Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Monitoring by Cricopharyngeus Contraction

Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring of Microvascular Decompression for Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia

“…Although we welcome the introduction of new technologies and application of new techniques to the IONM field, we think that from the above mentioned, the new device needs to be more extensively tested and the new technique improved. In fact, both represent significant improvements over all the previously used techniques; especially from the more invasive ones, such as the transcutaneous transcrycothyroid EMG (Petro et al, 2006), to the more simple ones like observing cricopharyngeal contraction (Sasaki and Mitra, 2001). As for the use of needle electrodes at the posterior pharynx wall, we agree with Husain et al (2008), Singh and Husain (2011), that the risk of bleeding and addition of perforation and dissemination of infection from the upper gastrointestinal tract into the retropharyngeal space is too high.…”

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Monitoring in Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery: The University of Michigan Experience

“…These add both time and morbidity to the procedure. Sasaki and Mitra 14 have suggested an alternative methodology in their recent report that does not rely on observation of free‐running EMG but is instead based on their previous findings that the human cricopharyngeus muscle has dual motor‐innervation from both the pharyngeal plexus and the RLN. Using monopolar stimulation in the area of dissection, the anterior cricopharyngeus is visually observed.…”

Swallowing disorders after thyroidectomy: What we know and where we are. A systematic review

“…The internal branch of the SLN provides sensitive innervation of the supraglottic space and vocal folds. Its lesion can determine, in some cases, dysphagia and aspiration [7] while the external branch (EB-SLN) provides the motility of the cricothyroid muscle, which improves the tension of the vocal folds but its damage is occasionally followed from various rates of swallowing symptoms [23,27]. As confirmed in animal models, the EB-SLN provides the laryngeal protective response so a damage of this branch can be involved in dysphagia [28].…”