OBJECTIVE: To review the results of the surgical treatment of all types of hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease, toxic nodular goitre, and toxic solitary adenoma). DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University hospital and private hospital, Greece. SUBJECTS: 400 Consecutive patients who were operated on between 1982 and 1991. INTERVENTION: Near total/total thyroidectomy in 226 patients with toxic nodular goitre and 87 patients with Graves' disease. Subtotal thyroidectomy in 25 patients with Graves' disease (early period of the study); lobectomy with resection of the isthmus of the thyroid in 62 patients with a solitary toxic adenoma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality, morbidity and patients' self assessment of the results of operation (symptoms, scar, ophthalmopathy). RESULTS: There was no mortality. Morbidity included 2 postoperative bleeds that required reoperation; 2 patients developed permanent unilateral vocal cord paralysis and 2 had permanent hypoparathyroidism. In 27 of the 400 patients (7%) a thyroid carcinoma was found in the resected specimen. No patient had persistent or recurrent hyperthyroidism 2 to 10 years after operation. Of the 49 patients with Graves' disease and opthalmopathy at the time of operation, 35 (71%) reported improvement in their ophthalmopathy and 14 (29%) reported no improvement. No patient had worsening of their exophthalmos; 388 (97%) were satisfied with their incision; and 360 (90%) reported a significant improvement in their preoperative symptoms (tachycardia, weakness, anxiety, and pressure in the neck). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the primary treatment of all types of hyperthyroidism should be surgical.
OBJECTIVE: To review the results of the surgical treatment of all types of hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease, toxic nodular goitre, and toxic solitary adenoma). DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University hospital and private hospital, Greece. SUBJECTS: 400 Consecutive patients who were operated on between 1982 and 1991. INTERVENTION: Near total/total thyroidectomy in 226 patients with toxic nodular goitre and 87 patients with Graves' disease. Subtotal thyroidectomy in 25 patients with Graves' disease (early period of the study); lobectomy with resection of the isthmus of the thyroid in 62 patients with a solitary toxic adenoma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality, morbidity and patients' self assessment of the results of operation (symptoms, scar, ophthalmopathy). RESULTS: There was no mortality. Morbidity included 2 postoperative bleeds that required reoperation; 2 patients developed permanent unilateral vocal cord paralysis and 2 had permanent hypoparathyroidism. In 27 of the 400 patients (7%) a thyroid carcinoma was found in the resected specimen. No patient had persistent or recurrent hyperthyroidism 2 to 10 years after operation. Of the 49 patients with Graves' disease and opthalmopathy at the time of operation, 35 (71%) reported improvement in their ophthalmopathy and 14 (29%) reported no improvement. No patient had worsening of their exophthalmos; 388 (97%) were satisfied with their incision; and 360 (90%) reported a significant improvement in their preoperative symptoms (tachycardia, weakness, anxiety, and pressure in the neck). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the primary treatment of all types of hyperthyroidism should be surgical.
Authors: P V Pradeep; Amit Agarwal; Mukta Baxi; Gaurav Agarwal; Sushil Kumar Gupta; S K Mishra Journal: World J Surg Date: 2007-02 Impact factor: 3.352