Thyroidectomy facilitated with Harmonic Caliper and intraoperative neural monitoring in three horses

Background Thyroidectomy in horses is performed conventionally; however, both iatrogenic and post-operative complications occur, mostly due to injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN). Objective To facilitate sufficient understanding use Harmonic Focus® Shear (HFS) together with intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) RLN during thyroidectomy horses. Study design Retrospective case series. Methods Three were presented a thyroid mass, hemithyroidectomy was using HFS IONM. Medical records reviewed. Findings at short-term follow-up 6 weeks after surgery long-term obtained from referring veterinarian or owner 3 years evaluated. Results The 9–17 old. Thyroid enlargement unilateral all horses, two on left side one right side. Histological findings consistent adenocarcinoma, C-cell adenocarcinoma adenoma each horse. Neither intraoperative- nor encountered. Short- showed that returned previous activity. Main limitations limitation this study small sample size, reflecting low prevalence disease rarity procedure Conclusions IONM enabled an easy, precise dissection, adequate haemostasis direct visualisation thyroidectomy, avoiding its damage allowing evaluation function intraoperatively.