Laryngeal adductor reflex and future projections for brainstem monitoring. Reply to “A method for intraoperative recording of the laryngeal adductor reflex during lower brainstem surgery in children”

The Role of Neurophysiology in Managing Patients with Chiari Malformations

Chiari malformation type 1 (CM1) includes various congenital anomalies that share ectopia of the cerebellar tonsils lower than the foramen magnum, in some cases associated with syringomyelia or hydrocephalus. CM1 can cause dysfunction of the brainstem, spinal cord, and cranial nerves. This functional alteration of the nervous system can be detected by various modalities of neurophysiological tests, such as brainstem auditory evoked potentials, somatosensory evoked potentials, motor evoked potentials, electromyography and nerve conduction studies of the cranial nerves and spinal roots, as well as brainstem reflexes. The main goal of this study is to review the findings of multimodal neurophysiological examinations in published studies of patients with CM1 and their indication in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of these patients, as well as their utility in intraoperative monitoring.

Intraoperative recording of laryngeal adductor reflex and cortical motor evoked potentials during jugular foramen schwannoma surgery: a case report and literature review

PURPOSE

Schwannoma, a tumor originating from the peripheral nervous system, may arise from the vagus nerve, although it is not very often. Injury of the vagus nerve by surgical attempts may have consequences that will seriously affect the patient's quality of life. In recent years, continuous monitoring of the laryngeal adductor reflex (LAR) has become a promising methodology for evaluating vagus nerve function intraoperatively. We refer to our experience changing our surgical strategy due to concurrent deterioration in LAR and CoMEPs intraoperatively. We also provide a literature review and summarize the current knowledge of this technique.

METHODS

The LAR was elicited and recorded by an electromyographic endotracheal tube in a 36-year-old man diagnosed with vagal nerve schwannoma. Subdermal needle electrodes were placed in both cricothyroid (CTHY) muscles for corticobulbar motor evoked potentials (CoMEPs) recording.

RESULTS

Recordings of ipsilateral LAR and CTHY CoMEPs were obtained despite preoperative ipsilateral cord vocalis weakness. The surgical strategy was altered after the simultaneous decrease of CTHY CoMEPs and LAR amplitudes, and the surgery was completed with subtotal resection. No additional neurological deficit was observed in the patient except dysphonia, which resolved within a few weeks after the surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that LAR with vagal nerve CoMEPs are two complementary methods and provide reliable information about the functional status of the vagus nerve during surgery.

Valuableness of introduction of laryngeal abductor reflex intraoperative neuromonitoring technique in lower brainstem lesion

Background:

Our aim is to evaluate the use of laryngeal adductor reflex (LAR) for posterior fossa and brainstem surgeries in conjunction with current intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) techniques.

Case Description:

The patient is a 62-year-old woman who complained of decreased hearing on her left side, dizziness, and left facial palsy. After proper investigation, she was found to have a left vestibular schwannoma. She was scheduled for the left retrosigmoid approach and electrodes embedded on the surface of the endotracheal tube were inserted to monitor for LAR. Preoperative baseline monitoring was recorded. During intraoperative resection of tumor, a significant bilateral amplitude response decrease of the LAR was noted, along with left side decrease in vocal muscle motor evoked potential amplitude responses and bradycardia. Following the LAR event, owed to numerous other IONM changes, surgery was terminated to avoid any complications.

Conclusion:

LAR is an integral tool to constantly monitor vagus nerve function that can be used in combination with other IONM modalities during lower brainstem and posterior fossa surgeries. We advocate the IONM use of LAR in brainstem surgeries.

Continuous Laryngeal Adductor Reflex Versus Intermittent Nerve Monitoring in Neck Endocrine Surgery

OBJECTIVE

Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) techniques aim to identify and potentially prevent nerve injury during surgeries. Prior studies into the efficacy of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) IONM convey mixed results, with some claiming equivalence between IONM and no monitoring at all. The goal of the current study was to compare continuous RLN monitoring using the laryngeal adductor reflex (LAR) to intermittent RLN monitoring (intermittent IONM) to determine whether continuous monitoring reduces the incidence of intraoperative RLN injury during neck endocrine surgeries.

METHODS

In this observational, historical case-control study, a historical cohort of patients monitored with intermittent-IONM (group 1, n = 130) were compared to prospectively collected data from consecutive nerves-at-risk monitored continuously with the LAR (LAR-CIONM, group 2, n = 205), at a single center by a single surgeon. The test benefit ratio and relative risk reduction (RRR) for LAR-CIONM over intermittent IONM were calculated.

RESULTS

For group 1, nine nerves at risk exhibited intraoperative LOS with transient postoperative vocal fold (VF) hypomobility (n = 2) or immobility (VFI, n = 7). For group 2, two nerves at risk (0.98%) had sudden intraoperative LAR LOS following bipolar cautery, resulting in postoperative transient VFI (P = .004). In each group, there was one case of permanent postoperative VFI. The test benefit rate ratio for LAR-CIONM demonstrated a dramatic effect at 5.23, with an RRR of 81.0%.

CONCLUSION

LAR-CIONM significantly decreased rates of postoperative transient VF paralysis and paresis over intermittent IONM alone (P = .004). Surgeons should be aware of the benefits and limitations of intermittent IONM versus CIONM. Intermittent IONM, although useful in nerve mapping and intraoperative decision making, has minimal benefit for the prevention of nerve injury, whereas CIONM can potentially reduce nerve injury rates and improve patient outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3 Laryngoscope, 131:230-236, 2021.