Treatment of patients with Graves' disease and the appropriate extent of thyroidectomy

Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder caused by thyroid stimulating auto-antibodies directed against the thyrotropin receptor on thyroid follicular cells. It is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism and is associated with cardiovascular, ophthalmologic and other systemic manifestations. Three treatment options are available for Graves' disease: anti-thyroid drugs, radioactive iodine and thyroidectomy. While thyroidectomy is the least common option used for treatment of Graves' disease, it is preferentially indicated for patients with a large goiter causing compressive symptoms, suspicious or malignant thyroid nodules or significant ophthalmopathy. The best operation for Graves' disease has been a matter of debate. The standard operation was a subtotal thyroidectomy for much of the twentieth century, however, over the past 20 years total thyroidectomy has been increasingly performed. Herein, we provide a historical perspective and review the current literature, including randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses and conclude that total thyroidectomy is the preferred option for the surgical treatment of Graves' disease, with a nearly 0% recurrence rate, predictable postoperative hypothyroidism and a low complication rate comparable to subtotal thyroidectomy when performed by high-volume thyroid surgeons.

A new method of subtotal thyroidectomy for Graves' disease leaving a unilateral remnant based on the upper pole

BACKGROUND

The aim of this prospective randomized study was to evaluate the feasibility of subtotal thyroidectomy with leaving a unilateral remnant based on the upper pole.

METHODS

Patients who underwent the subtotal thyroidectomy and isthmusectomy leaving either a unilateral remnant based on the upper pole (Group I, 79 patients) or the bilateral dorsal thyroid tissue remained (Group II, 89 patients) were compared in operation time, blood loss, recurrence, and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Among 168 patients analyzed, the operation time remained similar, but the blood loss, the reoperation time, and recurrence in Group I were much less than Group II. In addition, no postoperative hemorrhage occurred in Group I. Two patients (2.28%) in Group II underwent recurrent laryngeal nerve damages. Four patients (5.06%) in Group I and 3 patients (3.37%) in Group II experienced transient hypocalcemia. Recurrence only occurred in Group II.

CONCLUSION

In terms of blood loss, reoperation time, postoperative complication, and the recurrence, subtotal thyroidectomy with recurrent laryngeal nerves identification and the unilateral superior pole remnant of the gland provides a better outcome than subtotal thyroidectomy with bilateral dorsal thyroid tissue remnant.

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury In Total Versus Subtotal Thyroidectomy

BACKGROUND

Both Total and Subtotal Thyroidectomy are correct treatment options for symptomatic Euthyroid Multinodular Goitre. The choice depends upon surgeon's preference due to consideration of disadvantages like permanent hypothyroidism in Total Thyroidectomy and high chances of recurrence in Subtotal Thyroidectomy. Many surgeons believe that there is a higher incidence of Recurrent Laryngeal nerve injury in Total Thyroidectomy which affects their choice of surgery. This study aimed to compare the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in total versus subtotal thyroidectomy.

METHODS

This non randomized controlled trial was carried out at Department of Surgery and ENT of Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad, and Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi from 1st September 2013 to 30th August 2014. During the period of study, patients presenting in surgical outpatient department with euthyroid multinodular goitre having pressure symptoms requiring thyroidectomy were divided into two groups by convenience sampling with 87 patients in group 1 and 90 patients in group 2. Group-1 was subjected to total thyroidectomy and Group -2 underwent subtotal thyroidectomy. All the patients had preoperative Indirect Laryngoscopy examination and it was repeated postoperatively to check for injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

RESULTS

A total of 177 patients were included in the study. Out of these, 87 patients underwent total thyroidectomy (Group-1). Two of these patients developed recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (2.3%). In group-2 subjected to subtotal thyroidectomy, three of the patients developed recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (3.3%). The p-value was 0.678. The overall risk of injury to this nerve in both surgeries combined was 2.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no significant difference in the risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve damage in patients undergoing total versus subtotal thyroidectomy.

Total versus bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy for benign multi-nodular goiter

PURPOSE

To compare the postoperative early-stage complications of total and bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy for benign multi-nodular goiter.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 409 patients. The patients were divided into two groups. A total of 258 (63%) patients underwent total thyroidectomy, and 151 (37%) patients underwent bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy.

RESULTS

Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy occurred in six (2.3%) of the total thyroidectomy patients and in three (1.9%) of the bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy patients (P>0.05). No permanent palsy was observed in either of the thyroidectomy groups. Hypocalcemia occurred in 40 (15.5%) of the total thyroidectomy patients and in 27 (17.8%) of those who underwent bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy (P>0.05). Also, no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups with respect to the development rates of hematoma and incision site infection (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Because of its low complication rates, total thyroidectomy is a safe procedure for benign multı-nodular goiter.

What do we leave behind after neartotal and subtotal thyroidectomy: just the tissue or the disease?

Selection of multinodular goiter (MNG) surgery procedure is stilll under discussion. Subtotal thyroidectomy (STT) and neartotal thyroidectomy (NTT) are preferred surgical procedures. However, it is uncertain whether the remnant tissue contains pathological findings or not after these procedures. We aimed to evaluate and comparison the pathologic findings in remnant tissue after NTT and STT. Thyroid tissue samples of 50 patients who underwent TT for MNG disease between January 2010 and August 2011 in our clinic were evaluated. Before the dissection of the thyroid tissue subtotal and neartotal margins were marked in both right and left lobes. After the resection of the specimen, the tissue was excised from the subtotal and neartotal margin marked during the surgery. The pathologic findings of the main tissue, the residual subtotal and neartotal tissues were evaluated and compared. All patients were followed-up 1 year. 43 (86%) females and 7 (14%) males with an average age of 50.5 (23-77) were included in the study. Incidental papillary thyroid cancer was detected in 5 patients (10%). Pathologic findings were present in 31 patients (62%) of subtotal residual tissue and 28 of the patients (56%) of neartotal residual tissue. Papillary microcarcinoma was detected in 3 (9.7%) of subtotal residual tissues and 2 (7.1%) of neartotal residual tissues. There is no significant difference between subtotal and neartotal tissues in terms of existence of pathological findings (p>0.05). There is no significant difference between the neartotal and subtotal residual tissues contralateral of dominant nodule (p>0.05). 2 of the patients (4%) had temporary hypocalcemia, 1 patient (2%) had seroma and 1 patient (2%) had recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. There are high rates of microscopic pathological findings on residual tissues both after STT and NTT. The neartotal and subtotal residual tissues contralateral to the large nodule also had high levels of pathologic findings.

Cardiac arrest following ventilator fire: A rare cause

Operating room fires are rare events, but when occur they result in serious and sometimes fatal consequences. Anaesthesia ventilator fire leading to cardiac arrest is a rare incident and has not been reported. We report a near catastrophic ventilator fire leading to cardiac arrest in a patient undergoing subtotal thyroidectomy. In the present case sparks due to friction or electrical short circuit within the ventilator might have acted as source of ignition leading to fire and explosion in the oxygen rich environment. The patient was successfully resuscitated and revived with uneventful recovery and no adverse sequelae. The cardiac arrest was possibly due to severe hypoxia resulting from inhalation of smoke containing high concentrations of carbon monoxide and other noxious gases.