Contralateral surgery in patients scheduled for total thyroidectomy with initial loss or absence of signal during neural monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Staged total thyroidectomy has been advised to prevent bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis when loss of the signal from neural monitoring is observed after dissection of the initial thyroid lobe. This is supported by expert opinion but hard evidence is lacking. A lost signal can return during surgery or, even if it persists, its positive predictive value is only in the range 60-70 per cent. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical outcome of patients in whom total thyroidectomy was performed following loss of signal after dissection of the first thyroid lobe. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of adult patients scheduled for neural monitoring during total thyroidectomy. The prevalence of first-side absence or loss of signal was recorded. The contralateral thyroid lobe was approached routinely. The vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves on the first side were retested during and at the end of the contralateral procedure. RESULTS: Some 462 patients were included. Loss (32 patients) or initial absence (8) of signal at dissection of the first thyroid lobe was noted in 40 patients (8·7 per cent). Total thyroidectomy was completed in 29 patients, and a change of surgical strategy adopted in 11 patients with benign disease. At retesting, 15 of 37 initially silent nerves recovered electromyographic signal after a mean(s.d.) interval of 30(14) min. Postoperative vocal cord palsy/paresis was demonstrated in 24 of 40 patients. One patient developed a bilateral paresis that could be managed conservatively. CONCLUSION: After an absence or loss of signal of the recurrent laryngeal nerve following dissection of the first thyroid lobe, contralateral thyroidectomy can be performed safely, avoiding the expense, psychological burden and potential complications of a second procedure.

Importance of in situ preservation of parathyroid glands during total thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid failure is the most common complication after total thyroidectomy but factors involved are not completely understood. Accidental parathyroidectomy and parathyroid autotransplantation resulting in fewer than four parathyroid glands remaining in situ, and intensity of medical treatment of postoperative hypocalcaemia may have relevant roles. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the number of parathyroid glands remaining in situ and parathyroid failure after total thyroidectomy. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing first-time total thyroidectomy were studied prospectively, recording the number of Parathyroid Glands Remaining In Situ (PGRIS = 4 - (glands autografted + glands in the specimen)) and the occurrence of postoperative hypocalcaemia, and protracted and permanent hypoparathyroidism. Demographic, disease-related, laboratory and surgical variables were recorded. Patients were classified according to the PGRIS number into group 1-2 (one or two PGRIS), group 3 (three PGRIS) and group 4 (all four glands remaining in situ), and were followed for at least 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 657 patients were included, 43 in PGRIS group 1-2, 186 in group 3 and 428 in group 4. The prevalence of hypocalcaemia, and of protracted and permanent hypoparathyroidism was inversely related to the PGRIS score (group 1-2: 74, 44 and 16 per cent respectively; group 3: 51·1, 24·7 and 6·5 per cent; group 4: 35·3, 13·1 and 2·6 per cent; P < 0·001). Intact parathyroid hormone concentrations at 24 h and 1 month were inversely correlated with PGRIS score (P < 0·001). Logistic regression identified PGRIS score as the most powerful variable influencing acute and chronic parathyroid failure. In addition, a normal-high serum calcium concentration 1 month after thyroidectomy influenced positively the recovery rate from protracted hypoparathyroidism in all PGRIS categories. CONCLUSION: In situ parathyroid preservation is critical in preventing permanent hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy. Active medical treatment of postoperative hypocalcaemia has a positive synergistic effect.

Clevidipine for hypertension treatment in pheochromocytoma surgery. / Clevidipino como antihipertensivo en la cirugía de feocromocitoma.

Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-producing tumour and laparoscopic adrenalectomy is its treatment of choice. During pneumoperitoneum insufflation and tumour handling there is a high risk of massive catecholamine release and hypertensive crisis. After tumour excision, severe arterial hypotension is a common effect, due to relative vasodilation and the residual effect of antihypertensive drugs. We report the case of a patient with pheochromocytoma who was treated with laparoscopic adrenalectomy. During surgical manipulation there was a sudden hypertensive peak that could be controlled quickly with clevidipine infusion. After tumour resection, clevidipine perfusion was stopped and there were no arterial hypotension episodes. Clevidipine is a new intravenous calcium antagonist with rapid onset of action and short half-life that has no residual effect and does not produce arterial hypotension after tumour resection. For these reasons, it can be a first-choice drug for this kind of surgery.

Clevidipino como antihipertensivo en la cirugía de feocromocitoma / Clevidipine for hypertension treatment in pheochromocytoma surgery

El feocromocitoma es un tumor productor de catecolaminas y su tratamiento de elección es la adrenalectomía laparoscópica. Durante la insuflación del neumoperitoneo y la manipulación tumoral hay alto riesgo de liberación masiva de catecolaminas y crisis hipertensivas. Tras la exéresis tumoral es frecuente la hipotensión arterial grave por vasodilatación relativa y por el efecto residual de los fármacos antihipertensivos utilizados. Presentamos el caso clínico de un paciente con feocromocitoma intervenido de adrenalectomía laparoscópica. Durante la manipulación quirúrgica hubo un pico hipertensivo brusco que pudo controlarse rápidamente con clevidipino en perfusión. Tras la resección tumoral se detuvo la perfusión y no se produjo hipotensión arterial en ningún momento. El clevidipino es un nuevo antagonista del calcio intravenoso con inicio de acción rápido y vida media corta que no tiene efecto residual y no causa hipotensión tras la resección tumoral, por lo que puede ser un fármaco de primera elección esta cirugía

Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-producing tumour and laparoscopic adrenalectomy is its treatment of choice. During pneumoperitoneum insufflation and tumour handling there is a high risk of massive catecholamine release and hypertensive crisis. After tumour excision, severe arterial hypotension is a common effect, due to relative vasodilation and the residual effect of antihypertensive drugs. We report the case of a patient with pheochromocytoma who was treated with laparoscopic adrenalectomy. During surgical manipulation there was a sudden hypertensive peak that could be controlled quickly with clevidipine infusion. After tumour resection, clevidipine perfusion was stopped and there were no arterial hypotension episodes. Clevidipine is a new intravenous calcium antagonist with rapid onset of action and short half-life that has no residual effect and does not produce arterial hypotension after tumour resection. For these reasons, it can be a first-choice drug for this kind of surgery