Paediatric thyroidectomy: When and why? A 25-year institutional experience.

OBJECTIVE: Thyroidectomy in paediatric patients is relatively uncommon. In this study, we reviewed our experience of thyroidectomy in children and identified risk factors associated with postoperative complications. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of paediatric patients who had thyroidectomy in our institution between April 1995 and January 2021. Demographic data, preoperative cytological findings, indications of surgery, surgical complications and histological results were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 87 paediatric patients with 92 thyroidectomy were identified. The indications for surgery were Graves' disease refractory to medical treatments (40.2%), benign thyroid nodules or multinodular goitre (26.4%), thyroid carcinoma (23.0%) and multiple endocrine neoplasm type 2A syndrome (10.3%). Patients presented with thyroid nodules or cervical lymph nodes had a 43.9% risk of malignancy. 66 total thyroidectomy were done with median operation time of 134 min(102-170), while 26 hemi-thyroidectomy were performed (Right side 12/92, Left side 14/92) with median operation time of 65 min(49-102). The median postoperative hospital stay was 2 days(1-4). Intraoperative neck dissection (p = 0.003), drain insertion (p = 0.001) and hypocalcaemia requiring medical treatment (p = 0.004) were associated with longer hospital stay. The median follow-up was 11.3 years (3.0-16.8). 32% patients had immediate postoperative hypocalcaemia and 8% patients had permanent hypoparathyroidism. Transient vocal cord palsy was found in 3 patients(3%) and all resolved within 5-month time upon reassessment direct laryngoscopy. The use of intraoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring was associated with less vocal cord palsy (p = 0.022). The median disease-free survival was 13.7 years(7.4-17.7) for patients operated for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma(WDTC). amongst the 9 patients who had prophylactic total thyroidectomy for MEN2A syndrome, 44% were found to have medullary thyroid microcarcinomas on pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical management of paediatric thyroid disease can be complex. Postoperative hypocalcaemia and vocal cord palsy were usually transient after total thyroidectomy. The use of intraoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring had resulted in less vocal cord palsy. Long-term disease-free survival of patients with thyroid cancer had been achieved with multi-disciplinary management in our centre. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Retrospective Comparative Study; Level III.

Antenatal counselling of congenital surgical anomalies: A decade of experience in a local tertiary centre.

AIM: This study reviewed the experience of a tertiary paediatric surgery and obstetric centre on prenatal counselling of congenital surgical anomalies and to explore the role of paediatric surgeons on perinatal outcomes of antenatally detected anomalies. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all antenatal consultations and subsequent medical records after birth were performed between 2009 and 2018. Data including timing of consultations, gestations at birth, birthweight, impact on obstetrics management, neonatal mortality and need of surgery were included. RESULTS: A total of 256 fetuses were diagnosed to have congenital surgical anomalies on antenatal ultrasound. The most common were urogenital (31%) and thoracic (30%) anomalies. Twelve of the 256 (4.7%) had multiple anomalies. The mean gestation at referral was 23 ± 5 weeks. The majority (85.4%) were born at term. Mode and timing of delivery was altered in 7% of patients. Four received fetal intervention after surgical consultation. Termination of pregnancy rate was 5.4% (n = 14). Neonatal death was reported in 7.8% of the cohort. CONCLUSION: Congenital surgical anomalies had a significant impact on perinatal outcome as well as morbidity in later infancy and childhood. A multidisciplinary approach in managing pregnancy with these anomalies should be implemented. Combined-specialty consultations and counselling deliver valuable information for parents.

Standard management protocol to improve the short-term outcome of biliary atresia.

AIM: This study compared the outcomes of patients with biliary atresia (BA) treated according to a standardised protocol with historical patients. METHODS: This is a single-centred retrospective study of BA patients treated from 1980 to 2016. A standardised treatment protocol was established since 2008 regarding peri-operative management. The outcomes being compared between the two groups (Groups I and II = before and after 2008, respectively) were jaundice clearance (JC), incidence of recurrent cholangitis, hospital admission and native liver survival (NLS). RESULTS: A total of 128 patients were included (Group I = 100, Group II = 28). The overall median follow-up period was 15.3 years (I vs. II = 20.6 years vs. 5.1 years, respectively). There was no significant difference in the JC at the sixth month between the two groups (I vs. II = 60.0 vs. 82.1%, respectively, P = 0.07). The incidence of recurrent cholangitis was similar between the two groups (I vs. II = 39 vs. 35.7%, respectively, P = 0.45), but the median hospital admission episode per patient was non-significantly higher in Group I (I vs. II = 4.2 vs. 2.7, respectively, P = 0.08). There was an improvement in the 1-year NLS rate in Group II (I vs. II = 69.0 vs. 85.7%, respectively, P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of a standardised management protocol has improved the short-term outcome of BA patients, with a better 1-year NLS observed.