Thermal injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve by THUNDERBEAT during thyroid surgery: findings from continuous intraoperative neuromonitoring in a porcine model

摘要

Background: Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy is the most common and serious complication of thyroid surgery. The use of energy-based devices (EBDs) has replaced hand-tying methods in many institutions. However, EBD use proximal to the RLN presents risks related to lateral thermal spread and associated nerve damage. THUNDERBEAT (TB) is one of the most widely used EBDs. This study aimed to test the safety of TB during thyroidectomy.