Systematic Postdissection Vagal Stimulation and Surgical Strategy During Thyroidectomy

Does routine postdissection vagal nerve (V2) stimulation have greater sensitivity to identify the risk of impaired vocal cord function in thyroid surgery compared with postdissection recurrent laryngeal nerve (R2) stimulation or selective V2 stimulation alone?In this cross-sectional study of 240 patients with 353 nerves at risk, the sensitivity of any loss of signal on V2 for detection of impaired vocal cord mobility was 100%, while the sensitivity of any loss of signal on R2 for detection of impaired vocal cord mobility was 57.9%.In this study, V2 stimulation was significantly better than R2 stimulation for detection of impaired vocal mobility.

Corresponding Author: Patrick Sheahan, MD, Department of Otolaryngology–Head sheahan.patrick@sivuh.ie).

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