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The role of intraoperative neuromonitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroidectomy: a comparative study on 1000 nerves at risk.

BACKGROUND: The role of intraoperative neuromonitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during thyroidectomy has not been well established. The present study evaluates whether RLN injury can be reduced by the application of this technique during thyroidectomy in a single center. METHODS: Of 1000 RLNs that were at risk of injury in 639 consecutive patients who underwent thyroidectomy, the outcome of 501 RLNs with the use of neuromonitoring was compared with that of 499 nerves that were operated by routine identification only. The incidences of RLN paralysis were compared between the 2 groups and the assigned risk subgroups. RESULTS: Postoperative palsy was identified in 47 RLNs (4.7%), with complete recovery in 37 of 44 RLNs (84%) without documented injury. The overall incidence of postoperative RLN paralysis was significantly higher during thyroidectomy for malignancy (P = .025) and secondary thyroidectomy (P = .017). There was no significant difference in postoperative, transient, and permanent paralysis rates between the neuromonitoring and control groups. In subgroup analysis, the postoperative RLN palsy rate was higher during reoperative thyroidectomy (19% vs 4.6%; P = .019) in the control group but not in the neuromonitoring group (7.8% vs 3.8%; P > .05). CONCLUSION: Neuromonitoring of the RLN during thyroid surgery could not be demonstrated to reduce RLN injury significantly, compared with the adoption of routine RLN identification. However, its application can be considered for selected high-risk thyroidectomies.

Adolescent↗

Lobectomy versus total thyroidectomy for differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid: a matched-pair analysis.

The extent of surgical resection for differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid gland confined to one lobe remains controversial. Although primary tumor size and extrathyroid extension are associated with a poor prognosis, the presence of multifocal lesions is not associated with an adverse prognosis. Therefore, the role of lobectomy versus total thyroidectomy must be studied in a prospective, randomized trial. Due to the need for long-term follow-up, such a trial has not yet been undertaken. As an alternative to such a trial, we have identified 146 patients from a consecutive series of 931 previously untreated patients undergoing surgical treatment at 1 institution between 1930 and 1980. For this study of matched-pair analysis, 73 patients, aged 45 years or older, were matched in each arm for significant prognostic factors. One group underwent lobectomy, and the other group underwent total thyroidectomy. The 20-year survival rate in the lobectomy group was 82% compared with 73% in the total thyroidectomy group (p = not significant). The patterns of failure in these two groups of patients were examined. A comparison of the patients who underwent lobectomy with an unmatched group of patients who underwent lobectomy showed similar survival rates. On the other hand, unmatched patients undergoing total thyroidectomy had a poorer survival rate than the matched group. This signifies a more aggressive nature of disease in the unmatched group of patients undergoing total thyroidectomy. We therefore conclude that low-risk patients undergoing lobectomy are likely to do as well as those undergoing total thyroidectomy and without the increased risk of the morbidity of total thyroidectomy.

Adult↗

[Influence of superspecialization in endocrine surgery on outcomes of thyroidectomy in a general surgery department].

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of superspecialization in endocrine surgery on the standard of thyroidectomy, both before and after the creation of an endocrine surgery unit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective, comparative study of two 7-year periods. Three hundred forty thyroidectomies (G1) were performed before the instauration of the unit, and 583 were carried out afterwards (G2). The variables of age, gender, anesthesia risk, surgeon expertise (staff vs. resident), thyroid function, pathological features, intrathoracic growth, extent of the procedure (unilateral or bilateral), neck drainage, morbidity and mortality and length of hospital stay were compared. RESULTS: Age was older in G2 (G1: 44.7 +/- 15 years old, G2: 48.09 +/- 16.3 years old; p < 0.001). There were no differences (p NS) between the two groups in gender, anesthesia risk, thyroid function or rate of benign/malignant disease, but there was a greater frequency of nodular (p = 0.009) and intrathoracic goiters (p = 0.0004) in the second period. Residents operated on more patients in G2 (p < 0.001). Bilateral thyroidectomy was more frequent in G2 (G1: 155, G2: 315; p = 0.016) as was the rate of total thyroidectomy vs. subtotal or near total thyroidectomy (p < 0.001). Neck drainage also showed statistically significant differences (G1: 75.29%, G2: 12.18%; p < 0.001). No differences were found in overall postoperative complications. Although the procedures used were more aggressive in G2, similar rates of transient asymptomatic hypocalcemia (p NS) and transient symptomatic (p NS) and permanent hypocalcemia were found (G1: 1.17%, G2: 0.68%, p NS). The rate of transitory recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis was similar with regard to patients (p NS) or nerves at risk (p NS). Permanent inferior laryngeal nerve paralysis was no different regarding patients (p = 0.083) but statistically significant differences were found with regard to nerves at risk (G1: 1.44%, G2: 0.33%; p = 0.04). One patient in G2 died (p NS). Length of hospital stay was shorter in G2 (p < 0.001) and more patients in this group stayed in hospital for only one day (p < 0.001) or were operated on in the outpatient setting (0 versus 71; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: An endocrine surgical unit allows more efficient management of thyroidectomy. It increases the rate of total thyroidectomy, reduces definitive complications and improves training of resident surgeons. In addition, it reduces resource use and allows the development of programs of outpatient thyroid surgery.

Adult↗

Evaluation of total/near-total thyroidectomy in a short-stay hospitalization: safe and cost-effective.

BACKGROUND: Once the decision of perform total/near-total thyroidectomy has been made, common perioperative management strategies include frequent postoperative laboratory determinations, bedside airway adjuncts, and hospital stays of about 3 days. We propose a regimen for safe, cost-effective, short-stay total/near-total thyroidectomy. METHODS: One hundred fifty total/near-total thyroidectomies performed between 1991 and 1994 were studied to test our short-stay thyroidectomy regimen. Patients were admitted the day of operation and observed overnight. Serum calcium values were obtained at 8, 14, and 20 hours after operation. Twenty-three-hour discharge criteria included no wound or airway problems, stable vital signs, tolerance of normal diet and activity, and an upsloping serum calcium curve. RESULTS: Of 150 patients undergoing total/near-total thyroidectomy, 145 (97%) met 23-hour discharge criteria. No deaths (0%) occurred. Overall morbidity (six patients [4%)]) included one (0.7%) patient with postoperative hemorrhage, one (0.7%) patient with recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, three (2%) patients with transient hypocalcemia, and one (0.7%) patient with permanent hypocalcemia. Average length of stay was 1.06 days. CONCLUSIONS: Significant airway and wound problems rarely develop beyond the first 12 to 18 hours after total/near-total thyroidectomy. Serial serum calcium determinations used to construct a three-point calcium curve at 20 hours after operation can reliably and safely identify patients at risk to have clinically significant hypocalcemia. Total/near-total thyroidectomy can be performed safely in a short-stay, 23-hour hospitalization setting with substantial cost savings.

Adult↗

Total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma: primary and secondary operations.

AIMS: There is considerable controversy concerning the most appropriate surgical treatment of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Although some authors have advocated subtotal thyroidectomy because of the decreased surgical morbidity and the lack of improved survival with a more extensive procedure, total thyroidectomy has been defended by others as a treatment of choice with lower morbidity. METHODS: We reviewed 106 consecutive patients who had been treated with total thyroidectomy for DTC to determine the complication rate. Forty-seven patients had primary operations and 59 had reoperations with completion of total thyroidectomy. RESULTS: Residual tumour in the remnant thyroid tissue was found in 53.8% of patients who underwent prophylactic completion thyroidectomy. Permanent hypoparathyroidism was present in one (0.9%) patient and accidental transient unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury occurred in 2.8% of the entire series. No patient had permanent bilateral recurrent nerve palsy. Furthermore, the risk of complication was not significantly different when comparing primary total thyroidectomy or completion surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend total thyroidectomy as a safe treatment for DTC with a low rate of morbidity.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗

Total thyroidectomy. The preferred option for multinodular goiter.

Total thyroidectomy is an operation that has generally been reserved for the management of differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Over the last decade total thyroidectomy has become used increasingly and is now the preferred option in the authors' unit for the management of multinodular goiter affecting the entire gland. Over the period from 1975 to 1985, 853 thyroidectomies have been performed for multinodular goiter; of these, 115 have been total thyroidectomies. During that time, the incidence of total thyroidectomy for multinodular goiter has increased in percentage terms from 9% in 1975 to 50% in 1985. There have been two cases of permanent hypoparathyroidism and one case of permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, and these occurred in patients who had less than total thyroidectomy. Total thyroidectomy is an appropriate operation for the management of diffuse multinodular goiter where the entire gland is involved because it precludes patients from requiring further surgery for recurrent disease, with its high associated risks. It must be emphasized, however, that protection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid glands must still be paramount in dealing with benign thyroid disease.

Goiter, Nodular↗

Applicability of intraoperative parathyroid hormone assay during thyroidectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the applicability of intraoperative parathyroid hormone (quick PTH) assay to monitor parathyroid function and to identify clinically significant hypocalcemia compared with postoperative serum calcium monitoring. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Close monitoring of serum calcium levels is a standard of care to identify post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia due to parathyroid insufficiency. METHODS: Quick PTH assay was performed before and after thyroidectomy for 100 patients at risk of postoperative hypocalcemia and 20 control patients who underwent unilateral lobectomy. Postoperative serum calcium levels were closely monitored. RESULTS: Control patients had a normal but 38.9 +/- 5.9% (mean +/- SEM) decline in quick PTH after thyroidectomy. Eleven of 100 at-risk patients (11%) developed postoperative hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemic patients had significantly lower quick PTH values after thyroidectomy compared with that of normocalcemic patients. Serum calcium was significantly lower in hypocalcemic patients the morning after operation but not early after the operation (within 6 hours). A normal or less than 75% decline in quick PTH after thyroidectomy can accurately identify normocalcemic patients during surgery as compared to more than 24 hours by serum calcium monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: The quick PTH assay can monitor parathyroid function during thyroidectomy and identify patients at risk of clinically significant hypocalcemia much earlier than serum calcium monitoring. It may facilitate early discharge and the use of parathyroid autotransplantation during thyroidectomy.

Adult↗

Clinical implementation of endoscopic thyroidectomy in selected patients.

OBJECTIVES: Systematic investigation of minimal access thyroid compartment surgery combined with the advent of several key new technologies has culminated in the implementation of endoscopic thyroidectomy in specific clinical situations. STUDY DESIGN: : The authors conducted a prospective, nonrandomized analysis of a consecutive cohort of surgical patients from the Medical College of Georgia Thyroid Center. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A series of patients meeting specific criteria underwent thyroid surgery with the intention of performing endoscopic thyroidectomy. Demographic and clinical data were prospectively collected and included age, gender, indications for surgery, length of incision, need for conversion, and pathology. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients successfully underwent 36 endoscopic thyroidectomies between February 2005 and March 2006 (representing 28.8% of the 125 thyroidectomies done during that period of time). There were 32 females and three males with a mean age of 45.3 +/- 13.9 years. There were five total thyroidectomies and 31 hemithyroidectomies. The mean incision length was 24.2 +/- 0.5 mm. There were no cases of permanent hypocalcemia or recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis. Factors that increased the difficulty of endoscopic surgery included obesity, the presence of thyroiditis, and nodules >2.5 cm. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of new technology and careful experimental investigation has spawned a new era of thyroidectomy in which definitive management of thyroid pathology may be accomplished through an incision of <1 inch. This approach is feasible in the hands of surgeons with high-volume thyroidectomy practices who are comfortable with endoscopic principles. The cosmetic advantages are self-evident.

Adenoma↗

The reproductive response of rams to thyroidectomy: mediation by impaired inhibin feedback rather than a change in LH pulsatility.

A series of experiments was conducted to examine the mechanism by which removal of the thyroid glands in seasonally suppressed rams brings about rapid testicular growth. In the first experiment, thyroidectomy at the nadir of the testicular cycle (late winter) initiated testis growth without any detectable change in the extent of spermatogenesis compared with sham-operated controls. The serum concentration of FSH, but not LH, was also markedly increased by thyroidectomy. In the second experiment, serum FSH concentration was again increased by thyroidectomy in late winter but there was no effect of thyroidectomy on LH concentration, LH pulses (measured in frequent blood samples) or testosterone concentration. Furthermore, there was no evidence of a change in central dopaminergic inhibition of GnRH, as measured by the pulsatile LH response to an i.m. injection of the dopaminergic D(2) agonist bromocriptine or antagonist sulpiride. The rapid increase in FSH concentration occurred despite a markedly increased serum inhibin A concentration in thyroidectomized rams. Therefore, the efficacy of inhibin feedback was examined by testing the FSH-suppressive effect of an inhibin preparation (5 ml charcoal-stripped bovine follicular fluid i.v.) in long-term thyroidectomized and thyroid intact castrated rams. Bovine follicular fluid suppressed FSH concentrations in control rams as expected but in marked contrast, was completely without effect in thyroidectomized animals. In castrated rams, the FSH concentration was only marginally increased by thyroidectomy, indicating that there is a major component of the mediation of the effects of thyroidectomy that is testicular in origin. It was concluded that a reduction in the ability of endogenous inhibin to inhibit FSH release at the pituitary, rather than a hypothalamic mechanism, is the primary cause of the stimulation of testis growth by thyroidectomy.

Animals↗

One-day vs standard thyroidectomy. A perspective study of feasibility.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the feasibility of one-day thyroidectomy, comparing the results of this method vs standard thyroidectomy. METHODS: From June 2000 to June 2001, 110 patients underwent total thyroidectomy under general anesthesia for thyroid disease. The patients were randomized into 2 groups: in group A (40 patients) we used the one-day thyroidectomy; in group B (70 patients) we employed standard thyroidectomy. In both groups postoperative mobilization was immediate and the mean postoperative hospitalization stay was 21 hours (range: 18-24) in group A and 60 hours (range: 21-120) in group B. The mean follow-up was 10 months (range: 6-18 months). RESULTS: The patients of group A showed hypoparathyroidism with temporary hypocalcaemia in 3 cases (7.5%) vs 5 (7.1%) of group B; this finding was not statistically significant. No cases of definitive hypoparathyroidism, nor lesions of RLN, of the external branches of the superior laryngeal nerve, nor postoperative hemorrhage were observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: The one-day thyroidectomy was found to be a safe, feasible and cost effective procedure, it is convenient for both the patient and the surgeon, and offers the same immediate and long-term results as the standard thyroidectomy in selected patients.

Adult↗

[Surgical treatment of thyroid nodules. The immediate results after different thyroidectomy methods].

The extension of the resection for thyroid nodules depends both on nodules' nature and immediate or late postoperative complications risks. This clinical study analyzed the immediate complications appeared after partial thyroidectomy comparatively with those developed after total thyroidectomy. We studied 1411 patients operated in two clinics (from Romania and from France) which have two different attitudes concerning the width of the resection. Paralysis of recurrent laryngeal nerve occurred in 1.0% of patients with partial thyroidectomy and 3.0% of patients with total thyroidectomy, while only one patient (0.6%) developed permanent hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy. In conclusion, total thyroidectomy can be performed by experimented surgeons with a recurrent or parathyroid injury risk similar to partial thyroidectomy. However, the surgeon should take into account the patient survey capacity and the discomfort produced by life substitutive treatment.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗

[Early PTH assay after total thyroidectomy: predictive factor for post operative hypocalcemia?].

OBJECTIVES: Hypocalcemia is the most common complication of total thyroidectomy. During surgery the blood supply to preserved parathyroid glands may be compromised, monitoring for post operative hypocalcemia is often the primary reason patients remain in hospital. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the role of early parathyroid hormone (PTH) assay for predicting thyroidectomy-related hypocalcemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 62 patients underwent total thyroidectomy between November 2004 and April 2005 in our institution. Quick PTH assay was performed 1 hour post thyroidectomy. Based on the result (PTH > or <16 pg/mL) the patients were separated into two groups. Serum calcium levels and ionised fractions were determined 24, 48 and 72 hours after surgery. Post operative hypocalcemia was defined as calcium levels <2.00 mmol/L and/or ionised calcium levels <1.00 mmol/L. RESULTS: In 16 cases hypocalcemia occurred in the first 72 hours (25.8 %). In all of these cases, PTH measured 1 hour after thyroidectomy was < or = 16 pg/mL. All patients with PTH >16 pg/mL one hour after the operation remained normocalcemic. Of the 29 patients with a PTH < or =16 pg/mL at one hour post surgery, 13 remained normocalcemic. Quick PTH measurements which were < or =16 pg/mL post thyroidectomy were an excellent predictive factor of hypocalcemia with a sensibility of 100%, a specificity of 71.7%, a positive predictive value of 55.2% and a negative predictive value of 100%. CONCLUSION: PTH measurement 1 hour post thyroidectomy can potentially highlight those patients at risk of hypocalcemia. This would allow more efficient replacement therapy with calcium and vitamin D thus avoiding complications and reducing total hospital stay.

Adolescent↗

[Analysis of the factors associated with recurrence of post-thyroidectomy goiter].

The factors associated with post-thyroidectomy goiter recurrence in benign thyroid disease are not clearly defined, especially prophylactic thyroxine treatment. PURPOSE--To determine the prevalence, characteristics and associated factors of recurrence of goiter post-thyroidectomy in patients submitted to surgery for benign disease. METHODS--Sixty-six patients, 53 female and 13 male (mean age = 51 yrs., range 20-82 yrs.), previously (5.6 +/- 6.1 yrs.) submitted to thyroidectomy (lobectomy, n = 50; nodulectomy, n = 5; subtotal thyroidectomy, n = 11) for benign thyroid disease were included. Measurements of T3, T4, TSH, thyroid microsomal autoantibody titers and thyroid ultrasonography were performed at the time of the study. Recurrence of goiter post-thyroidectomy was defined on ultrasonography as the presence of residual thyroid volume > 20mL and/or new nodules > 0.5mL not detected at surgery. RESULTS--Seven patients (10%) developed recurrence of goiter. The post-operative follow-up period was longer in the recurrence group and there was no difference between the two groups as to age, sex, familial history of thyropathy and preoperative goiter diagnosis. In multiple regression analysis only the following post-operative period was significantly associated to goiter recurrence (beta = 0.02; R2 = 0.16; p < 0.05) and influenced the goiter recurrence rate by 14%. Familial history of thyropathy, thyroxine treatment in non-supressible doses after thyroidectomy and seric T4 and TSH levels did not influence the recurrence. CONCLUSION--Recurrence of goiter post-thyroidectomy occurs in a small number of patients and is related to longer post-operative follow-up time. Thyroxine treatment in non-supressible doses after surgery is not related to goiter recurrence prevention.

Adult↗

Surgical complications after total thyroidectomy and resections for differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Differentiated thyroid carcinoma often has a favourable prognosis. However, there is no unanimity about the surgical procedure used. In this analysis we evaluated the surgical complications of 178 patients operated on for differentiated thyroid carcinoma during a 12-year period. 110 of the patients were operated in one session and 68 in two. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 106 patients and ipsilateral lobectomy together with contralateral subtotal resection in 72 patients. Tumour was bilateral or multicentric in 59 patients (33%). Hypoparathyroidism occurred in eight patients (4%), without differences between total thyroidectomies and lobectomy plus subtotal resections. Hypoparathyroidism tended to be more common after completion resection than after completion thyroidectomy (4/28 vs 1/40; P = 0.08). Accidental injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve occurred in one patient (0.6%) during a contralateral resection. During a median follow-up of 4.5 years, tumour recurrence was detected in 22 patients (12%). In papillary carcinoma it was more common in patients who had underwent lobectomy plus contralateral resection than after total thyroidectomy (11/60 vs 3/88; P < 0.01). However, the median follow-up times were unequal. In conclusion, total thyroidectomy and even completion thyroidectomy is as safe as less radical lobectomy together with contralateral resection. Thus, total thyroidectomy should be offered to all patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma until there is a reliable method to recommend for those patients who can be treated with less radical procedures.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗

[Which thyroidectomy in Basedow disease?].

One hundred and seventy patients with Graves' disease underwent thyroidectomy between 1987 and 1994 (10.5% of all thyroidectomies performed in the same period). Female/male ratio was 9/1; mean age 55.2 years and average period between diagnosis and surgical treatment 5.3 years. The average thyroid weight was 230 g (range 90-950 g). Thyroidectomy was subtotal in 110 and total in 60 patients, 5 of which had been previously treated elsewhere from 5 to 33 years before. Malignancy was incidentally found in 2.35% of patients. The complication rate resulted higher in total thyroidectomies than in subtotal procedures (bleeding 0.9% vs 5.4%, transient hypoparathyroidism 4.5% vs 12.7%, recurrent nerve lesion 0.45% vs 2.72%) however the differences were not statistically significant; this probably because both the procedures were carried out with the same technique for parathyroid gland and recurrent nerve safety. The need of repeated surgery increased the risk. In opposition to total thyroidectomy, subtotal thyroidectomy does not doom to complete and permanent replacement therapy (96.4% of hypothyroidism at 2 months, 72.6% at 4 years), but in this series it failed to achieve remission in 2 patients who maintained a mild hyperthyroidism and in one more patient who developed a relapse 4 years later. Serum TSI meaning is not clear, but preoperative positivity suggests a wider resection and postoperative persistence a closer follow-up by functional assessment. In conclusion surgical procedures for Graves' disease range from subtotal to total thyroidectomy but for a safe outcome the choice depends more on the intraoperative troubles of each single case than on theoretic advantages.

Adolescent↗

Early relapse after operation for Graves' disease: postoperative hormone kinetics and outcome after subtotal, near-total, and total thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: The relative merit of operation in the treatment of Graves' disease has been questioned, and the extent of surgical resection is still a matter of debate. METHODS: We have analyzed retrospectively the incidence of recurrent hyperthyroidism (frequency and time point) in 215 consecutive patients subjected sequentially to subtotal thyroidectomy (n = 63; remnant mass 6 to 8 g, based on surgeons' estimates and dimensions measured during operation), extensive subtotal thyroidectomy (n = 106; remnant mass approximately 4 g), and near-total (n = 27; unilateral capsular remnant of < 2 g) or total thyroidectomy (n = 19). In addition, we have evaluated the postoperative kinetics of thyroid hormone elimination (free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine) in 14 selected patients with hyperthyroidism who underwent operation under beta-adrenergic blockade but without any thyrostatic pretreatment. RESULTS: The size of the remnant significantly (P < .05) affected the relapse rate (23.8%, 9.4%, and 0% in subtotal, extensive subtotal, and near-total/total thyroidectomy, respectively). However, the time point at which the relapse occurred did not differ in subtotal and extensive subtotal thyroidectomy. All relapses occurred within the first 70 weeks. The incidence of complications (permanent recurrent nerve paresis and persistent hypocalcemia) was comparable in all groups. The elimination of fT3 was biphasic and rapid such that the levels were within the normal range on the second day. In contrast, 15 days were required until the fT4 level had declined below the upper limit in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that the therapeutic goal in thyroid operations is to avoid recurrent hyperthyroidism. This is not reliably achieved by subtotal thyroidectomy; in contrast, near-total and total thyroidectomy are effective and safe. On the basis of the postoperative elimination kinetics, hormone replacement is to be instituted within 2 weeks after operation.

Adolescent↗

Hemodynamic effects of thyroidectomy in sedentary horses.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate hemodynamic effects of thyroidectomy in horses at rest. ANIMALS: 6 healthy aged Quarter Horse mares. PROCEDURE: Horses were monitored for 5 months before and 4 weeks after thyroidectomy and for an additional 4 weeks after administration of thyroid hormone supplement (2.5 microg of thyroxine/kg of body weight, PO, q 12 h, and 0.6 microg of triiodothyronine/kg, PO, q 12 h). Responses to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured before and 4 weeks after thyroidectomy. Other variables monitored daily were resting rectal temperature (T), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and body weight (BW). Monthly cardiac output (Q), blood volume (BV), plasma volume (PV), standard electrocardiographic measures, systolic and right ventricular blood pressure, and HR responses were determined after IV administration of isoproterenol and phenylephrine. Variables were analyzed by use of repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Complete thyroidectomy was confirmed by minimal response to TSH 4 weeks after surgery. Resting HR, RR, T, Q, and beta-adrenergic responsiveness to isoproterenol decreased significantly after thyroidectomy. Resting T, Q, and beta-adrenergic responsiveness increased after administration of supplement and was not significantly different from euthyroid values. Blood volume and PV increased significantly after thyroidectomy but did not return to euthyroid values despite administration of supplement. Response to phenylephrine was minimally different between treatments. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Thyroidectomy in horses caused decreased resting HR, RR, T, Q, and isoproterenol responsiveness and increased BV, PV, PQ interval, and QT interval corrected for HR. Some of these surgically induced changes appeared to be partially reversed by administration of thyroid hormone supplement.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

Assessment of the morbidity and complications of total thyroidectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and predictive factors for complications after total thyroidectomy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of a national database on total thyroidectomy cases. METHODS: The National Hospital Data Survey database was examined and all cases of total thyroidectomy performed during 1995 to 1999 were extracted. In addition to demographic information, postoperative complications including hypocalcemia, recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, wound complications, and medical morbidities were identified. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine potential predictive factors for postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 517 patients were identified (mean age, 48.3 years). The most common indications for total thyroidectomy were thyroid malignancy and goiter (73.9% of cases). Eighty-one patients (15.7%) underwent an associated nodal dissection along with total thyroidectomy, and 16 patients (3.1%) underwent parathyroid reimplantation. The mean length of stay was 2.5 days (95% confidence interval, 2.3-2.8 days). The incidence of postoperative wound hematoma was 1.0%, wound infection was 0.2%, and mortality rate was 0.2%. The incidence of postoperative hypocalcemia was 6.2%. Younger age was statistically associated with an increased incidence of hypocalcemia (P =.002, t test), whereas sex (P =.48), indication for surgery (P =.32), parathyroid reimplantation (P>.99), and associated neck dissection (P =.21) were not. The mean length of stay was 2.5 days and was unaffected by occurrence of postoperative hypocalcemia. The incidences of unilateral and bilateral vocal cord paralyses were 0.77% and 0.39%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative hypocalcemia is the most common immediate surgical complication of total thyroidectomy. Other complications, including recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, can be expected at rates approximating 1%.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗