Intraoperative Neuromonitoring for Surgical Training in Thyroid Surgery: Its Routine Use Allows a Safe Operation Instead of Lack of Experienced Mentoring

Background The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of intraoperative neuromonitoring (NM) on surgical training. The results of thyroidectomy performed by inexperienced surgeons under the supervision of a consultant surgeon without intraoperative neuromonitoring (ioNM) were compared to those of the operations performed without experienced assistance but under neuromonitoring control. Materials and methods The study included the thyroid operations performed in our Department between 2005 and 2012. Among them, residents or fellows performed 1,116 procedures. Seven hundred sixty-five operations were conducted without neuromonitoring (NV group) and 351 with NM group. In the NV group 375 unilateral and 390 bilateral operations were performed. In the NM group 149 unilateral and 202 bilateral operations were performed. Primary end point of the study was the incidence of postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. A secondary end point was the impact of ioNM on operating time and operative strategy. Results The incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy was 2.6 % in the NV group and 2.7 % in the NM group [p = ns]. One case of bilateral RLN palsy was observed in the NV group. The operative time was longer in the NM group for both lobectomy and total thyroidectomy (50 vs. 56 min and 76 vs. 81 min, respectively; p < 0.05). Conclusions The routine use of intermittent intraoperative neuromonitoring during thyroid operations does not reduce the incidence of RLN palsy. Nevertheless, it allows inexperienced surgeons to perform a safe operation with a complication rate comparable to that obtained under supervision of an experienced surgeon. Moreover, ioNM could avoid the unfortunate occurrence of a bilateral RLN palsy.