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.
