Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “THYROIDECTOMY”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

A comparison of total thyroidectomy and lobectomy in the treatment of dominant thyroid nodules.

Patients with a clinically concerning dominant thyroid nodule have been managed by lobectomy or total thyroidectomy at our institution. We determined the complications associated with both approaches and the ability of thyroid lobectomy to avoid the need for thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Records of all patients with a dominant thyroid nodule managed with surgery from August 1993 through December 2000 were reviewed for demographics, history of head and neck radiation, indication for surgery, preoperative fine-needle aspirate results, final pathologic evaluation, perioperative complications, determinations of need for subsequent thyroid surgery after lobectomy, and need for thyroid hormone replacement therapy after surgery. Patients with a preoperative diagnosis of malignancy or bilateral or diffuse disease were excluded because these conditions would uniformly be managed by bilateral thyroidectomy. The complications for the lobectomy group (n = 131) compared with the total thyroidectomy group (n = 84) were: recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis (4.6% vs 2.4%), recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (0.8% vs 0), and transient hypoparathyroidism (1.5% vs 9.5%; P = 0.007). No permanent hypoparathyroidism was identified in either group. Postoperative thyroid hormone replacement was required in 64 of 131 lobectomy patients (48.8%). Complications associated with either surgery were low. Total thyroidectomy was not associated with clinically significant additive morbidity. Patients treated by lobectomy should be aware of a nearly 50 per cent chance of requiring thyroid hormone replacement. Total thyroidectomy avoids future thyroid surgery; lobectomy patients remain at risk. When complications can be minimized total thyroidectomy should be considered an option in the management for patients with dominant thyroid nodules that require surgery.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Complications of total thyroidectomy: incidence, prevention and treatment].

The range of indications for total thyroidectomy in the treatment of thyroid disease is steadily increasing, but any attempt to assess its real efficacy necessarily calls for a knowledge of the incidence of complications, amongst other things in order to provide the patient with complete information regarding the operation before obtaining his or her consent. Retrospective and observational analysis of 14,934 thyroidectomies performed in 42 Endocrine Surgery Units in Italy has made it possible to compare total thyroidectomy (TT) versus subtotal thyroidectomy with a bilateral remnant (ST-BR), subtotal thyroidectomy with a unilateral remnant (ST-UR) and total lobectomy-isthmectomy (TLI). The correlation between the number of total thyroidectomies and each of the other surgical procedures and the number of complications occurring with each of them was also assessed in order to quantify the effective risk of complications by determining the Odds Ratios on the basis of univariate analysis of the variables considered. The cases reviewed consisted of 9,599 TT (64%), 3,130 TLI (21%), 1,448 ST-UR (22%) and 757 ST-BR (5%); 13,023 (87%) cases were suffering from benign disease and 1,911 (13%) from malignancies. Recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries were present in 4.3% of the TT cases with 2.4% transient and 1.3% definitive (as against 3% in ST-BR and 2% in ST-UR with 1.4% and 1.1% transient, and 1% and 0.6% definitive, respectively; and 1.4% transient and 0.6% definitive in TLI). Hypocalcaemia after TT was transient in 14% and definitive in 2.2% (as against transient rates of 5% in ST-BR and ST-UR and 0.4 in TLI; and definitive hypocalcaemia in 0.6%, 0.8% and 0.07%, respectively). Haemorrhage occurred in 1.6% of TT cases (as against 2.1%, 0.5% and 0.4% in ST-BR, ST-UR and TLI, respectively). The Odds Ratios showed that TT presented a 16% higher complication rate than ST-UR which was assigned a value of 1, a 3% higher rate than ST-BR and a 5% lower rate than TLI. This greater incidence of complications with TT is attributable mainly to the greater incidence of transient hypoglycaemia and to a lesser extent to the slightly higher incidence of definitive hypoglycaemia, whereas the incidences of recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries were very similar in TT and ST-BR. Haemorrhagic complications were more frequent in ST-BR than in TT. Bearing in mind that TT is the absolute indication in the more demanding thyroid diseases (tumours, retrosternal goitre, Basedow's disease, recurrences) and in view of its fairly low complication rate, we believe that TT is a safe, reliable procedure, provided it is performed in a technically scrupulous manner. ST-BR is a technique which should be abandoned owing to the fact that its complication rate is comparable to that of TT and to the recurrences it may give rise to. ST-UR may be indicated if the surgeon is not sure of safeguarding the anatomical integrity of the recurrent nerve on one side.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1992

Necessity and safety of completion thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma during the course of lobectomy for a dominant nodule occasionally cannot be rendered on the basis of frozen section. Once the diagnosis of carcinoma is made, the question of completion thyroidectomy arises. The decision to perform completion thyroidectomy and the timing, safety, and efficacy of this procedure are reviewed. METHODS: During the past 25 years (1965 to 1990), we operated on 351 consecutive patients with thyroid carcinoma. One hundred of these patients (84 women and 16 men) were initially treated by unilateral thyroid lobectomy for the previously stated reasons. Histopathologic examination of the permanent sections of the initial thyroid lobectomy specimen demonstrated papillary carcinoma in 70 patients and follicular carcinoma in 30 patients. Within a few months, a completion thyroidectomy was performed. RESULTS: The completion thyroidectomy specimen contained papillary carcinoma in 33 (47%) of the 70 patients with papillary carcinoma and 10 (33%) of the 30 patients with follicular carcinoma. Overall, 43 of these 100 patients harbored thyroid carcinoma in the contralateral lobe. Complications of completion thyroidectomy were transient recurrent nerve paresis in two patients and temporary hypoparathyroidism in three patients, requiring calcium and vitamin D therapy for a few months. CONCLUSIONS: Although the significance and treatment of papillary carcinoma are debated on the basis of size and grade of the primary lesion and age and sex of the patients, once the diagnosis is made in one lobe we believe that a completion thyroidectomy should be considered, not only for papillary carcinomas but also for follicular carcinomas because 47% (papillary) to 33% (follicular) of these patients will harbor the neoplasm in the contralateral lobe.

Carcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia: clinical and laboratory findings].

Hypocalcaemia is a possible sequela of thyroidectomy, the causes of which are not fully understood. Today, correct surgical technique is the most important factor in decreasing the incidence of hypocalcaemia. We analysed 1223 patients (930 total thyroidectomies, 293 hemi-thyroidectomies) treated in our institute from January 1995 to July 2003. Serum calcium, ionized calcium, parathyroid hormone and phosphoraemia were screened pre- and postoperatively. Hypocalcaemia, as defined by a serum calcium concentration below 8.5 mg/dL, occurred in 241 patients (25.1%). In 90.9% of these patients, serum calcium was normal 7 days after thyroidectomy. In three patients we registered permanent hypoparathyroidism 180 days after thyroidectomy. We found a statistically significant difference in the incidence of hypocalcaemia between patients treated for benign disease and those treated for malignant disease with a greater incidence in the latter group (P < 0.05). Several factors are important in determining the incidence of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia but the inadvertent excision of the parathyroid gland, ischaemia and injury are the main causes of the lowering of serum calcium concentrations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Completion thyroidectomy after the unexpected diagnosis of thyroid cancer.

The optimal surgical management of well-differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) remains a controversial topic. Preoperative and peroperative investigations quite frequently fail to detect thyroid cancer in cold nodules, and only postoperative histological examination reveals malignancy. In these cases many physicians perform a completion thyroidectomy. Others recommend a conservative approach with close follow-up because of the increased risk of complications after re-operation. In our department, routine management includes completion thyroidectomy once the histopathological report concludes that there is carcinoma, except in cases of papillary carcinoma measuring less than 1 cm. The aim of our study was to determine the incidence of contralateral malignancy and of complications after completion thyroidectomy. We reviewed the records of 29 patients--25 women and 4 men-- who all underwent completion thyroidectomy because of an unexpected diagnosis of DTC. Residual malignancy was found in 12 patients (41.4%) after completion thyroidectomy. In ten patients (34.5%) the malignancy was localised in the contralateral lobe and two patients (6.9%) had lymph node metastases. Postoperative transient hypocalcaemia (< 8.0 mg/dl) occurred in five patients (17.2%) and permanent hypocalcaemia (lasting longer than 6 months) was a feature in two patients. One patient suffered transient laryngeal nerve injury occurred in one patient and there were no permanent lesions. In conclusion, we found residual DTC in 41.4% of patients undergoing reintervention. Because of the rather low re-operation rate, we prefer to perform a completion thyroidectomy to remove potential occult malignancy and to allow for postoperative 131I-treatment in all patients with a diagnosis of malignancy in their thyroid lobectomy specimen, with the exception of papillary carcinoma < 1 cm.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗
PubMed2006

[One stage thyroidectomy and bilateral neck dissection for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the indications, safety and difficulties of one stage thyroidectomy and bilateral neck lymph node dissection for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out in 36 well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients so treated from 1990 to 2004. Various incisions including H, L and modified Kocher types were selected according to the location of primary tumor and status of cervical lymph node metastasis. Either total thyroidectomy or sub-total thyroidectomy combined with bilateral neck lymph node dissection according to the principles of modified radical neck lymph node dissection: preserving the internal jugular vein, spinal accessory nerve and sternocleidomastoid muscles. RESULTS: There was no operative death in this group. Postoperative complications included: 2 wound bleeding, 3 recurrent laryngeal nerve resection due to tumor involvement, 1 recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, 2 unilateral internal branch of superior laryngeal nerve injury, 9 unilateral external branch of superior laryngeal nerve injury, 3 unilateral accessory nerve injury, 5 unilateral sympathetic nerve injury, 2 unilateral phrenic nerve injury, 6 chylus fistula, 13 temporary hypoparathyroidism, 2 permanent hypoparathyroidism. The dissected lymph nodes were found to be positive from 0 to 21 in each patient with a mean of 8.3. Of the 36 patients: 31 had bilateral positive lymph nodes; 3 unilateral positive; 2 bilateral negative lymph nodes. The follow up period ranged from 1 to 13 years, Three patients died of distant metastasis, 1 died of cerebral vascular accident. 7 patients lost in follow-up. Totally, 25 patients are still alive, 3 patients had local relapse and were surgically treated again. CONCLUSION: The procedure of one-stage thyroidectomy and bilateral neck lymph node dissection for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma is safe, as it is mandatory that at least one unilateral internal jugular vein should be preserved; one unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerves and accessory nerves should not be injured. Well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients whose bilateral cervical lymph nodes are clinically suspected to be positive (obviously enlarged, hard, purplish grapelike lymph node) or are confirmed pathologically to be positive are indications for one-stage thyroidectomy and bilateral neck lymph node dissection. Total or sub-total thyroidectomy should be undertaken with emphasis that at least one parathyroid with blood supply should be preserved. It is of utmost importance that not only the cancer be completely resected but the function of the organs be preserved.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗
PubMed2006

[In situ preservation of parathyroid glands in total or near total thyroidectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the preservation of parathyroid glands and its function during total or near-total thyroidectomy. METHOD: One hundred and thirty one patients underwent total thyroidectomy, near total thyroidectomy, hemithyroidectomy and isthmectomy. In operation, the parathyroid glands were exposed, or were identified under microscope when necessary. The third rank of inferior thyroid arteries was ligated to preserve parathyroid glands in situ, and the parathyroid function was observed after thyroidectomy. RESULT: Four patients (3%) had a transient hypoparathyroidism after thyroidectomy, 26 patients (20%) had a obviously biochemical hypocalcemia with no symptoms, 73 patients (56%) had a lower calcium level in the first 3 days after surgery compared with preoperative level, 28 (21%) patients who underwent ipsilateral total and contralateral subtotal isthmectomy were all normocalcemic after surgery. There were no permanent hypoparathyroidism and death in our study population. CONCLUSION: In total or near-total thyroidectomy, parathyroid glands and its artery blood-supply should be exposed and preserved. Vasodilator and calcium supplementation should be given to patients with obviously lower serum calcium level after surgery to prevent permanent hypoparathyroidism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Total thyroidectomy to prevent recurrence of benign thyroid goiter].

Surgical approach of benign nodules and goiters in euthyroid patients is not yet well definite concerning the latent of the resection: has it to be large (for avoiding recurrence) of thrifty (in the aim of decreasing the necessity of postoperative thyroid replacement therapy)? We reviewed the results of 338 surgical thyroidectomies in patients followed at least 7 years. 87.36% of them had diffuse pathological abnormalities. Recurrence level was 1.68% in this group, occurring in an average delay of 10 years after the first thyroidectomy. Another study group concerned 47 patients operated for a recurrence in an average of 13.9 years after the first thyroidectomy (mean age at the first thyroidectomy: 35 years). Post operative sequellae after one thyroidectomy or after a second for recurrence seemed not statistically different. Recurrence rate is not important, but it is probably underevaluated by the frequent absence of long-term follow-up. Total thyroidectomy avoids it, and its sequellae are comparable with those observed after reoperation for recurrence. The surgical choice is between the acceptation of a possible recurrence and the necessity of an indefinite thyroid replacement therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Effects of thyroidectomy on the metabolic clearance rate of prolactin and prolactin release in the rat.

The effects of thyroidectomy on both the secretion of rat prolactin (PRL) in vivo and the release of PRL from rat anterior pituitary glands (Aps) in vitro in the absence of ovarian steroids were studied. Rats were ovariectomized (Ovx) 42 days after thyroidectomy or sham-thyroidectomy. On day 15 following ovariectomy the rats were either decapitated for examining the in vitro release of PRL from AP or anesthetized for measuring the metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of rat PRL. After decapitation, blood samples were collected and APs were incubated with or without the extract of rat medial basal hypothalamus (rHE) at 37 degrees C for 4 h. The MCR of iodinated rat PRL was determined by a single injection method. Blood samples were collected by heart puncture at frequent intervals. Serum PRL concentrations of decapitated thyroidectomized-ovariectomized (TX-Ovx) rats were 56% lower than those found in Ovx rats. Thyroidectomy in Ovx rats resulted in a significant reduction of the spontaneous release of PRL from AP. The rHE decreased PRL levels in the medium after incubation with APs from sham Tx rats, but not those from Tx rats. MCR of PRL was reduced in Ovx rats by thyroidectomy. These results indicate that thyroidectomy reduces the spontaneous release of rat PRL by AP and secretion rate of rat PRL in the absence of ovarian steroids.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The late effect of subtotal thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine therapy on calcitonin secretion and bone mineral density in women treated for Graves' disease.

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of subtotal thyroidectomy and/or radioactive iodine therapy on plasma immunocalcitonin (iCT) levels and bone densities in patients treated for Graves' disease. Forty-eight women whose ages ranged from 29 to 79 years (mean, 55 years) were evaluated. All were at least 10 years beyond treatment. Fourteen patients had undergone subtotal thyroidectomy, 22 had received radioactive iodine therapy, and 12 had received both. Serum calcitonin levels were measured with the patient fasting and at 30 minutes and 2 hours after the ingestion of 15 mg of calcium in orange juice. Single photon absorptiometry was used to measure bone mineral density of the middle and distal radius. The mean fasting plasma levels of iCT for patients undergoing subtotal thyroidectomy was 27 +/- 2 mumol/L; women treated with radioactive iodine, 26 +/- 2; women undergoing subtotal thyroidectomy followed by radioactive iodine, 24 +/- 2, and for normal control women, 48.5 +/- 4.7. The mean stimulated iCT level of each of the patient groups was significantly lower than that of the normal controls (p = 0.01). There were no significant differences among the groups. Although there was an increased loss of bone mineral density in postmenopausal patients, with age and race as covariates, the bone densities of the distal radius in women undergoing subtotal thyroidectomy and/or receiving radioactive iodine were not significantly lower than those of normal control subjects (p greater than 0.05). These findings are consistent with other observations that patients treated by thyroidectomy and/or radioactive iodine for Graves' disease have lower basal levels of calcitonin and decreased calcitonin response to a provocative stimulus. Whether this loss of calcitonin reserve is a significant factor in development of postmenopausal osteoporosis remains unanswered.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Morbidity and mortality after thyroidectomy.

To assess the morbidity and mortality of thyroid operations, Professional Activity Study records of the Commission on Professional and Hospital Activities, representing an estimated one-third of all thyroidectomies performed in the United States in 1970, were reviewed. The mortality after a thyroid operation for nontoxic goiter was 0.02 per cent for patients less than the age of 50 years but increased with age to 0.66 per cent for those 70 years and older. No in-hospital deaths followed thyroidectomy for malignant goiter in 766 patients less than 40 years of age. Thyroidectomy for diffuse toxic goiter had a mortality fivefold greater than did operations for a benign nontoxic goiter. Total thyroidectomy was used for the treatment of nontoxic, nonmalignant goiter for one in 12 patients and resulted in greater morbidity than did partial or subtotal thyroidectomy. Rational choice of operation for the treatment of goiter for individual patients should be based upon knowledge of the specific risks of surgical treatment, which vary greatly depending upon the age of the patient, whether or not the goiter is toxic or nontoxic and whether or not subtotal or total thyroidectomy is performed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Safety and efficacy of total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma: a 20-year review.

Controversy continues to exist regarding the optimal extent of resection for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Subtotal thyroidectomy has been advocated by some authors in expectation of lower complication rates, while others advocate total thyroidectomy to achieve better cure rates. To examine this issue, the medical records of 124 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for DTC were retrospectively reviewed. Total thyroidectomy was the initial procedure in 115 patients, while nine patients had complete thyroidectomy following some type of subtotal resection. Concomitant procedures were performed in 47 patients. Ninety papillary, 20 mixed papillary-follicular variant, one Hürthle cell type, and 13 follicular carcinomas were performed. Tumors were bilateral or multicentric in 40 patients, with metastases present in one-third of patients at the same time of initial operation. Permanent hypoparathyroidism developed in two patients, and permanent ipsilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy occurred in one patient, for an overall significant complication rate of 2.4 per cent. Tumor recurrence was noted at a mean of 19 months postoperatively in 14 patients. Ninety-six patients received adjuvant postoperative radioiodine therapy to ablate residual functioning thyroid tissue or suspected metastases. We conclude that total thyroidectomy as treatment for differentiated thyroid carcinoma carries a low rate of morbidity, treats occult contralateral disease, and should facilitate radioiodine scanning and ablation of residual functioning thyroid tissue or metastatic disease.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

[Role of total thyroidectomy in the treatment of benign thyroid diseases].

In 1990, total thyroidectomy (T.T.) was performed in 4% of all benign thyroid diseases and in 7% in case of diffuse benign thyroid diseases, operated on in our surgical unit. In 1995, this incidence of T.T. increased to 20% and 37% respectively. Several considerations can explain this rise in T.T. indications. Currently, the incidence of reoperations on benign goiters represents 4.5% of all our thyroid surgery. It can be considered as a failure of a first incomplete operation. Furthermore, most of goiter recurrences are medically treated and the recurrence rate is higher than the reoperation rate. In Grave's disease, surgery is indicated after medical treatment failure or for acute complications. In this case, the aim of surgery is radical cure of hyperthyroidism. Because evaluation of the weight of thyroid remnant for prevention of postoperative hypothyroidism is difficult, indication of T.T. with thyroxin replacement therapy can be proposed. Surgical excision of a multinodular goiter is indicated for large size lesions, tracheal compression or thyrotoxic evolution. Over the years subtotal thyroidectomy was performed for these benign lesions. Subtotal thyroidectomy leaves a diseased remnant gland. Attempts to suppress nodular recurrence by thyroxin treatment do not guarantee success. Then T.T. can be advocated since postoperative thyroxin therapy is often given after subtotal thyroidectomy to prevent hypothyroidism. Total thyroidectomy is an appropriate operation for the management of a benign thyroid disease because it precludes patients from requiring further surgery for recurrent diseases. However, it requires two conditions. In first, the patient must have the psychologic and economic capacity for a permanent medical therapy. The other is that the procedure be performed with low risks of complications in comparison with subtotal thyroidectomies. Currently recurrential palsy and hypoparathyroidism rates are evaluated in the literature between 0 and 3%.

Goiter↗
PubMed1997

Estimation of free calcium levels after thyroidectomy.

Total calcium is routinely measured after thyroidectomy in a clinical setting, while the measurement or calculation of the free calcium level is not generally performed. We reviewed total and free calcium levels in patients who underwent lobectomy (n = 15), subtotal thyroidectomy (n = 15) and total thyroidectomy (n = 15). Postoperative total calcium levels decreased significantly in comparison to preoperative levels in all thyroidectomies (p < 0.01), and this fall was significantly related to the extent of surgery (p < 0.01). In contrast, there was no significant difference between preoperative and postoperative free calcium levels in patients undergoing lobectomy, although we found a decrease in free calcium levels after both subtotal and total thyroidectomy. Total protein levels decreased regardless of the type of operation. Serum total calcium levels were thought to be altered by serum protein levels through the change of protein-bound calcium levels. When examined for free calcium levels, some patients were administered unnecessary calcium supplementation because hypocalcemia had been judged from the total calcium level. Since the wrong diagnosis may be given with regard to hypoparathyroidism by measurement of total calcium levels alone, we propose that free calcium levels should be routinely measured or calculated after thyroidectomy.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1998

Total thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of total thyroidectomy performed for benign thyroid disease. METHODS: A total of 106 consecutive patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for benign disease from October 1982 to July 1995 were reviewed. The 33 men and 73 women had an average age of 46 years (range, 16 to 82 years). Indications for total thyroidectomy were a thyroid nodule with the history of head and neck radiation in 36 patients, bilateral thyroid nodules in 35, needle biopsy of a follicular neoplasm or frozen section diagnosis of a possible malignancy in 18, and toxic goiter in 17. Total thyroidectomy was performed as the primary operation in 98 patients, and 8 patients had a completion reoperation for recurrent disease. RESULTS: Pathology findings revealed benign nodular goiter in 49 patients, follicular adenoma in 26, hyperplasia in 19, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis in 12. Postoperative hemorrhage requiring operative hemostasis occurred in two patients (1.9%). Two patients had unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy before operation (1.9%). Three patients had unilateral postoperative RLN palsy (2.8%). Two cases resolved in 3 and 4 months. The only permanent RLN injury occurred in a patient reoperated for a compressive goiter. Early postoperative hypocalcemia (8.0 mg/dl or less) was found in nine patients (8.5%). No patient had permanent hypoparathyroidism at long-term follow-up evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Total thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease can avoid reoperation for nodular goiter and hyperthyroidism and eliminate any subsequent risk of malignant change in radiated thyroid glands. A low complication rate can be achieved with meticulous surgical technique. Total thyroidectomy can be performed safely for bilateral benign thyroid disease.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1998

[Total thyroidectomy in iodine-deficient goiter--an effective treatment alternative?].

It can be difficult to define the extent of struma resection because of large multinodular transformation. The total thyroidectomy of goiter is refused due to a supposed increase in complications. A high rate of goiter recurrence together with higher risks of complications demonstrates the problems of insufficient resection. This study investigates the rate of complications of total thyroidectomy of goiter. 4767 surgical treatments (partial thyroidectomy, hemithyroidectomy or total thyroidectomy) of goiter were investigated. Retrospectively the rate of postoperative complications (hemorrhage, wound infection, recurrent nerve palsy, hypocalcemia) after strumectomy or hemithyroidectomy was analysed in our patients and compared with the data of the literature. Total thyroidectomy (n = 176) did not cause a higher rate of complications (hemorrhage: 0.6%, hypocalcemia: 0.6%; recurrent nerve palsy: 0.6%) compared to the control group and the literature. Thus, total thyroidectomy can offer an efficient therapeutic option in large multinodular goiter.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Total versus subtotal thyroidectomy in the management of multinodular goiter.

BACKGROUND: The choice between subtotal and total thyroidectomy for multinodular goiter is controversial. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Subtotal and total thyroidectomy have been respectively performed in 108 and 451 euthyroid patients with multinodular goiter. RESULTS: After subtotal and total thyroidectomy, transient recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy occurred in 1 patient (0.9%) and 3 (0.6%), transient asymptomatic hypoparathyroidism in 27 (25%) and 131 (29%), and transient symptomatic hypoparathyroidism in 2 (1.8%) and 13 (2.9%), respectively (P = NS). After subtotal thyroidectomy, recurrence occurred in 27 patients (26%) Re-operation in 14 patients resulted in transient RLN palsy in 2 patients (14%), transient asymptomatic hypoparathyroidism in 6 (43 %) and transient symptomatic hypoparathyroidism in 2 (14%). CONCLUSIONS: The failure to demonstrate any 'hormonal advantage' in preserving thyroid tissue by subtotal thyroidectomy, and the low morbidity rate and no need for re-operation after primary total thyroidectomy, make the latter the procedure of choice for the management of non-toxic multinodular goiter.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A prospective evaluation of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis during thyroidectomy.

HYPOTHESIS: Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis after thyroidectomy can be unrecognized without routine laryngoscopy, and patients have a good potential for recovery during follow-up. DESIGN: A prospective evaluation of vocal cord function before and after thyroidectomy. Periodic vocal cord assessment was performed until recovery of cord function. Persistent cord palsy for longer than 12 months after the operation was regarded as permanent. SETTING: A university hospital with about 150 thyroid operations performed by 1 surgical team per year. PATIENTS: From January 1, 1995, to April 30, 1998, 500 consecutive patients (84 males and 416 females) with documented normal cord function at the ipsilateral side of the thyroidectomy were studied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Vocal cord paralysis after thyroidectomy. RESULTS: There were 213 unilateral and 287 bilateral procedures, with 787 nerves at risk of injury. Thirty-three patients (6.6%) developed postoperative unilateral cord paralysis, and 5 (1.0%) had recognizable nerve damage during the operations. Complete recovery of vocal cord function was documented in 26 (93%) of 28 patients. The incidence of temporary and permanent cord palsy was 5.2% and 1.4% (3.3% and 0.9% of nerves at risk), respectively. Among factors analyzed, surgery for malignant neoplasm and recurrent substernal goiter was associated with an increased risk of permanent nerve palsy. Primary operations for benign goiter were associated with a 5.3% and 0.3% incidence (3.4% and 0.2% of nerves at risk) of transient and permanent nerve palsy, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Unrecognized recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy occurred after thyroidectomy. Thyroid surgery for malignant neoplasms and recurrent substernal goiter was associated with an increased risk of permanent recurrent nerve damage. Postoperative vocal cord dysfunction recovered in most patients without documented nerve damage.

Adult↗