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Updated: Jul 18, 2025
Intra-Operative Neural Monitoring of Thyroid Surgery in a Porcine Model
Published on: February 11, 2019
A Comparison of Completeness and Complication of Total Thyroidectomy with or Without Neuromonitoring
Pradeep Puthen Veetil1, Shikhil Puzhakkal1
1Endocrine Surgery Department, Baby Memorial Hospital, 673004 Kozhikode, Kerala India.
Objectives:
Total Thyroidectomy (TT) in true sense is not total as evidenced by remnant uptake in radio-iodine scans and serum thyroglobulin. The aim of this study is to assess the completeness of TT, operating time and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury with and without neuro-monitoring (IONM).
Methods:
Cross sectional analytical study using retrospective data of patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for benign and malignant goiters. Surgeries performed by single surgeon. Patients undergoing TT (2015-22) were grouped into Group A (n = 400) and Group B (n = 400) based on use of IONM. Subgroup of patients (Group A1&B1) who had differentiated thyroid cancer were compared for completeness of thyroidectomy with DxWBS and serum thyroglobulin (TG). Group A and B were compared for operating time and incidence of RLN palsy.
Results:
Of the 800 RLN at risk transient RLN palsy was lower with IONM (p = 0.048). Mean operating time was significantly higher in Group-B(p = 0.0038). Subgroup A1 showed lower radio-active iodine uptake percentage, higher number of patients with negative scan, TG of < 1ng/mL indicating better completeness of TT.
Conclusion:
Our study shows better completeness of thyroidectomy, lower incidence of transient RLN palsy and shorter operating time with IONM.
