【Abstract】ObjectiveTo study the applicatble value of absorbable biomedical membrane (ABMM) in thyroid operation.MethodsABMM (size 0.02 cm) was placed between trachea and the skin flap trachea and the anterior muscles of the neck, and between anterior muscles of neck and the skin flap after radical cure for thyroid cancer of thyroidectomy including one or two lobes. ResultsConglutination under the incision was significantly lighter in experiment group (153 cases ) than control group (139 cases) ( P＜0.05）, but the difference of complication between two groups was insignificant after postoperative followup for 6 weeks. ConclusionABMM can effectively prevent conglutination under the incision without increasing of postoperative complications.
Objective To compare the advantages and disadvantages of using the harmonic scalpel and bipolar coagulation forceps versus harmonic scalpel and conventional clamp-and-tie technique in open thyroid surgery.Methods One hundred patients indicated for thyroid surgery were randomly divided into two groups：the bipolar coagulation forceps group underwent surgery with harmonic scalpel and bipolar coagulation forceps，and the conventional clamp-and-tie group with harmonic scalpel and conventional clamp-and-tie technique，respectively.All operations were performed by the same group of doctors.The total operation time，intraoperative bleeding，mass diameter，postoperative drainage，and surgical complications （postoperative bleeding， postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis，seroma，and permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism） were compared.Results There were 48 valid cases in the bipolar coagulation forceps group， and 49 cases in the conventional clamp-and-tie group. There were no significant differences between two groups patients of age，gender，disease composition，and mass diameter（P＞0.05）.With the same operative approach， the total operation time，intraoperative bleeding，and the incidence of transient postoperative hypoparathyroidism in the bipolar coagulation forceps group were significantly lower than those in the conventional clamp-and-tie group （P＜0.001）.The postoperative drainage in the bipolar coagulation forceps group was more than that in the conventional clamp-and-tie group （P＜0.05）.There was no single case of postoperative bleeding，postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis，seroma，and permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism in both groups.Conclusions The combination of harmonic scapel with bipolar coagulation forceps provides significant advantages over the combination of harmonic scapel with conventional clamp-and-tie technique in open thyroid surgery.
ObjectiveTo summarize the new ideas and new instruments in thyroid surgery. MethodsRelated literatures were reviewed and analyzed. ResultsTotal thyroidectomy had become the preferred option for differentiated thyroid cancer and multiple nodule goiter. The key change of surgery was from recurrent laryngeal nerve-protection to parathyroid-protection. Harmonic scalpel, bipolar coagulation forceps and Ligasure were used to thyroid surgery, which could shorten operation time and reduce operative bleeding. ConclusionThe ideas and techniques of thyroid surgery have changed, total thyroidectomy and parathyroid protection are being paid more and more attentions, and new instruments are used more extensively in thyroid surgery.
Objective To compare the disadvantages and advantages of open thyroid surgery when using the harmonic scalpel (HS) vs conventional hemostasis (CH). Methods One hundred and fifty-one patients and 70 patients underwent thyroid surgery with HS or CH respectively. The tumor diameter, incisional length, the total operative time, thyroidectomy time, intraoperative bleeding volume, postoperative drainage volume and surgical complications were compared. The incisional length and the surgical complications in and after learning curve with harmonic scalpel were compared. Results There was no significant difference between the HS and CH group at baseline. Incisional length, total operative time, thyroidectomy time, intraoperative bleeding volume and postoperative drainage volume in HS group were significantly lower than those of CH group (P＜0.001); the surgical complications showed no significant difference between the HS and CH group (Pgt;0.05); the incisional length after learning curve was shorter than that in learning curve in HS group (P＜0.05); the surgical complications after learning curve were significantly lower than that in learning curve in HS group (P＜0.001). Conclusion HS provides significant advantages over conventional hemostasis in open thyroid surgery. However, it can’t be used in a blindly exclusive way but be combined with conventional knot tying appropriately.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical value of cervical vascular color Doppler ultrasound for dignosis of nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve before thyroid surgery. MethodsThere were 1931 cases of thyroid patients treated between January 2010 to Jule 2014, group these patients according to the results of preoperative chest radiograph examination, the chest radiograph shows abnormal vessels image were group A (45 cases), no abnormalities were group B (1886 cases). Before operaton, made patients of group A to have routine carotid duplex ultrasound to identify whether the right subclavian artery abnormalities. All patients were exposed to conventional methods of recurrent laryngeal nerve during surgery. ResultsThe 45 patients of group A, chest angiography showed 17 cases with right subclavian artery abnormalities, they were confirmed that all the 17 patients were nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve by surgery, no damage cases. The other 28 cases showed a normal right subclavian artery and no cases of nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve. The 1886 patients in group B, surgical exploration found four cases with nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve, injury in 1 case. The 21 patients whose nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve were on the right side, there were no left side with nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve and no co-exist cases of nonrecurrent and recurrent laryngeal nerve. The average exposure time of nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve in patients of group A (17 cases) was significantly shorter than that group B[(4.28±1.08) min vs. (15.50±2.08) min, t=-15.978, P=0.000]. ConclusionsThe cervical vascular color Doppler ultrasound examination before thyroid surgery can be adjuvant used, if there is the right subclavian artery abnormalities, it showes that there is the right side nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve. So as to effectively prevent the damage of nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery.
ObjectiveTo research the relevancy between the amplitudes of EMG signal of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during thyroidectemy with the movement of vocal cords after operation by applying the intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) and verify the proper warning criterion. MethodsFrom April 2013 to October 2013, 130 patients (214 nerves at risk) underwent complex thyroidectomy with the application of IONM. According to the degree of amplitude changing on different sites of RLN (proximal site and distal site) before closing incision, all the patients were divided into 10 groups. Every patient's vocal cords movement after operation by laryngoscopy and simulated the neural function in real time were compared. ResultsSeven patients got abnormal movement of vocal cords, the corresponding amplitudes of the EMG signal of RLN were in the range between 0 to 50%, 1 case from Group 6 (40%≤Rp/Rd<50%), 1 case from Group 8 (20%≤Rp/Rd<30%), 1 case from Group 9 (10%≤Rp/Rd<20%), 4 cases from Group 10 (0≤Rp/Rd<10%), and there's no permanent RLN palsy. ConclusionThe final amplitude of RLN decrease below 50%R1 would probably lead to vocal cords' abnormal movement, and when it decrease below 30%R1, the possibility of abnormal movement would increase; 50% decrease of EMG amplitude can be used as a warning criterion to prevent nerve function damage.
ObjectiveTo explore optimal current intensity for neural monitoring of vagus nerve and recurrent laryngeal nerve during the thyroid and parathyroid surgery, so that we can judge function, location, identify, and protect the nerve more effectively and more quickly. MethodA total of 100 patients who underwent thyroid or parathyroid operations by the same surgeon in West China Hospital, meanwhile accepted intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM), and 186 nerves at risk were enrolled in this study. According to the standardized process of nerve monitoring, we stimulated the vagus nerve with the current strength of 1-5 mA, and respectively stimulated laryngeal recurrent nerve with 1-3 mA indirectly and directly, and recorded the amplitude of electromyographic signal, and changes of heart rate and blood pressure during the process. The purpose was seeking the optimum current strength for each stage of IONM. ResultsIn 186 vagus nerves being tested, when monitoring the vagus nerve outside the carotid sheath, 109 vagus nerves (58.6%) sent out signals and got stable electromyography and warning tone with 1 mA, 164 (88.2%) vagus nerves had signals with 2 mA, 177 (95.2%) vagus nerves had signals with 3 mA, 182 (97.8%) vagus nerves had signals with 5 mA. Before and after the vagus nerve stimulation, heart rate and blood pressure of patients had no significant change. When directly monitoring the vagus nerve with 1 mA, V1 signals had no response in 2 vagus nerves (1.1%), V2 signals had no response in 9 vagus nerves (4.8%). But if the current intensity of stimulation was 2 mA or 3 mA, all patients got stable electromyographic signals. When searching for the laryngeal recurrent nerve, 92 (49.5%) got signals with 1 mA, 171 (91.9%) got signals with 2 mA, 184 (98.9%) got signals with 3 mA. When identifying laryngeal recurrent nerve and others, if the intensity of current was more than 2 mA, the current might conduct around and produce illusion. However, if the intensity of stimulation current was 1 mA, there's no electromyographic signal when we put the probe onto the tissue close to the laryngeal recurrent nerve. During identification of branches of laryngeal recurrent nerve with current strength of 1 mA, each electromyographic signal could be obtained. The chief branch into the throat produced the highest amplitude. The esophagus and trachea branch emg amplitude value was similar, equalling to 1/3-1/4 of the amplitude value in chief branch. ConclusionsWe suggest using current intensity of 5 mA on the surface of the carotid sheath to monitor the vagus nerve indirectly and obtain V1 signal, as an alternative to opening the carotid sheath. If fail, dissecting the carotid sheath, and using current intensity of 3 mA to monitor the vagus nerve directly; 3 mA is the optimal current intensity to search for the laryngeal recurrent nerve, and 1 mA is the optimal current intensity to identify the laryngeal recurrent nerve and its branches of esophagus and trachea, blood vessels, and so on.