Nerve monitoring in endocrine surgery: Practice patterns differ among surgeons for parathyroidectomy and...

It is unknown whether intraoperative nerve monitoring is associated with reduced vocal cord dysfunction after parathyroidectomy. We aimed to investigate intraoperative nerve monitoring use among Collaborative Endocrine Surgery Quality Improvement Program surgeons and factors associated with vocal cord dysfunction after parathyroidectomy.

Patients who underwent parathyroidectomy included in the Collaborative Endocrine Surgery Quality Improvement Program (2014-2022) were identified. The annual percent change in parathyroidectomies performed with intraoperative nerve monitoring was calculated using joinpoint regression. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare outcomes between patients undergoing parathyroidectomy with/without intraoperative nerve monitoring. To compare surgeon-specific trends, Collaborative Endocrine Surgery Quality Improvement Program thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy datasets (2014-2021) were combined. Parathyroidectomies performed by surgeons who used intraoperative nerve monitoring consistently in thyroidectomy were identified. Factors associated with intraoperative nerve monitoring were examined using multivariable logistic regression.

A total of 9,813 patients underwent parathyroidectomy. Intraoperative nerve monitoring was used in 49% of cases (n = 4,818). There was an increase in parathyroidectomies with intraoperative nerve monitoring from 2014 to 2018 (annual percent change 22.2, P = .01), followed by a plateau (2018-2022 annual percent change -0.66, P = .85). Few patients (0.44%, n = 43) developed vocal cord dysfunction. Vocal cord dysfunction was not associated with intraoperative nerve monitoring (adjusted odds ratio 0.92, P = .75). Whereas 41% (n = 56/138) of surgeons used intraoperative nerve monitoring routinely in parathyroidectomy, 65% (n = 90/138) used it routinely in thyroidectomy. Among surgeons who used intraoperative nerve monitoring routinely in thyroidectomy, only 57% used it routinely in parathyroidectomy; factors associated with intraoperative nerve monitoring during parathyroidectomy included reoperation (adjusted odds ratio 2.51, P < .01), secondary/tertiary hyperparathyroidism (adjusted odds ratio 1.42, P = .02), multiglandular disease (adjusted odds ratio 1.76, P < .001), and non-localized disease (adjusted odds ratio 1.65, P < .001).

Endocrine surgeons use intraoperative nerve monitoring selectively. Surgeons who routinely use intraoperative nerve monitoring during thyroidectomy are more likely to use it during parathyroidectomy. Future studies should determine who may benefit most from intraoperative nerve monitoring in parathyroidectomy.