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Expanded use of telemedicine for thyroid and parathyroid surgery in the COVID-19 era and beyond.
Boles, Roger W; Zheng, Melissa; Kwon, Daniel.
  • Boles RW; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California, 1450 San Pablo St., Suite 5800, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
  • Zheng M; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California, 1450 San Pablo St., Suite 5800, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
  • Kwon D; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California, 1450 San Pablo St., Suite 5800, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. Electronic address: Daniel.kwon@med.usc.edu.
Am J Otolaryngol ; 43(2): 103393, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1676388
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly expanded the use of telemedicine in healthcare. Surgical thyroid and parathyroid diseases are uniquely suited for comprehensive telemedicine. The objective of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of telemedicine with in-person preoperative visits in patients undergoing thyroid and parathyroid surgery.

METHODS:

Prospective cohort study of patients undergoing thyroid and parathyroid surgery at a tertiary care center in a COVID-19 hotspot from March 2020 to October 2020. Patients were divided into a telemedicine cohort, with preoperative consultation and surgical decision-making conducted via telemedicine, and a conventional in-person cohort.

RESULTS:

Of 94 patients, 28 were enrolled in the telemedicine cohort and 66 were enrolled in the conventional cohort. Telemedicine patients were more likely to have parathyroid disease (50% versus 24%, p = 0.02) compared with the conventional cohort, but there was no significant difference in surgery for malignancy (43% versus 56%, p = 0.27). There were no significant differences in surgical outcomes or postoperative complications between cohorts, including intraoperative blood loss (19.4 mL versus 35.5 mL, p = 0.06), postoperative length of stay (1.3 days versus 1.2 days, p = 0.93), persistent hypocalcemia (3.6% versus 0%, p = 0.30), and true vocal fold paresis (0% versus 4.5%, p = 0.55).

CONCLUSIONS:

With careful selection, many patients undergoing thyroid and parathyroid surgery may be safely treated using comprehensive telemedicine.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Telemedicine / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Am J Otolaryngol Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.amjoto.2022.103393

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Telemedicine / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Am J Otolaryngol Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.amjoto.2022.103393