Carolyn DeBiase1, Merry Sebelik2, Srinivasa Rama Chandra3, Jagdish Dhingra4. 1. Department of Otolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona, USA. 2. Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. 3. Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. 4. Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Tufts University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Surgical management of mega-goiters in endemic areas with extreme iodine deficiency presents unique challenges. Based on our initial 5-year experience (2007 to 2011) operating on mega-goiters in Gitwe, Rwanda, Africa, we modified our technique to a lateral approach which affords better exposure of the superior pole vessels and other vital neurovascular structures, thereby improving safety. We describe this lateral approach technique and review outcomes compared to the standard technique. METHODS: From 2007 to 2019, we have conducted 13 annual surgical missions to low resource setting in Gitwe, Rwanda. Retrospective chart review of surgeries between 2012 and 2019 was performed to study outcomes using standard approach and lateral technique during the same time period. RESULTS: Over a period of 8 years (2012 to 2019), out of 192 total cases, lateral approach was used in 35 patients. No patient experienced significant intra-operative blood loss requiring transfusion. One patient had a post-operative hematoma requiring surgical intervention. Vocal cord mobility testing by transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasound was implemented in 2016. Of all patients, incidence of vocal cord weakness was 8.0% (11/137 patients tested) with less than 1/3 of these symptomatic. There was no statistically significant difference in vocal cord weakness noted in the two approaches (3/23 in lateral approach and 8/114 in standard approach) by Fisher's exact test (P=0.34). CONCLUSIONS: Lateral approach, by affording optimal exposure of the great vessels and the laryngeal nerves, reduces the risk of bleeding and nerve injury. Furthermore, inferiorly based strap muscle flap provides excellent coverage and cosmetic outcome. 2021 Gland Surgery. All rights reserved.
BACKGROUND: Surgical management of mega-goiters in endemic areas with extreme iodine deficiency presents unique challenges. Based on our initial 5-year experience (2007 to 2011) operating on mega-goiters in Gitwe, Rwanda, Africa, we modified our technique to a lateral approach which affords better exposure of the superior pole vessels and other vital neurovascular structures, thereby improving safety. We describe this lateral approach technique and review outcomes compared to the standard technique. METHODS: From 2007 to 2019, we have conducted 13 annual surgical missions to low resource setting in Gitwe, Rwanda. Retrospective chart review of surgeries between 2012 and 2019 was performed to study outcomes using standard approach and lateral technique during the same time period. RESULTS: Over a period of 8 years (2012 to 2019), out of 192 total cases, lateral approach was used in 35 patients. No patient experienced significant intra-operative blood loss requiring transfusion. One patient had a post-operative hematoma requiring surgical intervention. Vocal cord mobility testing by transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasound was implemented in 2016. Of all patients, incidence of vocal cord weakness was 8.0% (11/137 patients tested) with less than 1/3 of these symptomatic. There was no statistically significant difference in vocal cord weakness noted in the two approaches (3/23 in lateral approach and 8/114 in standard approach) by Fisher's exact test (P=0.34). CONCLUSIONS: Lateral approach, by affording optimal exposure of the great vessels and the laryngeal nerves, reduces the risk of bleeding and nerve injury. Furthermore, inferiorly based strap muscle flap provides excellent coverage and cosmetic outcome. 2021 Gland Surgery. All rights reserved.
Authors: Antonio Ríos; José Manuel Rodríguez; Manuel Canteras; Pedro José Galindo; Francisco Javier Tebar; Pascual Parrilla Journal: Arch Surg Date: 2005-01
Authors: Leonard R Henry; Nancy Pearl Solomon; Robin Howard; Joyce Gurevich-Uvena; Leah B Horst; George Coppit; Robert Orlikoff; Steven K Libutti; Ashok R Shaha; Alexander Stojadinovic Journal: Ann Surg Oncol Date: 2008-05-06 Impact factor: 5.344