Prophylactic central neck dissection for papillary thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: Prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to examine whether prophylactic CND for PTC affected long-term survival and locoregional control. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent total thyroidectomy (TT) with bilateral prophylactic CND. They were compared with patients who had TT without CND. Personalized adjuvant radioiodine treatment was used in both groups. Primary outcomes were overall and disease-specific survival, and locoregional control. Secondary outcomes were number of patients with negative serum thyroglobulin levels, and morbidity. RESULTS: Of 640 patients with PTC included in this study, 282 (treated in 1993-1997) had TT without CND and 358 (treated in 1998-2002) underwent TT with CND. The 10-year disease-specific survival rate for patients who had TT without CND was 92·5 per cent compared with 98·0 per cent in patients with CND (P = 0·034), and the locoregional control rate was 87·6 and 94·5 per cent respectively (P = 0·003). In multivariable analysis, extrathyroidal extension was an independent predictive factor for locoregional recurrence (odds ratio 12·47, 95 per cent confidence interval 6·74 to 23·06; P < 0·001), whereas CND was an independent predictive factor for improved locoregional control at 10 years after surgery (odds ratio 0·21, 0·11 to 0·41; P < 0·001). No differences were seen in the rates of permanent hypoparathyroidism or recurrent laryngeal nerve injury between the groups. CONCLUSION: Bilateral prophylactic CND for staging of the neck in PTC, followed by personalized adjuvant radioiodine treatment, improved both 10-year disease-specific survival and locoregional control, without increasing the risk of permanent morbidity. REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01510002 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in video-assisted thyroidectomy: lessons learned from neuromonitoring.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of the study was to assess the mechanism of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury during video-assisted thyroidectomy (VAT). METHODS: The study examined 201 nerves at risk (NAR). VAT with laryngeal neuromonitoring (LNM) was outlined according to this scheme: (a) preparation of the operative space; (b) vagal nerve stimulation (V1); (c) ligature of the superior thyroid vessels; (d) visualization, stimulation (R1), and dissection of the RLN; (e) extraction of the lobe; (f) resection of the thyroid lobe; (g) final hemostasis; (h) verification of the electrical integrity of the RLN (V2, R2). The site, cause, and circumstance of nerve injury were elucidated with the application of LNM. Laryngeal nerve injuries were classified into type 1 injury (segmental) and 2 (diffuse). RESULTS: Fourteen nerves (6.9 %) experienced loss of R2 and V2 signals. 80 percent of lesions occurred in the distal 1 cm of the course of the RLN. The incidence of type 1 and 2 injuries was 71 and 29 % respectively. The mechanisms of injury were traction (70 %) and thermal (30 %). Traction lesions were created during the extraction of the lobe from the mini-incision [point (e)]. Thermal injury occurred during energy-based device use in (f) and (g) circumstances. CONCLUSIONS: RLN palsy still occurs with routine endoscopic identification of the nerve, even combined with LNM. LNM has the advantage of elucidating the mechanism of RLN injury. Traction and thermal RLN injuries are the most frequent lesions in VAT.

Randomized clinical trial of bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy versus total thyroidectomy for Graves' disease with a 5-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The extent of thyroid resection in Graves' disease remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term results of bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy (BST) compared with total thyroidectomy (TT) in patients with Graves' disease and mild active ophthalmopathy. METHODS: Participants were assigned randomly to BST or TT, and followed for 5 years after surgery. The primary endpoints of the study were the prevalence of recurrent hyperthyroidism and changes in Graves' ophthalmopathy. Secondary endpoints were postoperative transient and permanent paresis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, and postoperative hypocalcaemia and hypoparathyroidism. RESULTS: Two hundred patients were included, of whom 191 (BST 95, TT 96) completed the 5-year follow-up. Recurrent hyperthyroidism occurred in nine patients after BST and in none after TT (P = 0·002). Progression of Graves' ophthalmopathy was observed in nine patients after BST compared with seven following TT (P = 0·586). Transient hypoparathyroidism occurred in 13 and 24 patients respectively (P = 0·047). Permanent hypoparathyroidism was diagnosed in no patient after BST and in one after TT (P = 0·318). No differences were noted in transient or permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. CONCLUSION: TT for Graves' disease prevented recurrent hyperthyroidism but did not prevent the progression of ophthalmopathy compared with BST.

Implementation of systematic neuromonitoring training for thyroid surgery.

Neural monitoring is increasingly applied to thyroid surgery and yet few surgeons have received formal training in intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM). Standardized application of neural monitoring is an expected outcome of formal training programs in IONM. This study was designed to document a systematic training course that focuses on standardized state-of-art IONM knowledge. Seventeen 1-day courses were organized by the Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Insubria Medical School (Varese-Como, Italy), between 2009-2010. The course included didactic and practical training sessions. Some specific steps and checklist identified for courses included: knowledge of IONM technology and troubleshooting algorithms; IONM anesthetic perspectives, standards of IONM equipment set up and technique. A total of 75 trainees completed a questionnaire after completion of the respective courses. Questions probed demographic data, operative IONM experience and evaluation of course content. Data gathered showed that 97% of participants had no prior experience with the standardized approach of IONM technique (i.e. stimulation of the vagal nerve). The most useful parts of the course were judged to be (a) algorithms for perioperative IONM problem solving (30%), (b) live surgery with hands-on training (25%), (c) standardization of IONM technique (25%), and (d) IONM equipment set-up (20%). Poor reimbursement for hospital thyroid procedures is the main reason of limitation of IONM technology. The course offered participants novel knowledge and training and gave participants a systematic and standard approach to IONM technique.

Randomized clinical trial of visualization versus neuromonitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerves during thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during thyroid surgery reduces injury, and that intraoperative nerve monitoring may be of additional benefit. METHODS: One thousand consenting patients scheduled to have bilateral thyroid surgery were randomized to standard protection or additional nerve monitoring. The primary outcome measure was prevalence of RLN injury. RESULTS: Of 1000 nerves at risk in each group, transient and permanent RLN injuries were found respectively in 38 and 12 nerves without RLN monitoring (P = 0.011) and 19 and eight nerves with RLN monitoring (P = 0.368). The prevalence of transient RLN paresis was lower in patients who had RLN monitoring by 2.9 per cent in high-risk patients (P = 0.011) and 0.9 per cent in low-risk patients (P = 0.249). The negative and positive predictive values of RLN monitoring in predicting postoperative vocal cord function were 98.9 and 37.8 per cent respectively. CONCLUSION: Nerve monitoring decreased the incidence of transient but not permanent RLN paresis compared with visualization alone, particularly in high-risk patients. REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00661024 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Superiority of preemptive analgesia with intraperitoneal instillation of bupivacaine before rather than after the creation of pneumoperitoneum for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the optimal timing of preemptive analgesia with bupivacaine peritoneal instillation in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. METHODS: In this study, 120 patients qualified for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized to four groups. Group A received 2 mg/kg of bupivacaine in 200 ml of normal saline before creation of pneumoperitoneum. Group B received 2 mg/kg of bupivacaine in 200 ml of normal saline after creation of pneumoperitoneum. Group C received 200 ml of normal saline before creation of pneumoperitoneum. Group D received 200 ml of normal saline after creation of pneumoperitoneum. Local wound infiltration with bupivacaine was used before skin incisions. The primary end points of the study were postoperative pain intensity on a visual analog scale and incidence of shoulder tip pain. The secondary end points included the latency of nurse-controlled analgesia activation, the analgesia request rate, and analgesic consumption. RESULTS: Significantly lower visual analog scores were observed in group A versus groups C and B versus group D during the initial 48 and 24 h, respectively. The patients in group A versus group B reported significantly lower pain at 4 h (p < 0.001) and 8 h (p = 0.003) postoperatively, but the difference was not significant after 12, 24, and 48 h. None of the group A patients reported shoulder tip pain, whereas it was reported by 3 patients in group B, 6 patients in group C, and 7 patients in group D (p < 0.01). The latency of nurse-controlled analgesia activation was 426.8 +/-57.2 min in group A, as compared with 307 +/- 39.8 min in group B, 109.3 +/- 51 min in group C, and 109 +/- 46.5 min in group D (p < 0.001). A significantly lower analgesia request rate was observed in group A versus C, as compared with group B versus D, throughout the entire study period (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preemptive analgesia with bupivacaine peritoneal instillation is much more effective for pain relief if used before creation of pneumoperitoneum. Although the effect of bupivacaine peritoneal instillation is also noticeable when used after creation of pneumoperitoneum, it confers significantly lower benefits.

Low-pressure pneumoperitoneum combined with intraperitoneal saline washout for reduction of pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND: We designed a prospective randomized clinical trial to investigate whether intraperitoneal saline washout combined with a low-pressure pneumoperitoneum (LPSW) was superior to low-pressure pneumoperitoneum (LP) alone as a means of reducing postoperative pain and analgesic consumption in the early recovery period after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). METHODS: A total of 124 consecutive patients undergoing LC due to uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones were randomized to the LP or LPSW group. In the LPSW group, normal saline at body temperature (25 ml/kg of body weight) was irrigated under the diaphragm. The fluid was evacuated via the passive-flow method through a 16-F closed drain left under the liver for 24 h. We then assessed the intensity of total abdominal postoperative pain using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), including the incidence of shoulder-tip pain (STP), total daily analgesia demand rate, analgesic consumption. Quality of life (QOL) within 7 days after the operation was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). A p value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The mean postoperative pain score was lower by 2.64 +/- 0.86 in the LPSW; the difference equaled 9.64% (p < 0.05). The incidence of STP was lower in the LPSW group (LP 11.29% vs LPSW 1.6%; p = 0.028). The analgesia demand rate was remarkably lower in LPSW vs LP within 24 and 48 h postoperatively (70.96% vs 90.32%; p = 0.006 and 64.51% vs. 83.87%; p = 0.013, respectively). After LPSW vs LP, QOL was better in terms of physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, and bodily pain (90.32% vs 77.42%; p = 0.05, 90.32% vs 75.8%; p = 0.03, 91.93% vs 74.19%; p = 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSION: In terms of lower postoperative pain and a better QOL within the early recovery period, LPSW is superior to LP alone. The saline washout procedure should be recommended during LC because it is a simple way to reduce pain intensity, even after LP operations.

A prospective randomized trial on comparison of low-pressure (LP) and standard-pressure (SP) pneumoperitoneum for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of LP (7 mmHg) in comparison to SP (12 mm Hg) pneumoperitoneum in a prospective randomized clinical trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 148 consecutive patients qualified for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) due to uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones were randomized to either SPLC or LPLC. All the procedures were performed by the same experienced team of surgeons. The statistical analysis included sex, mean age, body mass index, ASA grade, operative time, complication rate, conversion rate, postoperative pain assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale of Pain (VAS) including the incidence of shoulder-tip pain, postoperative hospital stay, recovery time, and the quality of life (QOL) within 7 days following the operation. p <0.05 was considered as indicative of significance. RESULTS: Neither conversion to an open procedure nor major complications occurred in either group. The operative time was similar in both groups (LP 55.7 +/- 8.6 min vs SP 51.9 +/- 8.3 min). The mean postoperative pain score was 6.18 +/- 3.48 lower after LP than SPLC and the difference amounted to 22.2% (p <0.005). The incidence of shoulder-tip pain was 2.1 times lower after LP than SPLC (p <0.05). QOL within 7 days following the operation was remarkably better after LPLC than after SPLC (p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: LP pneumoperitoneum is superior to SP pneumoperitoneum in terms of lower postoperative pain, a lower incidence of shoulder-tip pain, and a better QOL within 5 days following the operation. LP should be used for LC in cases of uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones as a recommended procedure as long as an adequate exposure is obtained with this technique.

Reversible autonomic dysfunction in hyperthyroid patients affects gastric myoelectrical activity and emptying.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) function in hyperthyroidism has been so far investigated mainly from the cardiovascular point of view. The aim of this study is to show that the ANS dysfunction in hyperthyroidism is also expressed in gastric myoelectrical activity disturbances and gastric emptying disorders and to search for a correlation between the severity of clinical manifestation and free thyroid hormone levels and the degree of the ANS dysfunction. The analyzed group included 50 recently diagnosed patients with hyperthyroidism who were examined twice: before and after 3 months of thyrostatic treatment. Results were compared with those of a sex-, age- and BMI-matched control group of 50 healthy volunteers. The study included: heart rate variability analysis in time and frequency domain, at rest and during a deep-breathing test, surface electrogastrography in preprandial and postprandial periods measured simultaneously with the ultrasound assessment of gastric emptying time by Bolondi method. In patients with hyperthyroidism in comparison with the control group, the following significant differences were observed: a sharp reduction of the high-frequency component and a decrease of heart rate variability, a high incidence of dysrhythmia with dominant bradyarrhythmia, and a delay of gastric emptying. The degree of disorders related to the degree of clinical manifestation of hyperthyroidism's symptoms and free triiodothyronine serum concentration both. All the disorders were functional and disappeared in a stable euthyroidism. To conclude, the ANS dysfunction in hyperthyroidism results not only in withdrawal of vagal inhibitory effect on sinoatrial node, but in impaired mutual neuro-hormonal regulation (decrease of vagal influence) of gastric myoelectrical activity followed by delay of gastric emptying.

[Should we operate goiter in the elderly?]. / Czy operowac wole u chorych w wieku podeszlym?

The aim of this study was to compare the elderly patients group to the group of others undergoing surgical treatment due to goitre regarding type of goitre, extent of surgical procedures and postoperative follow-up (including early postoperative complications). 5872 patients with various type of goitre (between 1984 and 1998) were surgically treated, among them were 5244 (89.3%) females and 628 (10.7%) males (sex ratio as 8.1:1). The mean age was 46.1 (10 to 95 years). 278 (4.7%) patients were above 70 years of age (235-84.5% females and 43-15.5% males), their mean age was 73.7 years. The increase of malignant goitre was evident among the elderly patients (19.9% vs 5.5%). The dominant types were anaplastic cancers and malignant non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Much more frequently a giant goitre was diagnosed (20% vs 6.1%). It was localised substernally (39.6%) or intrathoracic (4.7%). The elderly prepared properly underwent surgical treatment quite well. Among early postoperative complications in the elderly dominant were surgical ones (6.8%), most frequently the injuries of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (4.67% vs 1.14%). Perioperative mortality regarded mostly the elderly with disseminated anaplastic cancer (3.6% vs. 0.2%). Surgical treatment of goitre in the elderly is a safe and justified method. High incidence of malignant tumours especially anaplastic cancers among the elderly should encourage to operation as early as possible.

[Medullary thyroid carcinoma--personal observations]. / Rak rdzeniasty tarczycy--obserwacje wlasne.

The paper presents the rules of surgical treatment in medullary carcinoma of the thyroid gland based on own experience and survey of literature. Changing trends in diagnostic and therapeutic approach were described. The results achieved encouraged authors to find some conclusions. Long term results of therapy depend mostly on stage of disease in time of initial surgery, radicality of primary operation and further supportive treatment. Systematic follow-up after surgery makes it possible to early detect the recurrence and has an influence on survival rate. In cases of poorly differentiated medullary thyroid cancer even radical surgical procedure followed by the appropriate supportive treatment results in a not satisfactory survival.

[Acute appendicitis in Crakow population]. / Ostre zapalenie wyrostka robaczkowego w populacji Krakowa.

UNLABELLED: In spite of decreasing morbidity, acute appendicitis (AA) is still found the most frequent cause of so called acute abdomen. This study presents the retrospective estimation of 1515 patients treated surgically in ten years period, admitted to hospital with the initial diagnosis of AA. In 1339 patients the initial diagnosis was confirmed during surgery. This group was divided into three subgroups: 1. Without perforation, 2. With perforation or abscess presence, 3. With diffuse peritonitis. In our study 60% of patients were male, however in the group aged over 70 we found the majority were females. The mean age was 16.7 years and in half of the cases patients were under 20. The incidence for Cracow population was 61.6 new cases in group of 100,000 inhabitants per one year (74.7 for males and 49.7 for females). The risk of appendix perforation or diffuse peritonitis was higher in extreme age groups. Mortality rate we found as 0.9%, but the risk of death was significantly higher in patients with advanced AA, or in the group over 70. Percentage of missed diagnoses was found as 11.6, and there was an advantage of female (female 19.2%, male 5.7%). Wound infection was dominant with the frequency rising along with the progression of AA. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The morbidity of AA in Cracow population in years 1989-1998, was 61.6/100,000/year on average and showed decreasing trend. 2. General mortality in AA remains at a stable and does not exceed 1%. It is most frequent in patients over 70 irrespectively of the form of AA.

[Diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in cases of renal clear cell carcinoma metastases into the thyroid gland]. / Diagnostyka, leczenie i rokowanie w przypadkach przerzutów raka jasnokomórkowego nerki do tarczycy.

The most common metastatic tumour of the thyroid gland which is clinically revealed is renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC). Our clinical experience in cases of RCCC metastases into thyroid gland is reviewed in terms of the history of the disease, obligatory diagnostic procedures, surgical management and outcome prognosis. We believe that all the patients with even a remote RCCC history require systematic follow-up including thyroid gland as metachronic metastatic disease can occur many years after primary surgery. Clinical diagnosis and ultrasound of the thyroid gland is essential in selection for surgical treatment. Confirmation of malignancy in FNA (fine needle aspiration) in often difficult regarding concomitant multinodular goitre. Enlargement of a single thyroid nodule except L-thyroxin therapy for 3-6 months is a sufficient indication for surgical treatment, not depending on FNA result, particularly when a suspected nodule becomes bigger than 30 mm in diameter.

[Parathyroid neoplasm--diagnostic challenge and therapeutic difficulty]. / Rak przytarczyc--wyzwanie diagnostyczne i problem terapeutyczny.

The paper presents current diagnostic and therapeutic approach in parathyroid cancer. The suspicion of parathyroid cancer should be taken into account in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism symptoms (and elevated total and ionised calcium blood level and PTH blood level), present palpable cervical mass and enlarged cervical lymph nodes. Further diagnosis should be based on ultrasound of the neck (including power-Doppler ultrasound), subtraction 99mTc-MIBI and 123J scintigraphy, ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration, and CT or MRI if necessary to assess the stage of the process. The elective surgical procedure should be primary 'en block' excision of the tumour with the unilateral thyroid lobe and the following loco-regional adjuvant radiotherapy. Patients who underwent surgical treatment due to parathyroid cancer require long-term follow-up as the risk of local recurrence or distant metastases (mostly into lungs or bones) remains high even many years after initial operation. Patients with dissemination usually suffer from severe hypercalcemia leading to death if untreated correctly. Thus, so crucial is effective treatment of hypercalcemia (diuresis, biphosphonates, calcitonine, oktreotide).

Current management of thyroid cancer--a change of therapeutic strategy over the last 20 years.

A radical change of epidemiological structure of thyroid cancer incidence in Poland has been reported for few years. The total incidence of thyroid cancer is successively increasing, mostly in form of well differentiated thyroid cancer, especially papillary cancer. The diagnostic and therapeutic approach to thyroid cancer have also changed. Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration has become the first choice procedure in diagnostics of thyroid cancer. Careful assessment of prognostic factors is no longer helpful in choice of selective surgical procedure in thyroid cancer as elective total thyroidectomy is widely recommended. In well differentiated thyroid cancer a complementary treatment with radioiodine is mandatory in most cases. Own experience in treatment of thyroid cancer presented in the paper is based on over 520 consecutive patients with thyroid cancer treated in a single department specialised in endocrine surgery during last 20 years. Successive changes in epidemiological structure of thyroid cancer incidence as well as the evolution of diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm in thyroid cancer are presented in details. Radical surgical treatment of thyroid cancer is still a fundamental part of a complex treatment of thyroid cancer.

[Is surgical treatment of hyperthyroidism in pregnancy reasonable?]. / Czy leczenie operacyjne nadczynnosci tarczycy u ciezarnych jest uzasadnione?

Hyperthyroidism is second to diabetes mellitus as the most common endocrinopathy in pregnancy. It is usually caused by Graves' disease. The appropriate treatment is the only way to prevent the incidence of dangerous complications both to mother and foetus, including thyrotoxic crisis. Most cases of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy can be successfully treated with thyrostatics (propylotiouracil, methylotiouracil in the lowest efficient doses). However, the surgical treatment (sub-total thyroidectomy within the second trimester of gestation, soon after the euthyroid state following short medication is reached) is still an elective approach in selected cases: 1) allergy to antithyroid drugs, 2) large compressive goitre, 3) suspicion of thyroid cancer, 4) patients who require large doses of antithyroid drugs to reach and sustain euthyroid state, 5) poor patient compliance, 6) extremely rare resistance to antithyroid drugs. The study included 24 cases of pregnant women, who underwent surgery due to hyperthyroidism. The analysis of indications to surgery and postoperative pregnancy, birth and puerperium course was performed. All the patients gave birth on time to healthy children. No negative influence of neither preoperative antithyroid treatment nor surgical procedure on pregnancy delivery, further psychomotoric children's development and health was found during 36 months (+/- 20 months) of postoperative follow up. It indicates on usefulness, efficacy and safety of surgical treatment in selected cases of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy.