Identification of the motor laryngeal nerves - a new electrical stimulation technique

Head and neck surgeons are familiar with the technique of identifying motor nerves in the head and neck region by using electrical stimulation especially in the identification of the facial and the spinal accessory nerves. The identification of the motor laryngeal nerves by electrical stimulation intra-operatively has been described; but, the difficulty of visualization of intrinsic laryngeal muscle movement has prevented the wide spread use of this technique. This paper will introduce a simple, safe and reliable method to allow the surgeon to recognize true vocal cord movement while stimulating the recurrent laryngeal nerve. The movement of a two inch 27 gauge needle placed through the cricothyroid membrane into the ipsilateral true vocal cord permits identification of intrinsic laryngeal muscle movement during electrical stimulation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. This method has been successfully used in confirming conductivity of the laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery, Zenker's diverticulum surgery, cricotracheal trauma and recurrent nerve neurectomy for spasmodic dysphonia.