TY - JOUR
T1 - Intraoperative neuromonitoring for the early detection and prevention of RLN traction injury in thyroid surgery
T2 - A porcine model
AU - Wu, Che Wei
AU - Dionigi, Gianlorenzo
AU - Sun, Hui
AU - Liu, Xiaoli
AU - Kim, Hoon Yub
AU - Hsiao, Pi Jung
AU - Tsai, Kuo Bow
AU - Chen, Hui Chun
AU - Chen, Hsiu Ya
AU - Chang, Pi Ying
AU - Lu, I. Cheng
AU - Chiang, Feng Yu
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported in part by grants from the National Science Council ( NSC 101-2314-B-037-030-MY2 ), Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital ( Kmhk100-022 ) and Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital ( Kmuh101-1R35 , 100-0R34 , 99-9R06 ), Taiwan. The authors are grateful to Mars Wu (engineer) and Pao-Chu Hun (veterinarian, Laboratory Animal Center, KMU) for excellent technical assistance.
PY - 2014/2
Y1 - 2014/2
N2 - Background Operative traction of the thyroid lobe is a necessary component of thyroid surgery. This surgical maneuver can cause traction injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), and this complication has been reported to be the most common mechanism of nerve injury. The goal of this study was to investigate the electromyographic (EMG) signal pattern during an acute RLN traction injury and establish reliable strategies to prevent the injury using intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM). Methods Fifteen piglets (30 RLNs) underwent IONM via automated periodic vagal nerve stimulation and had their EMG tracings recorded and correlated with various models of nerve injury. Results In the pilot study, a progressive, partial EMG loss was observed under RLN tractions with different tension (n = 8). The changes in amplitudes were more marked and consistent than were the changes in latency. The EMG gradually gained partial recovery after the traction was relieved. Among the nerves injured with electrothermal (n = 4), clamping (n = 1), and transection (n = 1) models, the EMG showed immediate partial or complete loss, and no gradual EMG recovery was observed. Another 16 RLNs were used to investigate the potential of EMG recovery after different extents of RLN traction. We noted the EMG showed nearly full recovery if the traction stress was relieved before the loss of signal (LOS), but the recovery was worse if prolonged or repeated traction was applied. The mean restored amplitudes after the traction was relieved before, during, and after the LOS were 98 ± 3% (n = 6), 36 ± 4% (n = 4), and 15 ± 2% (n = 6), respectively. Conclusion RLN traction injury showed graded, partial EMG changes; early release of the traction before the EMG has degraded to LOS offers a good chance of EMG recovery. IONM can be used as a tool for the early detection of adverse EMG changes that may alert surgeons to correct certain maneuvers immediately to prevent irreversible nerve injury during the thyroid operation.
AB - Background Operative traction of the thyroid lobe is a necessary component of thyroid surgery. This surgical maneuver can cause traction injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), and this complication has been reported to be the most common mechanism of nerve injury. The goal of this study was to investigate the electromyographic (EMG) signal pattern during an acute RLN traction injury and establish reliable strategies to prevent the injury using intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM). Methods Fifteen piglets (30 RLNs) underwent IONM via automated periodic vagal nerve stimulation and had their EMG tracings recorded and correlated with various models of nerve injury. Results In the pilot study, a progressive, partial EMG loss was observed under RLN tractions with different tension (n = 8). The changes in amplitudes were more marked and consistent than were the changes in latency. The EMG gradually gained partial recovery after the traction was relieved. Among the nerves injured with electrothermal (n = 4), clamping (n = 1), and transection (n = 1) models, the EMG showed immediate partial or complete loss, and no gradual EMG recovery was observed. Another 16 RLNs were used to investigate the potential of EMG recovery after different extents of RLN traction. We noted the EMG showed nearly full recovery if the traction stress was relieved before the loss of signal (LOS), but the recovery was worse if prolonged or repeated traction was applied. The mean restored amplitudes after the traction was relieved before, during, and after the LOS were 98 ± 3% (n = 6), 36 ± 4% (n = 4), and 15 ± 2% (n = 6), respectively. Conclusion RLN traction injury showed graded, partial EMG changes; early release of the traction before the EMG has degraded to LOS offers a good chance of EMG recovery. IONM can be used as a tool for the early detection of adverse EMG changes that may alert surgeons to correct certain maneuvers immediately to prevent irreversible nerve injury during the thyroid operation.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84892599938&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.surg.2013.08.015
DO - 10.1016/j.surg.2013.08.015
M3 - Article
C2 - 24084598
AN - SCOPUS:84892599938
SN - 0039-6060
VL - 155
SP - 329
EP - 339
JO - Surgery
JF - Surgery
IS - 2
ER -