Neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal and vagus nerves in thyroid and parathyroid surgery: historical evolution and current state of the art

Abstract

Neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal and vagus nerves has evolved significantly since its inception, and it has become an essential tool in thyroid surgery and associated procedures. This article describes the historical evolution of neuromonitoring, its technological development, and its implementation in current medical practice. The review includes the techniques used and the importance of neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and vagus nerve. In addition, best practices and challenges currently faced by surgeons are analyzed. Through an extensive and up-to-date review of publications on the subject, this article offers an outlook on the future of neuromonitoring in the surgical field. The need for adequate training and integration of new technologies is essential to optimize patients’ outcomes and the education and training of specialists.