Hemi-Thyroidectomy versus Total Thyroidectomy in Patients with Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Sized 2 cm or Less

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The controversy over the optimal extent of thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has persisted over a long time period. Particularly, there is a lack of consensus in low-risk PTC sized >1 cm and ≤2 cm. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the oncologic outcomes between hemi-thyroidectomy and total thyroidectomy in patients with low-risk PTC sized 2 cm or less.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 1107 patients who were diagnosed as unilateral low-risk PTC with maximal tumor size 2 cm or less and initially underwent either hemi-thyroidectomy (n=550) or total thyroidectomy (n=557) was conducted. All patients underwent ipsilateral prophylactic central neck dissection. Patients had no evidence of gross extrathyroidal extension or lymph node metastasis. Clinicopathologic factors and recurrence rate were compared according to the surgical extent and factors correlated to recurrence were analyzed.RESULTS: While the total thyroidectomy group had more aggressive clinicopathologic factors such as minimal extrathyroidal extension, multifocality, and lymph node metastasis, recurrence rate was higher in the hemi-thyroidectomy group (p=0.006). However, when the contralateral lobe recurrence was excluded there was no difference in recurrence between the two groups (p=0.597). In patients with tumor sized >1 cm and ≤2 cm there was no significant difference in recurrence between the two groups (p=0.100).CONCLUSION: Total thyroidectomy may not decrease recurrence in patients with PTC presented with unilateral tumor sized >1 cm and ≤2 cm. Hemi-thyroidectomy could be considered the treatment of choice in these patients when they are presented as a low-risk group.

Difficult intubation using intubating laryngeal mask airway in conjunction with a fiber optic bronchoscope.

When anesthesiologists encounter conditions in which intubation is not possible using a conventional direct laryngoscope, they can consider using other available techniques and devices such as fiber optic bronchoscope (FOB)-guided intubation, a laryngeal mask airway (LMA), intubating LMA (ILMA), a light wand, and the Combitube. FOB-guided intubation is frequently utilized in predicted difficult airway cases and is generally performed when the patient is awake to enable easier access to the trachea. An LMA can be introduced to ventilate the patient with relative ease, while an ILMA can be used for definite endotracheal intubation. However, occasionally, an endotracheal tube (ETT) cannot pass through the larynx, despite successful introduction of a FOB into the trachea and placement of an ILMA by the anesthesiologist. Therefore, we initially introduced an ILMA for emergent ventilation, followed by successful insertion of an ETT under FOB guidance. In this report, we describe three cases of difficult intubation using a FOB and ILMA combination approach.

Cerebral blood flow change during volatile induction in large-dose sevoflurane versus intravenous propofol induction: transcranial Doppler study.

BACKGROUND: The impact of volatile induction using large-dose sevoflurane (VI-S) on cerebral blood flow has not been well investigated. The present study compared the changes in cerebral blood flow of middle cerebral artery using transcranial Doppler (TCD) during VI-S and conventional induction using propofol. METHODS: Patients undergoing elective lumbar discectomy were randomly allocated to receive either sevoflurane (8%, Group VI-S, n = 11) or target-controlled infusion of propofol (effect site concentration, 3.0 µg/ml; Group P, n = 11) for induction of anesthesia. The following data were recorded before and at 1, 2, and 3 min after commencement of anesthetic induction (T0, T1, T2, and T3, respectively): mean velocity of the middle cerebral artery (VMCA) by TCD, mean blood pressure (MBP), heart rate, bispectral index score (BIS) and end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2). Changes in VMCA and MBP from their values at T0 (ΔVMCA and ΔMBP) at T1, T2, and T3 were also determined. RESULTS: BISs at T1, T2 and T3 were significantly less than that at T0 in both groups (P < 0.05). ΔVMCA in Group VI-S at T2 and T3 (18.1% and 12.4%, respectively) were significantly greater than those in Group P (-7.6% and -19.8%, P = 0.006 and P < 0.001, respectively), whereas ETCO2 and ΔMBP showed no significant intergroup difference. CONCLUSIONS: VI-S using large-dose sevoflurane increases cerebral blood flow resulting in luxury cerebral flow-metabolism mismatch, while conventional propofol induction maintains cerebral flow-metabolism coupling. This mismatch in VI-S may have to be considered in clinical application of VI-S.

The Effect of Mitomycin-C on Preventing Adhesion of Injured Flexor Tendon in Rabbit Model

PURPOSE: Adhesion after flexor tendon injury is a result of fibrosis between tendon and tendon sheath. This, finally interfere with gliding mechanism of tendon and results in functional problem of hands. Therefore, there have been many trials to reduce adhesion around the tendon. However, there is no standard procedure clinically practiced in hospitals. Mitomycin-C is an antineoplastic alkylating agent that decrease fibroblast proliferation and scar formation. It is commonly used in many surgery to reduce postoperative adhesion. This study was designed to observe the effect of Mitomycin-C on preventing adhesion in injured flexor tendon. METHODS: The deep flexor tendon of digit 2 and 4 in the left forepaw of 15 New Zealand White rabbits were subjected to partial tenotomy. In study group, injury site was exposed to a single 5-minute application of Mitomycin-C, and in control group was left untreated. Digit 2 and 4 in the right forepaw of each rabbit were considered as non-adhesion control group. After 2 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and digits were amputated for biomechanical test and histological study. RESULTS: In biomechanical study to measure yield point, mean yield point of non-adhesion control was 17.43+/-2.33 and 25.07+/-4.03 for adhesion control, which proves increase of adhesion in adhesion control group(p<0.05) in 95% confidence. In Mitomycin-C group, mean yield point was 12.71+/-4.97. Compared with adhesion control, there was decrease in adhesiveness in Mitomycin-C group(p<0.05) in 95% confidence. In histological study, the result of adhesion control revealed massive adhesions of bony structure, fibrotic tissue and tendon structure with ablation of the border. However in Mitomycin-C group, we could find increased fibrotic tissue, but adhesion is much lesser than adhesion group and borders between structures remain intact. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Mitomycin-C can significantly reduce adhesion of injured flexor tendon in rabbit model.

Anesthetic managements for repair of atrial septal defect in a patient with Young-Simpson Syndrome: A case report.

Young-Simpson Syndrome (YSS) is a rare malformation syndrome characterized by facial dysmorphism, congenital heart abnormalities, congenital hypothyroidism and severe growth retardation. A 5-month-old girl was scheduled to undergo patch closure of atrial septal defect. She had been diagnosed with YSS preoperatively. We report out clinical experience of a case of YSS patient with brief review of related literatures and relevant anesthetic problems.

Is radial artery pressure waveform derived cardiac index is reliable during cardiac surgery with hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass?.

BACKGROUND: Discrepancy of central-peripheral arterial pressure after cardiopulmonary bypass may affect the reliability of arterial pressure waveform derived cardiac index (APCI) monitoring. METHODS: In 15 elective cardiac surgeries employing moderate hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), APCI from radial arterial cannula and pulmonary artery catheter derived cardiac index from thermodilution method (PACI) were measured 1) after anesthesia induction (T1), 2) before CPB (T2), 3) immediately after CPB (T3) and 4) 1 hour after CPB (T4). APCI and PACI were analyzed by using the Bland-Altman analysis. RESULTS: Biases of APCI and PACI at T1, T2, T3 and T4 were 0.093 L/min/m2, -0.053 L/min/m2, 0.485 L/min/m2 and -0.09 L/min/m2, respectively. The limits of agreement (2 SD) at T1, T2, T3 and T4 were from -2.285 to 2.471 L/min/m2, -2.475 to 2.369 L/min/m2, -2.255 to 3.225 L/min/m2 and -2.609 to 2.423 L/min/m2, respectively. Bias of APCI and PACI during entire period (T1-T4) was 0.095 L/min/m2 and 2 SD was from -2.387 to 2.557 L/min/m2. However, mean error % (2 SD/mean) of APCI at T1, T2, T3, and T4 were greater than 30%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results were not able to show that APCI measured from radial artery is comparable to PACI for hemodynamic monitoring during cardiac surgery employing moderate hypothermic CPB. Considering the limitations of PACI as a gold standard of hemodynamic monitoring in a certain clinical circumstance, further investigation employing other monitoring method than PACI may be followed to get more definitive conclusion.

Respiratory insufficiency in a patient with preeclamsia and hypothyroidism developed after general anesthesia for emergency cesarean section: A case report.

Anesthesia and surgery in a patients with undiagnosed or untreated hypothyroidism can carries the risk of potential complications such as prolonged unconsciousness, respiratory insufficiency, hypotension, hyponatremia, congestive heart failure, and even coma. A 33-year-old gravida was admitted at 36 weeks gestation with hypertension, proteinuria, generalized edema, and intrauterine fetal growth retardation. She had thyroidectomy for thyroid mass six years ago. Because of doubt of uterine abruption, emergency cesarean section was performed without result of thyroid function test. Preeclamsia and mild hypothyroidism show similar symptoms and it can make difficult to diagnose hypothyroidism. We experienced delayed recovery and respiratory insufficiency in a patient with preeclamsia and undetected hypothyroidism during emergence from general anesthesia. She was fully recovered after ventilatory care in intensive care unit.