Total thyroidectomy is improved by loupe magnification.
Testini M, Nacchiero M, Piccinni G, Portincasa P, Di Venere B, Lissidini G, Bonomo GM.
Section of General, Vascular, and Clinical Oncology, Department of Application in Surgery of Innovative Technologies, University Medical School, Bari, Italy. mario.testini@tin.it
With this study, we verified if a microsurgical approach with magnification could improve the outcome of total thyroidectomy. Ninety-seven patients were consecutively randomized into group A (surgery with x 2.5 magnification and microsurgical instruments, n = 47) or group B (surgery with no magnification, n = 50). The mean operative time was 125 +/- 4.0 min in group A, and 150 +/- 4.0 min in group B (P = 0.00012). The recurrent laryngeal nerve was identified in all patients of group A, and in 96.8% of group B. The overall morbidity rate was 4.0% in group A and 25.5% in group B (P = 0.0038). This study indicates that a microsurgical approach with magnification is feasible, reduces surgical time, and improves the outcome in total thyroidectomy. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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PMID: 14748023 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]