Laphatrada Yurasakpong1, Chanin Nantasenamat2, Sirorat Janta1, Pinthusorn Eiamratchanee3, James Coey3, Arada Chaiyamoon4, Nutmethee Kruepunga1, Thanyaporn Senarai4, Martin Franz Langer5, Krai Meemon1, Athikhun Suwannakhan6. 1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. 2. Center of Data Mining and Biomedical Informatics, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. 3. St. George's International School of Medicine Keith B. Taylor Global Scholars Program, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom; Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University, School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies. 4. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. 5. Department of Traumatology and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus, Münster, Germany. 6. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. Electronic address: athikhun.suw@mahidol.edu.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Thyroid ima artery is a variant artery found on the anterior surface of the trachea. The aim of this meta-analysis was to obtain pooled prevalence data of the thyroid ima artery and discuss its clinical importance especially for tracheostomy. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed through five electronic databases until May 2021. A set of inclusion and exclusion criteria based on AQUA guidelines were used to select relevant studies. Meta-analysis, subgroup analyses, meta-regression, and tests for publication bias were performed. Factors that influence the prevalence of the thyroid ima artery were detected using simple and interpretable machine learning (linear regression and K means). RESULTS: Thirty-six studies with a total of 4,335 subjects met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of the thyroid ima artery was 3.8% (95% CI: 0.027-0.049,I2 = 56.2%). Machine learning identified age, region and year of publication as potential covariates. Subgroup analysis showed that the prevalence of the thyroid ima artery was almost five times higher in fetuses (14.8%) than adults (3.3%) (z=-6.76, p < 0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between the adult prevalence of the thyroid ima artery and the year of publication (Pearson's r = -0.354, p = 0.040) thereby suggesting a decline in thyroid ima artery prevalence over time. This artery, if present, may originate from the brachiocephalic trunk (74%), right common carotid artery (9.6%), arch of aorta (7.7%), right internal thoracic artery (4.8%), left common carotid artery (1.9%) and left internal thoracic artery (1.9%). CONCLUSION: In addition to evidence-based synthesis of the thyroid ima artery, this study is the first ever study to report the decreasing prevalence over time of a human body structure in the postnatal life. Knowledge of the thyroid ima artery is of vital importance for surgeons to avoid accidental hemorrhage during tracheostomy.
INTRODUCTION: Thyroid ima artery is a variant artery found on the anterior surface of the trachea. The aim of this meta-analysis was to obtain pooled prevalence data of the thyroid ima artery and discuss its clinical importance especially for tracheostomy. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed through five electronic databases until May 2021. A set of inclusion and exclusion criteria based on AQUA guidelines were used to select relevant studies. Meta-analysis, subgroup analyses, meta-regression, and tests for publication bias were performed. Factors that influence the prevalence of the thyroid ima artery were detected using simple and interpretable machine learning (linear regression and K means). RESULTS: Thirty-six studies with a total of 4,335 subjects met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of the thyroid ima artery was 3.8% (95% CI: 0.027-0.049,I2 = 56.2%). Machine learning identified age, region and year of publication as potential covariates. Subgroup analysis showed that the prevalence of the thyroid ima artery was almost five times higher in fetuses (14.8%) than adults (3.3%) (z=-6.76, p < 0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between the adult prevalence of the thyroid ima artery and the year of publication (Pearson's r = -0.354, p = 0.040) thereby suggesting a decline in thyroid ima artery prevalence over time. This artery, if present, may originate from the brachiocephalic trunk (74%), right common carotid artery (9.6%), arch of aorta (7.7%), right internal thoracic artery (4.8%), left common carotid artery (1.9%) and left internal thoracic artery (1.9%). CONCLUSION: In addition to evidence-based synthesis of the thyroid ima artery, this study is the first ever study to report the decreasing prevalence over time of a human body structure in the postnatal life. Knowledge of the thyroid ima artery is of vital importance for surgeons to avoid accidental hemorrhage during tracheostomy.