Microscopic thyroidectomy: a prospective controlled trial

The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate microsurgical thyroidectomy by comparing it with traditional thyroidectomy. Before surgery, patients were assigned either to the microscopic thyroidectomy group (MT group), with the use of the surgical microscope, or the traditional thyroidectomy group (TT group), without the use of visual magnification. Outcome measures were operative time, intraoperative bleeding and complication rates including injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) or the parathyroid glands. Ninety-eight patients underwent thyroid surgery (58 patients in the MT group, 40 patients in the TT group). The two groups were similar in age, sex, surgical procedures and histological findings. There was no difference between the two techniques regarding the operative time and the amount of blood loss. Neither permanent nerve palsy nor persistent hypocalcemia occurred in either group. Transient nerve palsies (RLN and EBSLN) were lower in the MT group (1.7%) compared to the TT group (7.5%), but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P>0.05). Overall transient hypocalcemia was significantly lower in the MT group (1.7%) compared with the TT group (12.5%, P=0.032). If the population was restricted to total thyroidectomy, the rate of transient hypocalcemia was 4.1% in the MT group and 33.3% in the TT group, respectively (P=0.022). In conclusion, microsurgical thyroidectomy is a feasible and efficacious surgical procedure. It significantly reduces the complications without increasing the operating time in thyroid surgery procedures. A major advantage of this technique is the possibility of attaching a camera to the microscope, thereby greatly facilitating teaching.The authors did not receive any financial support for this study.     

Prevention of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis by demonstration of the nerve during thyroid surgery

INTRODUCTION: Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis is one of the major complications of thyroid surgery. The importance of dissection and exploration of the recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery remains controversial. METHODS: 74 thyroid gland operations with obligatory dissection and exploration of the recurrent laryngeal nerve were analysed. RESULTS: 118 recurrent laryngeal nerves were explorated in these operations. Transitory postoperative vocal cord paralysis was observed in 4 patients. In one patient vocal cord paralysis was permanent. This results in a transitory vocal cord paralysis rate of 3.4 % and a permanent vocal cord paralysis rate of 0.85 %. DISCUSSION: Our results and the literature review indicate that dissection and visualization of the recurrent laryngeal nerve can reduce the risk of permanent paralysis to a minimum. Obviously mechanical trauma like compression and crushing due to dissection do not increase incidence of permanent nerval disorders. Certain dissection and identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery is recommended in principle.     

甲状腺外科专业化的临床资料分析

目的 评价耳鼻咽喉头颈外科医师手术治疗甲状腺良性疾病的结果。方法回顾性分析北京朝阳医院耳鼻咽喉头颈外科2001年1月-2004年4月手术治疗496例甲状腺良性疾病的方式、术后并发症的发生、手术耗时、颈部切口长度、住院时间和术后复发的情况。结果甲状腺一侧腺叶加对侧腺叶部分切除314例，甲状腺一侧腺叶加峡部切除76例，甲状腺双侧腺叶次全切除29例，单纯甲状腺峡部切除3例，甲状腺全切除46例，颈部低位领式切口入路切除胸骨后结节性甲状腺肿28例。术后一侧喉返神经损伤发生率为0．2％(1／496)，无双侧喉返神经损伤。术后暂时性低钙血症发生率为1．8％(9／496)，无永久性低钙血症。术后出血发生率为0．6％(3／496)，无切口感染。手术耗时平均为66min，颈部切口长度平均为5．2cm，住院时间平均为6．3d。术后复发率0．2％(1／496)。结论受过严格头颈外科培训的耳鼻咽喉科医师行甲状腺良性疾病手术可降低喉返神经损伤的发生。     

甲状腺良性病变手术预防喉返神经损伤的方法

目的 探讨甲状腺良性病变手术喉返神经显露的方法.方法 回顾分析2243例甲状腺良性病变手术资料,对甲状腺良性病变不同病变位置、不同手术方法与喉返神经损伤的关系进行比较分析.结果 本组共发生喉返神经损伤68例(3.0%).其中显露喉返神经手术中,背侧组喉返神经损伤率为1.0%(1/97),位于其他部位组,无喉返神经损伤.喉返神经区域保护法手术中,背侧组喉返神经损伤率为7.6%(65/853),病变位于甲状腺其他部位组喉返神经损伤率为0.17%(2/1195).结论 甲状腺良性病变手术,对于病变位于背侧的结节或腺瘤、甲状腺再次手术以及术中发生声音改变者,应常规显露喉返神经,其他情况则采用喉返神经区域保护法.显露方法可采用侧方、上方及下方三种途径.     

纳米碳混悬注射液提高cN0甲状腺乳头状癌手术精准性的临床应用

目的探讨纳米碳混悬注射液对提高cN0甲状腺乳头状癌手术精准性的应用价值。方法回顾性分析2016年6月~2017年6月在天津市第四中心医院甲状腺乳腺外科手术治疗的cN0甲状腺乳头状癌患者的临床资料98例,随机分为实验组50例和对照组48例。两组均采用精细被膜解剖法,实验组术中在甲状腺真被膜下注射纳米碳悬浊液。比较两组甲状旁腺术中显露情况,甲状旁腺误切情况、手术后24 h血清钙离子和甲状旁腺激素E（parathyroid hormone, PTH）情况及喉返神经损伤情况。结果实验组甲状旁腺显露111枚,对照组93枚（P<0.05）;实验组2例甲状旁腺误切,误切率4%（2/50）,对照组9例甲状旁腺误切,误切率18.75%（9/48）（P<0.05）;实验组暂时性PTH减低4%（2/50）,对照组暂时性PTH减低22.9%（11/48）（P<0.05）;实验组暂时性低钙血症6%（3/50）,对照组27.1%（13/48）（P<0.05）;实验组暂时性喉返神经损伤6%（3/50）,对照组20.83%（10/48）（P<0.05）。结论纳米碳混悬注射液能够提高手术中甲状旁腺的辨识度,减少甲状旁腺的误切,保护甲状旁腺的功能,能够在一定程度上提高喉返神经的辨识度。     

甲状腺手术喉返神经损伤危险因素及应对策略

目的探讨甲状腺手术出现喉返神经损伤的危险因素及避免损伤的方法。方法回顾性分析1902例甲状腺患者,按手术科别、性别、麻醉方法、病变性质、术中是否常规解剖喉返神经、手术次数及手术范围分组,观察喉返神经损伤率,进行单因素分析及多因素回归分析。结果喉返神经总损伤率为1.84%。单因素分析显示,在甲状腺恶性病变患者、多次手术及甲状腺广泛性手术中喉返神经损伤率升高有统计学意义(χ2分别为1.096、1.893、1.467,P<0.05)。在甲状腺广泛性手术中,术中显露喉返神经可有效降低喉返神经损伤率(χ2=1.758,P<0.05);而在保守性手术中,术中是否显露喉返神经,喉返神经损伤率的差异无统计学意义(χ2=0.638,P>0.05)。Logistic回归分析显示,多次手术及甲状腺广泛性手术是喉返神经损伤的重要危险因素。结论对于病变范围较小的甲状腺良性肿瘤,术中不显露喉返神经、保留部分甲状腺背侧组织是安全可靠的。而对于广泛性甲状腺切除手术,术中应常规解剖喉返神经。     

甲状腺外科无喉返神经损伤的可能性

目的探讨甲状腺外科手术喉返神经(recurrenlaryngealnerve,RLN)零损伤的可能性。方法回顾性分析我科2001年3月～2005年3月659例甲状腺疾病的手术方式、术后RLN损伤、甲状旁腺功能低下、术后出血和术后复发等并发症的发生。术中常规解剖RLN,保护并勿过度解剖甲状旁腺及其供应的血管。结果甲状腺一侧腺叶加对侧腺叶部分切除376例、甲状腺一侧腺叶加峡部切除87例、甲状腺双侧腺叶次全切除76例、甲状腺全切除73例、颈部低位领式切口入路切除胸骨后结节性甲状腺肿47例。术后无一例发生RLN损伤。术后暂时性低钙血症发生率为1.67%(11/659)。无永久性低钙血症。术后出血需再手术止血和术后伤口血肿的发生率分别为0.60%(4/659)和0.45%(3/659)。甲状腺功能低下和术后复发的发生率分别为0.45%(3/659)和0.15%(1/659),无切口感染。结论甲状腺外科手术中熟悉RLN的解剖知识,常规紧贴甲状腺被膜外分离并全程解剖RLN及其分支可避免RLN的损伤。     

Assessment of the morbidity and complications of total thyroidectomy

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and predictive factors for complications after total thyroidectomy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of a national database on total thyroidectomy cases. METHODS: The National Hospital Data Survey database was examined and all cases of total thyroidectomy performed during 1995 to 1999 were extracted. In addition to demographic information, postoperative complications including hypocalcemia, recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, wound complications, and medical morbidities were identified. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine potential predictive factors for postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 517 patients were identified (mean age, 48.3 years). The most common indications for total thyroidectomy were thyroid malignancy and goiter (73.9% of cases). Eighty-one patients (15.7%) underwent an associated nodal dissection along with total thyroidectomy, and 16 patients (3.1%) underwent parathyroid reimplantation. The mean length of stay was 2.5 days (95% confidence interval, 2.3-2.8 days). The incidence of postoperative wound hematoma was 1.0%, wound infection was 0.2%, and mortality rate was 0.2%. The incidence of postoperative hypocalcemia was 6.2%. Younger age was statistically associated with an increased incidence of hypocalcemia (P =.002, t test), whereas sex (P =.48), indication for surgery (P =.32), parathyroid reimplantation (P>.99), and associated neck dissection (P =.21) were not. The mean length of stay was 2.5 days and was unaffected by occurrence of postoperative hypocalcemia. The incidences of unilateral and bilateral vocal cord paralyses were 0.77% and 0.39%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative hypocalcemia is the most common immediate surgical complication of total thyroidectomy. Other complications, including recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, can be expected at rates approximating 1%.     

甲状腺手术中的喉返神经显露

目的 探讨甲状腺手术中喉返神经显露对避免损伤喉返神经的作用。方法 回顾性分析150例甲状腺手术患者的临床资料，其中甲状腺瘤125例，术中均顺利显露同侧喉返神经；甲状腺癌25例，其中仅10例能显露喉返神经。结果 随访6个月～4年，甲状腺瘤术后声带麻痹(单侧)5例，其余120例术后声带运动良好，发声正常。甲状腺癌15例术后并发声带麻痹，10例声带运动正常。结论 甲状腺腺叶切除术中，常规显露喉返神经能减少喉返神经的损伤。对显露过长的喉返神经，术中应利用游离筋膜覆盖，以免术后瘢痕形成压迫喉返神经致声带麻痹。     

甲状腺手术喉返神经损伤规律及治疗的探讨

目的 探讨甲状腺手术喉返神经损伤的规律及中早期神经减压的疗效。方法 甲状腺手术喉返神经损伤单侧声带麻痹87例,其中行喉返神经探查65例,非手术治疗22例。探查术中观察喉返神经损伤部位、类型、程度及神经肌肉形态;对缝扎、粘连伤行神经减压治疗14例。治疗前后以喉镜、嗓音声学参数、肌电图检查等评价治疗效果。结果 探查发现喉返神经被缝线结扎、瘢痕粘连压迫、断离分别占43％(28/65)、9％(6/65)、48％(31/65)。损伤部位以近环甲关节处多见,占75％(49/65);甲状腺中下部占25％(16/65)。病程半年以内者喉内肌及损伤处远端神经干萎缩并不严重,病程越长萎缩变性越明显。神经切断伤上述改变较缝扎伤及压迫伤更为明显;但病程18个月喉内肌仍可见肌纤维组织结构。病程3个月内神经减压10例中9例声带恢复了不同程度的内收及外展功能;病程3个月以内1例、3-5个月4例神经减压术后声带未恢复运动,但均恢复了正常的肌张力、肌体积,声带振动及黏膜波对称,嗓音亦恢复正常。非手术治疗组声嘶有改善,但嗓音未恢复正常,声带亦未恢复运动。结论 通过喉返神经探查初步揭示甲状腺手术喉返神经损伤的规律,中早期喉返神经减压术能恢复声带生理性运动功能。     

A study of routine exposure of recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery

One of the main complications of thyroid surgery is injury to recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), which causes severe morbidity to the patient in postoperative period. To find out the incidence of RLN injury and its consequences, a prospective study was done in a group of 142 cases during the years 1999–2000. Different types of thyroidectomies for various diseases lbw of the thyroid gland, wherein a routine identification and exposure of the P-R was done through out its full course till its entry into the larynx at cricothyroid membrane. Three cases of temporary RLN injury were found and not a single case of permanent nerve injury was seen during our study. Three cases of nonre current LN were found on the right side of the gland. The temporary injury of the nerve completely recovered during 2–5 months of follow-up. We present some reviews of the literature to provide various authors, views and experiences regarding injury of RLN associated with thyroid urgery.     

甲状腺手术喉返神经损伤规律及治疗的探讨

目的探讨甲状腺手术喉返神经损伤的规律及中早期神经减压的疗效。方法甲状腺手术喉返神经损伤单侧声带麻痹87例，其中行喉返神经探查65例，非手术治疗22例。探查术中观察喉返神经损伤部位、类型、程度及神经肌肉形态；对缝扎、粘连伤行神经减压治疗14例。治疗前后以喉镜、嗓音声学参数、肌电图检查等评价治疗效果。结果探查发现喉返神经被缝线结扎、瘢痕粘连压迫、断离分别占43％(28／65)、9％(6／65)、48％(31／65)。损伤部位以近环甲关节处多见，占75％(49／65)；甲状腺中下部占25％(16／65)。病程半年以内喉内肌及损伤处远端神经干萎缩并不严重，病程越长萎缩变性越明显。神经切断伤上述改变较缝扎伤及压迫伤更为明显；但病程18个月喉内肌仍可见肌纤维组织结构。病程3个月内神经减压10例中9例声带恢复了不同程度的内收及外展功能；病程3个月以内1例、3—5个月4例神经减压术后声带未恢复运动，但均恢复了正常的肌张力、肌体积，声带振动及黏膜波对称，嗓音亦恢复正常。非手术治疗组声嘶有改善，但嗓音未恢复正常，声带亦未恢复运动。结论通过喉返神经探查初步揭示甲状腺手术喉返神经损伤的规律，中早期喉返神经减压术能恢复声带生理性运动功能。     

Laryngeal nerve monitoring and minimally invasive thyroid surgery: complementary technologies

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of the combined use of laryngeal nerve monitoring and minimally invasive thyroid surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized analysis of single-surgeon experience. SETTING: Academic institution. PATIENTS: Consecutive series of patients undergoing both minimally invasive thyroid surgery and laryngeal nerve monitoring. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incision length and incidence of temporary or permanent laryngeal nerve injury. RESULTS: Two hundred eighty-three patients underwent thyroid surgery at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, between January 2004 and November 2006. Some type of minimal-access approach (endoscopic or nonendoscopic) was used in 137 cases (48.4%) in which general anesthesia was administered. Laryngeal nerve monitoring was performed in 73 (53.3%) of these 137 cases, although the proportion of cases in which it was performed increased significantly from 8.7% (2 of 23 cases) in 2004 to 95.2% (58 of 61 cases) in 2006 (P < .001). There were no cases of permanent nerve injury. The incidence of temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis was 4.3% (4 of 92 nerves at risk) in the cases in which laryngeal nerve monitoring was used and 6.0% (5 of 84 nerves at risk) in the cases in which the nerve was visually identified without use of a monitor. This difference failed to reach statistical significance (P = .73), which may reflect an insufficient sample size. CONCLUSION: Monitoring of the laryngeal nerves is feasible in minimal-access thyroid surgery and may serve as a meaningful adjunct to the visual identification of nerves.     

Clinical analysis of hoarseness after thyroidectomy]

The present paper reports 86 cases of hoarseness after thyroidectomy. In 37 cases, glottic paralysis was confirmed. Among them the injury of recurrent laryngeal nerve were 89.91% (33/37). In 33(36 side) cases of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, left injury was 20 and right was 16. Referring to the literature author consider that: 1. the recurrent laryngeal nerve was injured easy by thyroidectomy because that thyroid gland was located closely with recurrent laryngeal nerve in neck; 2. recurrent laryngeal nerve injury after thyroidectomy was related to the character of thyroid gland tumor and times of operations; 3. incidence of superior laryngeal nerve injure in thyroidectomy was rare; 4. following up 16 cases of glottic paralysis, most of all (13/16) hoarseness was improved with the health side vocal cords overcompensation.     

Complication rates after operations for benign thyroid disease

Controversy persists concerning the use of total thyroidectomy in benign thyroid disease and varying complication rates have been reported. We evaluated the safety of total thyroidectomy or lobectomy in benign thyroid disease. During a 5-year period, 102 patients were operated on for benign thyroid disease, including multinodular goiter (n = 55), solitary nodule (n = 18), toxic nodular goiter (n = 22) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (n = 7). Recurrent laryngeal nerves were routinely investigated during dissection. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 27 cases, unilateral total lobectomy with isthmectomy in 38 and unilateral total, contralateral subtotal lobectomy in 37. One (0.9%) temporary superior laryngeal nerve palsy, 1 (0.9%) temporary recurrent nerve palsy and 1 (0.9%) temporary hypoparathyroidism occurred. Wound seroma developed in 2 patients (1.9%). There were no deaths or permanent complications. This study shows that total thyroidectomy or lobectomy can be done with minimal morbidity in cases of benign thyroid disease affecting the whole gland.     

甲状腺手术后声嘶的临床分析

对甲状腺术后声嘶８６例临床资料进行分析。结果示８６例中声带麻痹３７例，其中喉返神经受损３１例，喉上神经受损４例，同侧喉上，喉返神经联合性损伤２例；声嘶原因不明４９便。认为，甲状腺手术时易损伤喉返、喉上神经而引起噪音改变，原因不明的声嘶也不能排除该神经的损伤，只是程度较轻未引起声带麻痹。喉神经的损伤与甲状腺肿物的大小无密切关系，但与甲状腺肿物的性质及手术的次数有关。术后３个月内积极治疗并辅以坚持发声     

甲状腺肿瘤外科手术2228例临床分析

目的探讨甲状腺肿瘤外科治疗效果，总结甲状腺肿瘤的诊疗经验。方法回顾性分析1992年-2004年间2228例甲状腺肿瘤(2072例甲状腺良性肿瘤，156例甲状腺癌)的临床资料及随访结果。结果2072例甲状腺良性肿瘤中，术后喉返神经损伤4例，永久性喉返神经损伤率是0．1％，暂时性喉返神经损伤率为0．1％；55例复发行二次手术，复发率为2．6％。术后无甲状旁腺功能低下和出血。甲状腺癌156例，8例复发，3例死亡，直接法统计5年生存率为95．50k，(64／67)，Kaplan-Meier法统计5年生存率为98．0％。60例微小癌中无1例复发或转移，5年生存率为100．0％。156例甲状腺癌中1例喉返神经损伤，发生率为0．6％，术后无出血和甲状旁腺功能低下。结论遵循甲状腺肿瘤正确外科治疗原则能有效降低甲状腺疾病患者手术并发症、复发率等，并改善预后。     

Postoperative complications of surgery for malignant tumors of the thyroid gland

In order to assess the main complications following surgical treatment of thyroid neoplasms, a prospective-historical study was made in 145 patients operated between 1985 and 1997. Permanent hypocalcemia was encountered in 3.3% of our cases, and unilateral nerve injury in 2.2%, with 0.7% of fatal complications. The remain complications evaluated include: serohematoma, postoperative bleeding, and wound infection. To sum up, surgery of the thyroid neoplasms is a relatively safety procedure. The incidence of complications is similar to the surgical treatment of the remainder thyroid diseases.     

Review of 26 patients operated on for primary hyperparathyroidism

The traditional surgical approach for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) is routine bilateral neck exploration. At Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, however, unilateral exploration, and the direct resection of one gland is performed if single gland enlargement is suspected, based on the findings of several preoperative localization procedures. Here, we reviewed 26 patients who underwent single gland operations for PHP at our institution between 1993 and 2001. The 26 patients (21 women and 5 men) ranged in age from 20 to 79 years (mean, 54.8 years). None of the patients had multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN), familial hypercalcemia, or malignant tumors. At least three preoperative localization procedures, such as ultrasonography, computed tomography, thallium technetium scanning, 99mTc sestamibi scintigraphy, or magnetic resonance imaging, were performed in each patient. A parathyroidectomy was then performed under general anesthesia. Contralateral exploration was not routinely performed. In addition, an intraoperative biopsy of the other glands was not performed. The following data were retrospectively collected in all patients: serum calcium, and the HS-PTH at one month and 6 months after the parathyroidectomy. All patients were normocalcemic, and the serum HS-PTH concentration significantly decreased in all patients after this operation. Patients were divided into two groups (adenoma group, n = 16; hyperplasia group, n = 6) and the data was analyzed according to the histological and pathological diagnosis. In both pathological groups, all patients were normocalcemic and the serum HS-PTH concentration was significantly lower after surgery. The serum HS-PTH concentration showed no significant difference between the adenoma group and the hyperplasia group at 6 months after surgery. No complications, including recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy or permanent hypocalcemia, were observed after surgery. In conclusion, if a single gland disease is suspected based on the findings of multiple preoperative localization procedures, resection of the enlarged gland alone appears to provide good results for the treatment of either adenoma or hyperplasia resulting in PHP. In addition, this procedure also reduces the occurrence of postoperative hypocalcemia, because the normal glands are not injured by the biopsy procedures.     

The recurrent laryngeal nerve in relation to the inferior constrictor muscle of the pharynx

The point of penetration of the recurrent laryngeal nerve into the larynx is recognized as the most frequent site of injury to the nerve during surgical procedures of the thyroid gland. The anatomical relationships of 25 right and left recurrent laryngeal nerves in 25 anatomical blocks from formalin-fixed human corpses have been studied. In 34 cases (68%), the recurrent laryngeal nerve penetrated into the larynx below the lower fibers of the inferior constrictor muscle of the pharynx (type 1 of penetration). In the remaining 16 cases (32%), the nerve crossed through those muscle fibers to penetrate into the larynx (type 2 of penetration). The thyroid gland was found to involve the recurrent laryngeal nerve at the penetration point into the larynx in 19 of 50 cases (38%).