Hypocalcemia - the most common complication after total thyroidectomy.

UNLABELLED: OBJECTIVA: Postoperative intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels and some other factors as a predictor of hypocalcemia are analyzed in 115 patients after TTE. BACKGROUND: Postoperative hypocalcemia is the most common complication observed after total thyroidectomy (TTE). It is not easy to predict in which patients this complication will occur. We adopted and implemented a novel method to predict this complication - monitoring of postoperative intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels. METHODS AND RESULTS: Prospective study involves 115 patients. From January till December 2010 we performed 111 TTE and 4 completion thyreoidectomies (hemithyreoidectomy (HTE) after previous HTE). Gender and age of patients, final histopatology diagnosis, number of parathyroid glands visible during operation, duration of operation and surgeon were factors that did not influence development of postoperative hypocalcemia. A hospital stay was prolonged in patients with hypocalcemia. iPTH level morning after surgery less than 15 pg/ml was a statistically significant predictor of postoperative hypocalcemia. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of iPTH<15 pg/ml for predicting postoperative hypocalcemia were 71 %, 99 %, 97 % and 86 %, respectively. Sensitivity of iPTH<15 pg/ml in predicting symptomatic postoperative hypocalcemia was 100 %. CONCLUSION: Measuring iPTH levels morning after TTE allows prediction of subsequent hypocalcemia with a high sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV. Normal iPTH levels ruled out development of hypocalcemia symptoms. Patients with normal iPTH can be safely discharged and the overtreatment of postthyroidectomy patients with calcium and/or vitamin D supplements can be also avoided (Tab. 2, Fig. 3, Ref. 29).

Trends and estimates in prostate cancer incidence, mortality and prevalence in the Slovak Republic, 1968-2012.

Prostate cancer is the third most-common non-skin cancer and also the third leading cause of cancer death in the Slovak Republic in recent years. However, analysis of incidence and mortality long-term time-trends, on the basis of which the prevalence estimates could have been calculated, were not available. This paper analyses national trends in prostate cancer incidence and mortality from 1968 to 2007 by using the join-point regression to propose potential changes in health care. The authors noted a statistically significant increase in the values of incidence after 1999 and improvement in mortality after 1998. Using a mathematical modelation authors predicted the overall prostate cancer prevalence in the Slovak Republic to provide actual data for health management.

[Pars plana vitrectomy and combination therapy pars plana vitrectomy, intravitreal triamcinolon acetonid and macular lasercoagulation - one year results]. / Pars plana vitrektómia a kombinovaná liecba pars plana vitrektómia, triamcinolon acetonid intravitreálne a laserkoagulácia makuly pri diabetickom edéme makuly - rocné výsledky.

PURPOSE: To compare anatomic and functional results of pars plana vitrectomy with MLI peeling (group PPV) and pars plana vitrectomy with MLI peeling, intravitreal triamcinolon acetonide 4 mg and macular lasercoagulation (group PPV + TRIAM) in eyes with diffuse diabetic macular edema (DEM). METHODS: In the group PPV eyes underwent PPV with MLI peeling and in the group PPV + TRIAM, PPV with MLI peeling, intravitreal triamcinolon acetonide 4 mg was performed at the end of surgery and macular lasercoagulation 3 weeks after surgery. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT) and macular volume were recorded before, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after vitrectomy. RESULTS: Sixty - eight eyes from 59 subjects with DEM non responsive to lasercoagulation or with vitreomacular traction were enrolled, the group PPV 35 eyes and the group PPV + TRIAM 33 eyes. In the group PPV before and 1, 3, 6 a 12 months after surgery mean BCVA were 0,22; 0,21; 0,28; 0,32; 0,30, mean CMT were 497,69 µm; 400,89 µm; 356,46 µm; 346,89 µm; 319,49 µm and mean macular volume were 11,48 mm3; 9,82 mm3; 9,28 mm3; 9,07 mm3, 8,83 mm3. In the group PPV + TRIAM mean BCVA were 0,18; 0,16; 0,23; 0,26; 0,26, mean CMT were 447,82 µm; 276,03 µm; 266,27 µm; 268,36 µm; 251,15 µm, mean macular volume were 10,71 mm3; 8,03 mm3; 8,28 mm3; 7,96 mm3; 7,66 mm3. In both groups statistical significant improvement in BCVA were observed from month 3 (p = 0.0013), in CMT and macular volume from month 1 (< 0.001). To compare both groups, in the group PPV + TRIAM changes in CMT and macular volume in month 1 after combination therapy from baseline were statistical significant, but without statistical significant, change in BCVA (p = 0.229). The major complications after surgery were an elevation of intraocular pressure and cataract surgery, more often in the group PPV + TRIAM (p = 0.153, p = 0.056). CONCLUSION: Both surgical technics are effective in the treatment of DEM. Combination therapy PPV, triamcinolon acetonide 4mg and macular lasercoagulation is associated with higher number of complications after surgery (elevation of intraocular pressure and cataract surgery).