Vagal and recurrent laryngeal nerves neuromonitoring during thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy: A prospective study

Vagal nerve stimulation allows suspicion or elimination of lesions on the inferior laryngeal nerve upstream of the stimulation point and detection of non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve. Intermittent monitoring assesses nerve function at the moment of stimulation, while continuous monitoring detects the first signs of nerve injury liable to induce postoperative recurrent nerve palsy. When total thyroidectomy is indicated, signal attenuation on the first operated side casts doubt on continuing surgery to the contralateral side in the same step.