A survey of preferences regarding surgical approach to thyroid surgery.

BACKGROUND: Transaxillary thyroidectomy (TAT) has gained popularity in East Asian countries; however, to date there have been no attempts to evaluate the preferences regarding TAT in the US population. The aim of this study is to assess the preferences and considerations associated with TAT in an American cohort. METHODS: Self-administered surveys were distributed to 966 adults at various locations in a single state. Questions assessed preferences for the surgical approach, acceptable risks and extra costs, and willingness to pursue TAT despite reduced cancer treatment efficacy. RESULTS: The response rate was 84 %, with a mean age of 40 ± 17 years. The majority of respondents were female. Of the respondents, 82 % preferred TAT to a cervical thyroidectomy (CerT), all risks being equal; 51 % of the respondents were willing to accept a 4 % complication rate with TAT, and 16 % stated they would agree to pay up to an additional $US5,000 for the TAT approach. When presented with thyroid cancer, 20 % of all respondents still preferred TAT, even if it would not cure their disease. Patients preferring TAT over CerT were younger, female, more willing to accept complications and spend additional money, and, most significantly, preferred the TAT approach, even if it was less likely to cure their cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Although this survey presents a hypothetical question for people who do not have thyroid disease, the majority of respondents preferred TAT over CerT. Furthermore, a substantial number were willing to accept higher complication rates and increased costs for TAT.

Obstetric and Gynecologic Care for Individuals with Disabilities.

This article explores the inequities experienced by individuals with disabilities when accessing obstetric and gynecologic care. The unique needs, abilities, and barriers to care are reviewed, as well as recommendations for provision of care to people with disabilities.

Ovarian Torsion in Premenarchal Girls.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate characteristics that differentiate premenarchal girls with ovarian torsion (OT) from those without OT at the time of surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review of 36 premenarchal girls who underwent 42 surgeries for either OT (n = 33) or a nontorsed ovarian mass (n = 9) from 2006 to 2017. SETTING: Large, tertiary care academic institution. PARTICIPANTS: We included patients aged 0-12 years with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for torsion of the ovary, adnexa, ovarian pedicle, or fallopian tube. Controls had International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for ovarian mass or cyst, who also underwent surgery and did not have OT. INTERVENTIONS: Records were reviewed for patient characteristics including laboratory and imaging studies, surgical intervention, and pathologic diagnosis. Fischer exact test and the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Characteristics predictive of OT in premenarchal girls. RESULTS: Twenty-nine premenarchal patients were diagnosed with 33 episodes of OT. Nine patients underwent surgery for ovarian masses but did not have OT. All patients with OT reported abdominal pain (compared with 55.6% without OT; P < .001) and most had nausea and/or emesis (81.8% vs 33.3%; P < .009). Ultrasound findings of ovarian enlargement and decreased Doppler flow were significant in the OT group (P < .083, P < .009). There were 2 cases of malignancy in each group. CONCLUSION: Patients with OT had significantly more nausea, emesis, and abdominal pain compared with those without OT. Additionally, 2 of 4 malignancies were found in patients with OT, indicating that malignancy should still be considered with large, complex masses.