Pediatric intraoperative nerve monitoring during thyroid surgery: A review from the American Head and Neck Society Endocrine Surgery Section and the International Neural Monitoring Study Group

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-8-2022

Publication Title

Head & neck

Abstract

Children are more likely to experience recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury during thyroid surgery. Intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) may assist in nerve identification and surgical decision making. A literature review of pediatric IONM was performed and used to inform a monitoring technique guide and expert opinion statements. Pediatric IONM is achieved using a variety of methods. When age-appropriate endotracheal tubes with integrated surface electrodes are not available, an alternative method should be used. Patient age and surgeon experience with laryngoscopy influence technique selection; four techniques are described in detail. Surgeons must be familiar with the nuances of monitoring technique and interpretation; opinion statements address optimizing this technology in children. Adult IONM guidelines may offer strategies for surgical decision making in children. In some cases, delay of second-sided surgery may reduce bilateral RLN injury risk.

PubMed ID

35261110

ePublication

ePub ahead of print

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