Vocal cord paralysis after total thyroidectomy with ecchymosis secondary to thyroid biopsy

We investigated whether laryngoscopy should be performed before total thyroidectomy on all patients without a history of neck surgery. A total of 2523 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy between January 1, 2013, and March 18, 2018, were retrospectively examined. Pre-operative vocal cord examination was performed on 2070 of these patients by the otorhinolaryngology department using indirect laryngoscopy. Patients with a history of neck or thyroid surgery were not included in the study. The patients were evaluated in terms of age, gender, symptom (hoarseness/dyspnea), comorbidity, surgical history, biopsy, nodule diameter, pathological diagnosis, and tracheal deviation. Preoperative vocal cord paralysis was detected in 0.8 per cent of the patients (17/2070). Four patients (23.5%) were male and 13 patients (76.5%) were female. The mean age was 62 (range, 25–82) years. Seven of the 17 patients (41%) were symptomatic, with complaints of dyspnea in five and hoarseness in two. The univariate analysis revealed that a nodule diameter >30 mm and the presence of dyspnea were associated with vocal cord damage. Furthermore, the multivariate analysis showed that dyspnea alone was an independent variable ( P = 0.011). It is recommended that preoperative vocal cord evaluation should be performed only in patients with severe symptoms, such as dyspnea.

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Morbidity Outcomes of Prophylactic Central Neck Dissection with Total Thyroidectomy versus Total Thyroidectomy Alone in Patients with Node Negative Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Philippine Journal of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery ◽

10.32412/pjohns.v34i1.127 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 6-13

Author(s):

Christen-Zen I. Sison ◽

Adrian F. Fernando ◽

Therese Monique D.G. Gutierrez

Keyword(s):

Total Thyroidectomy ◽

Neck Dissection ◽

Vocal Cord ◽

Vocal Cord Paralysis ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Central Neck Dissection ◽

Central Neck ◽

Papillary Thyroid ◽

Node Negative ◽

Prophylactic Central Neck Dissection

Objective: The primary objective of this meta-analysis is to compare locoregional recurrence, vocal cord paralysis, and permanent hypoparathyroidism in patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma without neck node metastases, after total thyroidectomy with and without prophylactic central neck dissection. Methods: Two independent reviewers performed a detailed literature search of MEDLINE (PubMed), HERDIN and Cochrane Library electronic databases to assess research studies until 2018 for inclusion. The primary endpoints of locoregional recurrence, permanent hypoparathyroidism, and vocal cord paralysis were included in the assessment. Design: Meta-Analysis of Retrospective Cohort Studies Setting: University Hospitals and Tertiary Referral Centers Participants: Patients with node-negative papillary thyroid cancer who underwent either total thyroidectomy alone or total thyroidectomy with prophylactic central neck dissection (either unilateral or bilateral). Results: This meta-analysis showed that there is a significantly increased risk for locoregional recurrence in the total thyroidectomy alone group (1.96% TT with pCND VS 2.60% TT, RR=0.62, 95% Cl=0.40-0.95, p=.03), permanent hypoparathyroidism in the total thyroidectomy with prophylactic central neck dissection group (5.72% TT with pCND vs 3.34% TT, RR=2.19, 95% Cl=1.62-2.98, p=.00001) and no significant difference for vocal cord paralysis between the 2 groups (RR=1.56, 95% Cl=0.86-2.84, p=.14). Conclusion: This meta-analysis revealed that performing pCND in patients with node-negative PTC increases the risk of morbidity for hypoparathyroidism but not for vocal cord paralysis. More importantly, the incidence of recurrence is decreased in the pCND group, which may have implications on the overall survival of patients. The benefit of performing pCND may outweigh the risk but the role of prophylactic CND in the treatment of patients with PTC with clinically negative lymph nodes is still debatable in terms of overall survival. Keywords: thyroidectomy, complications; neck dissection; papillary thyroid carcinoma; lymph node dissection; recurrence; vocal cord paralysis; hypoparathyroidism

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