Effect of Thyroidectomy on Tracheal Remodeling and Airway Physiology in Apparently Asymptomatic Patients with Goiter: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Tracheal airflow limitation is frequently reported in patients with goiter but is severely underestimated, and studies on how goiter and its treatment affect trachea are scarce. Moreover, the choice of the optimal treatment for individual patient with asymptomatic goiter is not straightforward. Therefore, in this study we aim to investigate the effect of goiter and subsequent thyroidectomy on tracheal anatomy and change in airflow in asymptomatic patient with goiter. METHODS: Seventy patients undergoing total/hemithyroidectomy (TT/HT) from Feb 2020 to Feb 2021 satisfying inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Neck radiograph (NR) and forced spirometry (FS) were performed preoperatively and on postoperative day 10 and 6 weeks and 3 months. RESULTS: Out of 70 patients, 84.3% patients were female, and mean duration and weight of goiter were 54.7 months and 72.21 gm, respectively. Of 70 patients, 57 were of benign pathology. Significant improvement in tracheal compression with moderate improvement in deviation was observed after surgery. Preoperative spirometry showed significant reduction in almost all parameters. After surgery, a weak improvement was observed at postoperative day 10 and 6 weeks; however, significant improvement in FEV1, PEFR, FEV1/FEV0.5, and FEF50%/FIF50% was observed at postoperative 3 months. Patient with right sided and those with ≥ 8 mm deviation were associated with poorer pulmonary function. Weak correlation was observed between neck NR and spirometry parameters. Weight of the thyroid gland significantly correlated with ratio of MVV/FEV1. CONCLUSION: Patients with asymptomatic goiter can have significant abnormal changes in airflow as evidenced by FS and NR. Thyroidectomy is followed by gradual restoration of tracheal deviation and compression with significant improvement in pulmonary airflow.

PTH Gradient as a Predictor of Post Thyroidectomy Hypocalcemia.

BACKGROUND: Post thyroidectomy hypocalcemia is a common complication. Post thyroidectomy PTH estimation at varying cut offs and time have been used to predict hypocalcemia and aid in early and safe discharge. Single post thyroidectomy PTH values may be spuriously normal or high in a patient that subsequently develops unanticipated low calcium levels. This study aimed to evaluate the percentage change in preoperative and postoperative PTH (Gradient) in predicting post thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. METHODS: Forty-one patients of thyroidectomy had PTH preoperatively, postoperatively one-hour (PTH0) and day 1 (PTH1). PTH gradient was calculated as percentage change in postoperative PTH to preoperative (PTHG0, PTHG1). Hypocalcemia was categorized into mild or severe based on corrected calcium values and presence of clinical signs and/or symptoms of hypocalcemia. RESULTS: Ten (24.3%) and 11 (26.8%) patients had mild and severe hypocalcemia, respectively. PTHG0 and PTHG1 were significantly associated with risk for hypocalcemia (P-0.006 vs P-0.002). Higher PTH0 and PTH1 gradients were significantly associated with risk of hypocalcemia (PTH0 gradient OR-0.006, 95% CI 0.00-0.175, P-0.006; PTH1 gradient OR- 0.008, 95% CI 0.00-0.166, P-0.002). PTH0 gradient was the best predictor of hypocalcemia (AUC 0.855, SE-0.065, 95% CI0.710 to 0.945, P value <0.001) and PTH1 value was a better predictor of severe/clinical hypocalcemia (AUC 0.844, SE-0.072, 95% CI 0.697 to 0.938, P- value-0.001). Based on ROC, cutoffs of PTH0 gradient and PTH1 gradient for predicting hypocalcemia and severe/clinical hypocalcemia were taken as 60% and 75%, respectively (sensitivity 70%, specificity 90.5% for hypocalcemia; sensitivity 65%, specificity 90.9% for severe hypocalcemia). CONCLUSION: PTH gradient may be a better predictor of hypocalcemia and PTH1 gradient of >75% correlates with high risk of severe/clinical post thyroidectomy hypocalcemia.

Cystic adrenal lesions: A report of five cases.

BACKGROUND: Cystic adrenal lesions are rare and uncommon manifestation with few cases reported so far. Different types of adrenal cysts have been described with heterogeneous etiology and overlapping clinical findings, ranging from benign to malignant cystic neoplasm. They are usually asymptomatic or may rarely present with abdominal pain or fullness. Optimum management of adrenal cysts still remain controversial, owing to its low incidence. In this study, we report our institutional experience on diagnosis and management of different histological types of cystic adrenal lesions. CASES: During 4 years period, 55 patients underwent adrenalectomy with five cases presenting as adrenal cysts. All the five patients were biochemically nonfunctional and underwent adrenalectomy (laparoscopic anterior n = 2, retroperitoneoscopic approach n = 1, and open anterior transperitoneal approach n = 2). The primary indications for surgery were larger size and/or suspicion of malignancy. Histological evaluation revealed two epithelial cysts, one endothelial cyst, one pseudocyst, and a very rare case of adrenocortical carcinoma arising in a pseudocyst. CONCLUSION: Cystic adrenal lesions are rare with varied etiologic and clinical presentation that may sometimes lead to diagnostic and management dilemma. These cases must undergo biochemical and radiological evaluation to rule out underlying malignancy followed by referral for surgical intervention.

Efficacy of Fluorescein Green Dye in Assessing Intra-Operative Parathyroid Gland Vascularity and Predicting Post-Thyroidectomy Hypocalcaemia- A Novel Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative hypocalcaemia (POH) after total thyroidectomy (TT) is a common complication. Parathyroid hormone (PTH), an accurate predictor of POH cannot assess intra-operative viability of parathyroid glands (PGs). Different dyes including indocyanine green or carbon nanoparticles have been used, but they are expensive and not widely available. Fluorescein green dye (FD) has been used as a low-cost alternative to study viability of various organs, but seldom tried in visualizing PGs. This novel study aims to assess utility of FD in determining parathyroid viability and predicting POH. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Total 72 out of 88 patients undergoing TT between January and December 2019 were included. Two ml of 25% FD was given intravenously before wound closure and attempts were made to visualize PGs under blue light. A numerical score was given according to the number of PGs visualized. Intact-PTH and corrected calcium were measured on postoperative day 1 and patients observed for POH. RESULTS: No PGs were visualized in 6 patients, 1 in 13, 2 in 30, 3 in 16 & 4 in 7 patients. Mean PTH was 6, 16.9, 31.6, 33.2 and 48.5 respectively. Corrected-calcium was 7.08, 7.7, 7.9, 8.5 and 8.5 respectively. All patients with score 0 received supplementary IV calcium, while 53.8% (score-1), 30% (score-2), 0% (scores-3, 4) received the same. Sensitivity, specificity and ROC of PG score of ≥2 on FD in predicting POH were 100%, 44% and 0.83 respectively. CONCLUSION: FD visualization of parathyroids post TT is feasible and can be used as low cost efficacious method to predict POH.

A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Quality of Life Following Endoscopic Totally Extraperitoneal (TEP) Versus Open Stoppa Inguinal Hernioplasty.

In inguinal hernia surgery, quality of life (QOL) has emerged as a striking issue. Evidence suggests better QOL of patients operated with laparoscopic procedure as compared with open anterior hernia repairs. However data are scarce with relation to open posterior repair in terms of QOL issues. A prospective randomized single-blind study from November 2014 to October 2015 including all patients who underwent elective primary endoscopic [totally extraperitoneal (TEP)] or open Stoppa inguinal hernia repair was undertaken. Mean operating time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and QOL using short form-36 and Carolinas equation of QOL were analyzed. Physical functioning, mental health, bodily pain, and general health showed advantages of TEP over Stoppa repair in first month of postoperative period. Postoperative prediction of hernia discomfort after 1 year was found to be significantly more in Stoppa repair. Complications were slightly higher with open repair. To conclude TEP is associated with significant increased operative time, better QOL in early postoperative period, and less predicted discomfort after 1 year of surgery.