Contralateral surgery in patients scheduled for total thyroidectomy with initial loss or absence of signal during neural monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Staged total thyroidectomy has been advised to prevent bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis when loss of the signal from neural monitoring is observed after dissection of the initial thyroid lobe. This is supported by expert opinion but hard evidence is lacking. A lost signal can return during surgery or, even if it persists, its positive predictive value is only in the range 60-70 per cent. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical outcome of patients in whom total thyroidectomy was performed following loss of signal after dissection of the first thyroid lobe. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of adult patients scheduled for neural monitoring during total thyroidectomy. The prevalence of first-side absence or loss of signal was recorded. The contralateral thyroid lobe was approached routinely. The vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves on the first side were retested during and at the end of the contralateral procedure. RESULTS: Some 462 patients were included. Loss (32 patients) or initial absence (8) of signal at dissection of the first thyroid lobe was noted in 40 patients (8·7 per cent). Total thyroidectomy was completed in 29 patients, and a change of surgical strategy adopted in 11 patients with benign disease. At retesting, 15 of 37 initially silent nerves recovered electromyographic signal after a mean(s.d.) interval of 30(14) min. Postoperative vocal cord palsy/paresis was demonstrated in 24 of 40 patients. One patient developed a bilateral paresis that could be managed conservatively. CONCLUSION: After an absence or loss of signal of the recurrent laryngeal nerve following dissection of the first thyroid lobe, contralateral thyroidectomy can be performed safely, avoiding the expense, psychological burden and potential complications of a second procedure.

Prospective study on loss of signal on the first side during neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve in total thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: Staged thyroidectomy has been recommended when loss of the signal from intraoperative nerve monitoring is observed after first-side dissection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. There is no high-quality evidence supporting this recommendation. In addition, it is not clear whether signal loss predicts postoperative vocal cord paralysis. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of consecutive adult patients undergoing neuromonitored total thyroidectomy for either malignancy or multinodular goitre. The prevalence of first-side loss of signal was recorded. Surgery was completed, and vagus and laryngeal nerves on the first side were rechecked at the end of the procedure. RESULTS: Two-hundred and ninety patients were included. Loss of signal on the first side was noted in 16 procedures (5.5 per cent). Thyroidectomy was completed and, at retesting, 15 of 16 initially silent nerves recovered an electromyographic signal with a mean(s.d.) amplitude of 132(26) mcV. Mean time to recovery was 20.2 (range 10-35) min. In no patient was the signal lost on the opposite side. Only three of 15 nerves with a recovered signal were associated with transient vocal cord dysfunction. CONCLUSION: After loss of signal of the recurrent laryngeal nerve dissected initially, there was a 90 per cent chance of intraoperative signal recovery. In this setting, judicious bilateral thyroidectomy can be performed without risk of bilateral recurrent nerve paresis.

Risk factors for transient vocal cord palsy after thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: Transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy affects to 5-10 per cent of patients after extracapsular thyroidectomy. This prospective study assessed the impact of surgical injury and extralaryngeal branching of the inferior laryngeal nerve (ILN) on vocal cord dysfunction (VCD). METHODS: Total thyroidectomy or lobectomy was performed in 188 patients, with 302 ILNs at risk. The anatomy of the ILN and degree of injury to the nerve, based on the Laryngeal Nerve Injury Score (LNIS), were recorded. Fibreoptic laryngoscopy was performed a mean(s.d.) of 10.6(4.1) days after thyroidectomy. RESULTS: Some 37.4 per cent of ILNs showed extralaryngeal branching. In all, 10.9 per cent of patients developed VCD; 4.3 per cent had paresis and 6.6 per cent paralysis. All paretic and all but one paralytic cords recovered fully after 61(17) days. VCD was more frequently associated with branched than non-branched ILNs (15.8 versus 8.1 per cent; P = 0.022). Injuries were more common in branched nerves (mean(s.e.m.) total LNIS 0.94(0.08) versus 0.51(0.05); P < 0.001). Branched nerves were more likely to be associated with VCD (odds ratio 2.2 (95 per cent confidence interval 1.1 to 4.5)). CONCLUSION: Branched ILNs suffer more surgical injuries and are twice as likely to be associated with VCD.

Reactive vascular lesion of nasal septum simulating angiosarcoma in a cocaine abuser.

We report the case of an exuberant ulcerative angiomatoid nasal lesion in a cocaine abuser. The lesion was made up of polymorphous endothelial cells with occasional mitoses, arranged in a lobular pattern with infiltrative-looking areas. There were extensive areas of thrombosis with focal recanalization. Intravascular proliferation was not observed. The clinical, radiological, and histological features suggested hemangiosarcoma as the main differential diagnosis, but the lobular architecture of the lesion and the widespread thrombosis favoured the diagnosis of a benign reactive process.