Laryngeal Nerve Monitoring

ABSTRACT.

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring of the vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves is increasingly used during thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, skull base surgery, and cervical discectomy with fusion. Monitoring can assist in nerve localization and in reducing the incidence of neural trauma. To be effective, however, monitoring must be correctly implemented and the results interpreted based on an in-depth understanding of technique and the surgical structures at risk. Because “poor monitoring is worse than no monitoring” all members of the surgical monitoring team must have training specific to laryngeal recording to maximize its benefit and minimize pitfalls. This publication will review pertinent anatomy and neurophysiology as well as technical and interpretative factors.

KEY WORDS.:

• Cervical spine surgery
• endotracheal electrodes
• intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring
• recurrent laryngeal nerve
• superior laryngeal nerve
• thyroidectomy
• vagus nerve