3 Further information

3.1 All cases of RLN damage during thyroid surgery using IONM should be recorded at local clinical audit meetings and reported to the National Patient Safety Agency through local clinical governance mechanisms, as this may be associated with failure to identify the nerve (false-negatives) when using the technique.

Andrew Dillon
Chief Executive
March 2008

Sources of evidence

The evidence considered by the Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee is described in the following document.

'Interventional procedure overview of intraoperative nerve monitoring during thyroid surgery', August 2007.

Information for patients

NICE has produced information describing its guidance on this procedure for patients and their carers ('Understanding NICE guidance'). It explains the nature of the procedure and the decision made, and has been written with patient consent in mind.