Intraoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring in thyroid surgery: is it worth the cost?

Background: Intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) has been used in head and neck surgery since the 1970s. Its utilization for monitoring and protecting the recurrent laryngeal nerve, however, is a controversial subject. This paper details the use, value, and cost of this technology within a single institution.

Harmonic scalpel versus flexible CO2 laser for tongue resection: a histopathological analysis of thermal damage in human cadavers.

Background: Monopolar cautery is the most commonly used surgical cutting and hemostatic tool for head and neck surgery. There are newer technologies that are being utilized with the goal of precise cutting, decreasing blood loss, reducing thermal damage, and allowing faster wound healing. Our study compares thermal damage caused by Harmonic scalpel and CO2 laser to cadaveric tongue.