Impact of Intraoperative Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Monitoring on Post-Thyroidectomy Airway Outcomes: Insights from a Large National Cohort

Highlight

• Intraoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) monitoring was used in over 70% of thyroid surgeries in a national cohort study.
• RLN monitoring was independently associated with a significant reduction in postoperative airway compromise, including prolonged ventilation and unexpected reintubation.
• Patient factors such as advanced age, comorbidities (e.g., COPD), and tumor stage were key drivers of airway complication risk post-thyroidectomy.
• The protective effect of RLN monitoring was most pronounced in high-risk surgical patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class III or above.

Study Background