ISSN:
1435-2451
Keywords:
Key words Lesion of the recurrent laryngeal nerve
;
EMG monitoring
;
Intralaryngeal electrode
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Introduction: A clinical method to localize the recurrent laryngeal nerve intraoperatively in order to minimize the risk of accidental injury is presented. Methods and results: By means of an electrode, the nerve was stimulated by a pulsed contact current. The resulting muscle potential was detected using an electrode placed in the larynx. We applied this technique during the time period between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 1998. In 96 cases of primary thyroid resection, the recurrent nerve was identified 167 times. The patients were operated on for nodular thyroid (n=85), Grave’s disease (n=9) and malignant papillary goiter (n=2). Retrospectively, the rate of intraoperative nerve injury, equivalent to the rate of postoperative transient and permanent nerve palsy, was 1.04% in the 96 patients and 0.60% with respect to the 167 nerves at risk. The rate of failure of the method was 7.29%.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004230050219
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