A 38-year-old man with a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and hypertension presents for total thyroidectomy with central compartment neck dissection. Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) is being used. During dissection of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), a sudden loss of electromyographic (EMG) signal is noted. The surgeon immediately halts dissection and performs a 5-minute "wake-up test" which shows recovery of the EMG signal. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step?