The laryngeal twitch response - Can it avoid unnecessary two-stage thyroidectomy? - A retrospective cohort study.

Background: The objective of this study was to determine if the laryngeal twitch response, when compared to neuromonitoring, can predict postoperative vocal cord function and can thus be used in case of technical failure of the EMG-recording electrode.

Methods: A total of 640 nerves at risk were included in this study based on a prospective protocol. The laryngeal twitch response and the EMG-records were compared with the results of the postoperative laryngoscopy.