[Identifying the recurrent laryngeal nerve by intraoperative neuromonitoring]

301 patients underwent thyroid surgery in 1998 by using the intraoperative neuromonitoring. The documentation was done prospectively. The system of intraoperative neuromonitoring consists of a stimulation circuit and an electromyographic record. We placed the deriving electrode transligamentally through the cricothyroid membrane. By relaxometry we investigated the influence of the relaxation level on the electromyographic record of the vocal muscle. Using a standardized operative technique we found a side-related rate of primary palsy of 2.3% (n = 13), from which 61.5% (n = 8) showed to be only temporary during a postoperative follow-up period. The intraoperative neuromonitoring with the purpose of identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve is a safe and reliable method.