for IONM acquisition, type of equipment, use of continuous IONM, monitoring management, use of distinctive standards, and IONM documentation. IONM is currently delivered through 48 units in Italy. In 2013, the distribution of IONM by specialties included: general (50 %), ENT (46 %), and thoracic surgery (4 %). Overall, 12.853 IONM procedures were performed in the period from 2006 to 2013: 253 were performed in 2007 and about 5,100 in 2013. Distribution according to the type of hospital is: public 48 %, academic setting 37 %, and private maintenance 15 %. The use category of high volume thyroid hospitals represented 33 %. Initial capital investment for the acquisition of the monitoring equipment was 67 % public and 33 % with charitable/private funding. Audio plus graphic and EMG electrodes surface endotracheal tube-based monitoring systems accounted for the majority. Continuous IONM was introduced in 5 Academic Centers. Overall motivations expressed are legal (30 %), RLN confirmation (20 %), RLN identification (20 %), prognosis (10 %), helpful in difficult cases (10 %), decrease surgical time (5 %), and educational (5 %). The survey revealed that participants had few experience with the standardized approach of IONM technique (28 %). General IONM information to patients and/or subsequent specific IONM informed consent was initiated in 8 % of centers. EMG determinations were included in medical chart in 20 %. There were no significant associations found between all parameters considered. The present study describes an increased utilization of IONM in Italy. We highlighted areas for improvement in the management and documentation of IONM.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of intraoperative neuromonitoring in reducing the postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy rate by a comparison between patients submitted to thyroidectomy with intraoperative neuromonitoring and with routine identification alone., Methods: Between June 2007 and December 2012, 2034 consecutive patients underwent thyroidectomy by a single surgical team. We compared patients who have had neuromonitoring and patients who have undergone surgery with nerve visualization alone. Patients in which neuromonitoring was not utilized (Group A) were 993, patients in which was utilized (group B) were 1041., Results: In group A 28 recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries were observed (2.82%), 21 (2.11%) transient and 7 (0.7%) permanent. In group B 23 recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries were observed (2.21%), in 17 cases (1.63%) transient and in 6 (0.58%) permanent. Differences were not statistically significative., Conclusions: Visual nerve identification remains the gold standard of recurrent laryngeal nerve management in thyroid surgery. Neuromonitoring helps to identify the nerve, in particular in difficult cases, but it did not decrease nerve injuries compared with visualization alone. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the benefit of intraoperative neuromonitoring in thyroidectomy, especially in conditions in which the recurrent nerve is at high risk of injury.

Introduction: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the ability of intraoperative neuromonitoring to predict the postoperative functional outcome and its role in reducing the postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy rate during thyroidectomy for thyroid malignancy., Methods: Between June 2007 and March 2013, 656 consecutive patients with thyroid cancer underwent thyroidectomy by a single surgical team. We compared 357 patients who have had neuromonitoring (Group A) to 299 patients who have undergone surgery with nerve visualization alone (group B)., Results: In group A 7 recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis were observed (1.96%), 6 (1.68%) transient and 1 (0.28%) permanent; a bilateral recurrent laryngeal palsy was observed in 1 of the 7 cases (0.28%). In group B 6 recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis were observed (2.01%), 5 (2.01%) transient and 1 permanent (0.33%); bilateral palsy was observed in 1 of the 6 cases (0.33%). Differences were not statistically significative., Conclusions: Routine visual nerve identification remains the gold standard of recurrent laryngeal nerve management in surgery for thyroid cancer. Intraoperative neuromonitoring is safe, effective, reliable, and easy to perform in excluding postoperative recurrent laryngeal palsy. It helps to identify the nerve in thyroid cancer, but it did not decrease the injuries compared with visualization alone in this study; however, its use can change the operative strategy in order to prevent the risk of bilateral damage in case of signal loss. Future studies are needed to evaluate the benefit of intraoperative neuromonitoring in thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer., (Copyright © 2014 Surgical Associates Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of intraoperative neuromonitoring in reducing the postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy rate by a comparison between patients submitted to thyroidectomy with intraoperative neuromonitoring and with routine identification alone. Methods. Between June 2007 and December 2012, 2034 consecutive patients underwent thyroidectomy by a single surgical team. We compared patients who have had neuromonitoring and patients who have undergone surgery with nerve visualization alone. Patients in which neuromonitoring was not utilized (Group A) were 993, patients in which was utilized (group B) were 1041. Results. In group A 28 recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries were observed (2.82%), 21 (2.11%) transient and 7 (0.7%) permanent. In group B 23 recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries were observed (2.21%), in 17 cases (1.63%) transient and in 6 (0.58%) permanent. Differences were not statistically significative. Conclusions. Visual nerve identification remains the gold standard of recurrent laryngeal nerve management in thyroid surgery. Neuromonitoring helps to identify the nerve, in particular in difficult cases, but it did not decrease nerve injuries compared with visualization alone. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the benefit of intraoperative neuromonitoring in thyroidectomy, especially in conditions in which the recurrent nerve is at high risk of injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) in predicting postoperative nerve function during thyroid surgery and its consequent ability to assist the surgeon in intraoperative decision making.Materials and Methods: A total of 2365 consecutive patients were submitted to thyroidectomy by the same surgical team. Group A included 1356 patients (2712 nerves at risk) in whom IONM was utilized, and Group B included 1009 patients (2018 nerves at risk) in whom IONM was not utilized.Results: In Group A, loss of signal (LOS) was observed in 37 patients; there were 29 true positive, 1317 true negative, 8 false positive, and 2 false negative cases. Accuracy was 99.3%, positive predictive value was 78.4%, negative predictive value was 99.8%, sensitivity was 93.6%, and specificity was 99.4%. A total of 29 (2.1%) cases of unilateral paralysis were observed, 23 (1.7%) of which were transient and 6 (0.4%) of which were permanent. Bilateral palsy was observed in two (0.1%) cases requiring a tracheostomy. In Group A, 31 (2.3%) injuries were observed, 25 (1.8%) of which were transient and 6 (0.4%) of which were permanent. In Group B, 26 (2.6%) unilateral paralysis cases were observed, 20 (2%) of which were transient and 6 (0.6%) of which were permanent; bilateral palsy was observed in 2 (0.2%) cases. In Group B, 28 (2.8%) injuries were observed, 21 (2.1%) of which were transient and 7 (0.7%) of which were permanent. Differences between the two groups were not statistically significant.Conclusions: Our results show that IONM has a very high sensitivity and negative predictive value, but also good specificity and positive predictive value. For these reasons, in selected patients with LOS, the surgical strategy should be reconsidered. However, patients need to be informed preoperatively about potential strategy changes during the planned bilateral surgery. Future larger and multicenter studies are needed to confirm the benefits of this therapeutic strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]