Search

Background: With the current aging of the world's population, diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism is being reported in increasingly older patients, with the associated functional symptomatology exacerbating the vicissitudes of age. This retrospective study was designed to establish functional improvements in older patients following parathyroid adenomectomy under local anesthesia as outpatient surgery., Materials and Methods: Data were collected from 53 patients aged 80 years or older who underwent a minimally invasive parathyroid adenomectomy. All patients underwent a preoperative ultrasound, scintigraphy, and were monitored for the effectiveness of the procedure according to intra- and postdosage of parathyroid hormone (PTH) at 5min, 2h and 4h., Results: Mean preoperative serum calcium level was 2.8mmol/L (112mg/L) and mean PTH was 180pg/ml. Thirty-eight patients were operated under local anesthesia using minimally invasive surgery and 18 patients were operated under general anesthesia. In 26 cases, the procedure was planned on an outpatient basis but could only be carried out in 21 patients. Fifty-one patients had normal serum calcium and PTH levels during the immediate postoperative period. Two patients were reoperated under general anesthesia, since immediate postoperative PTH did not return to normal. Four patients died due to reasons unrelated to hyperparathyroidism. Five patients were lost to follow-up six months to two years postsurgery. Of the 44 patients (83%) with long-term monitoring for PTH, none had recurrence of biological hyperparathyroidism. Excluding the three asymptomatic patients, 38 of the 41 symptomatic patients (93%) with long-term follow-up were considering themselves as "improved" or "strongly improved" after the intervention, notably with respect to fatigue, muscle and bone pain. Two patients (4.9%) reported no difference and one patient (2.4%) said her condition had worsened and regretted having undergone surgery., Conclusion: In patients 80 years or older, minimally invasive surgery as an outpatient under local anesthesia offered an excellent risk/benefit ratio given its many advantages: simplicity, speed, absence of general anesthesia, ease of monitoring, direct voice control intraoperatively, very low morbidity, effectiveness in treating primary hyperparathyroidism in more than 95% of first intention patients, and the possibility of immediate or delayed recovery in the event of multiglandular disease going unnoticed., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: Parathyroid incidentaloma is not a well-known entity. The aim of this study was to show its incidence and to discuss its management., Methods: This was a prospective study analyzing cases of enlarged parathyroid glands discovered during thyroid surgery. The records of patients with parathyroid incidentaloma were reviewed. We also reviewed all cases of primary hyperparathyroidism (HPTPs) operated during the same period for comparison., Results: Three cases of enlarged parathyroid were found. No clinical or biochemical features led us to suspect hyperparathyroidism before surgery, but a macroscopically enlarged parathyroid gland was discovered during the dissection and was removed in all three patients., Conclusions: Enlarged parathyroid glands discovered at the time of surgery may represent an early pathological stage responsible for overt primary hyperparathyroidism. In absence of major risk for recurrent nerve palsy, we recommend removal of any enlarged parathyroid discovered during neck surgery in order to avoid the risks of future surgical procedures, preserving in the same time at least one normal parathyroid gland., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate the feasibility of thoracoscopic removal of mediastinal parathyroids., Summary Background Data: Mediastinal exploration to resect ectopic parathyroid(s) is needed in approximately 2% of cases in hyperparathyroidism. Recent advances in thoracoscopic surgery allow for a minimally invasive treatment., Methods: From 1999 through 2007, 13 patients affected by primary hyperparathyroidism (11 females, mean age 60 years, range: 22-88) underwent thoracoscopic removal of mediastinal parathyroids. Scintigraphy produced positive results in 11 of 13 cases, computed tomography scan in 9 of 10, parathyroid hormone venous sampling in 10 of 10 patients, and magnetic resonance imaging in 5 of 7. Right thoracoscopic access was used in 9 patients, left in 4. Postoperative outcome was analyzed., Results: Thoracoscopy enabled retrieval of mediastinal parathyroids in 10 of 13 (78%) cases. Mean operating time was 92 minutes (range: 50-240). One procedure (8%) was converted. No perioperative deaths/major complications occurred. Mild complications occurred in 2 of 13 (15%) patients (pneumothorax/pneumonia, transient recurrent nerve palsy). Mean hospital stay was 4.7 days (range: 2-15). At a mean follow-up of 73 months (range: 16-105), parathyroid hormone and calcium venous concentrations were high in 3 patients. Unsuccessful procedures were related to doubtful or non-concordant preoperative localization., Conclusions: The thoracoscopic approach for mediastinal parathyroidectomy is feasible and safe. An accurate preoperative work-up should be standardized to avoid useless procedures. In case of negative preoperative localization of the abnormal gland, thoracoscopy should not be adopted as a diagnostic tool.

We diagnosed transient left ventricular apical wall motion abnormalities after surgery in a patient presenting with a clinical and electrocardiographic picture of acute myocardial infarction in the absence of significant coronary disease. These angiographic, clinical, and electrocardiographic features satisfied the criteria of the recently described tako-tsubo-like left ventricular dysfunction.

Objectives: To examine the cost-effectiveness of strategies for management of primary asymptomatic hyperparathyroidism: surgical strategies and medical follow-up versus surgery., Design: We used a Markov state-transition decision-analytic model for an hypothetical cohort of 55-year-old women to compare with a lifetime horizon costs and effectiveness of bilateral neck exploration (BNE), unilateral neck exploration (UNE), video-assisted parathyroidectomy (VAP) and lifelong medical follow-up shifting for either BNE or UNE in case of disease progression., Methods: Data on localization tests, complications and treatment efficacies were derived from a systematic review of the literature. Outcomes were expressed as quality-adjusted life years (QALY). Costs (2002 Euro) discounted at 3% yearly were estimated from the health care system perspective., Results: In the base-case analysis, VAP strategy (VAPS) was the most effective and BNE strategy (BNES) was the least costly. UNE strategy (UNES) had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 2688 Euro/QALY versus BNES and VAPS of 17,250 Euro/QALY in comparison with UNES. Surgical management was more effective than medical follow-up with acceptable incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. VAPS became less effective than UNES over 71 years. Differences between UNES and VAPS were sensitive to success and complication rates, quality-of-life weights and procedural costs. Medical follow-up strategies became the most effective if quality-of-life weight for this condition was higher than 0.99., Conclusions: Surgery is more effective than medical follow-up at a reasonable cost and can be preferred except in patients choosing medical follow-up. Minimally invasive surgery is cost-effective compared to the traditional surgical approach.

Objective: To present first-line thoracic surgery made possible by localization studies in three patients with ectopic parathyroid adenomas., Design and Methods: Three patients with ectopic parathyroid tissue in the mediastinum were examined by ultrasound, technetium-99m sestamibi scintigraphy, computed tomography (CT), and venous catheterization with measurement of parathyroid hormone. Without previous cervical exploration, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) was used in all cases to avoid the need for thoracic open surgical procedures., Results and Conclusions: The mediastinal parathyroid glands were all detected at scintigraphy, and CT and venous catheterization were helpful in anatomic and functioning characterization. All pathologic glands were successfully resected, with only one minor complication. VATS can safely remove a deep mediastinal parathyroid adenoma and avoid more aggressive open approaches. In an experienced referral center, systematic and sophisticated imaging studies may accurately identify and localize rare ectopic parathyroid adenomas, and avoid cervical surgery.

Background: Etomidate-associated hypnosis has only been studied using standard clinical criteria and raw EEG variables. We conducted a BIS-based investigation of etomidate induction of general anaesthesia., Methods: Thirty hydroxyzine-premedicated ASA I patients were randomly allocated to receive etomidate 0.2, 0.3, or 0.4 mg kg(-1) intravenously over 30 s. The BIS was continuously recorded. A tourniquet was placed on a lower limb to record purposeful movements and myoclonia. Tracheal intubation was facilitated using rocuronium 0.6 mg kg(-1) when the BIS value was 50. The times to disappearance of the eyelash reflex, to a decrease in the BIS to 50, and to tracheal intubation were compared. The BIS values 30 s following tracheal intubation, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) at all time points were also recorded., Results: The BIS value decreased to 50 for tracheal intubation with no purposeful movement in all but one patient in the 0.2 mg kg(-1) group. There was no difference between the etomidate groups (0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mg kg(-1)) in regards to time to loss of the eyelash reflex (103 (67), 65 (34), 116 (86) s, P=0.2), or to a decrease in BIS to 50 (135 (81), 82 (36), 150 (84) s, P=0.1). Also, the BIS value 30 s after intubation (41 (10), 37 (4), 37 (4), P=0.4), and plasma etomidate concentrations (161 [29-998], 308 [111-730], 310 [90-869] ng ml(-1), P=0.2) did not differ between groups. The time to loss of the eyelash reflex was 12-140 s shorter than the time to a decrease in BIS to 50 in three patients in each group who received etomidate 0.2 and 0.4 mg kg(-1), and in four patients who received 0.3 mg kg(-1). No awareness was recorded. MAP and HR increases following tracheal intubation were comparable between groups., Conclusions: Etomidate induction doses do not predict the time for BIS to decrease to 50 as this variable varies markedly following three etomidate dose regimen.

Background: Two opioid regimens, computer-simulated to provide optimal general anesthesia in combination with propofol, were compared using clinical criteria., Methods: Fifty patients undergoing thyroid surgery were blindly, prospectively and randomly allocated to receive either (a) i.v. remifentanil (1.5 micro g kg-1, followed by 0.2 micro g kg-1 min-1) or (b) i.v. sufentanil (0.2 micro g kg-1 followed by 0.2 micro g kg-1 h-1). Remifentanil infusion was stopped at the last skin suture. Sufentanil infusion was stopped 30 min before the end of surgery. Intravenous propofol was titrated to keep BIS at 50+/-5. Remifentanil and sufentanil groups were compared with regards to (a) propofol delivery, (b) hemodynamic and recovery variables, and (c) effect-site propofol levels during a steady-state period for effect-site remifentanil and sufentanil levels. P<0.05 was significant., Results: Groups were similar in demographic data; types and durations of surgery; total propofol consumption; and response, extubation and emergence times. During the steady-state period for the opioid delivery, the remifentanil and sufentanil effect-site levels were 5.3 ng ml-1 and 0.18 ng ml-1, respectively (potency ratio=30). In both opioid groups, in accordance with previous computer-simulations, the effect-site propofol concentrations remained (a) within a narrow range unaffected by surgical stimuli, (b) significantly smaller in the remifentanil group than in the sufentanil group, but (c) smaller than expected from previous computer-simulations. More patients required ephedrine following induction of anesthesia in the remifentanil compared with the sufentanil group., Conclusions: The present clinical trial conducted in thyroid surgery is consistent with previous computer-simulated opioid-propofol combinations with respect to intraoperative and recovery variables. Effect-site propofol ranges were, however, lower than expected.

Implications: Anesthesia may acutely reveal angle-closure glaucoma. This complication is an ophthalmologic emergency. However, symptoms of acute glaucoma may be overlooked or misinterpreted in a sedated or comatose patient, and this may result in delayed treatment. Immediate diagnosis and appropriate treatment should be done to prevent visual loss.

Local anesthetic infiltration may reduce postthyroidectomy pain. We performed a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to assess the analgesic efficacy of bilateral superficial cervical plexus blocks performed at the end of surgery. Ninety patients undergoing elective thyroid surgery by the same surgeon under general anesthesia were randomized to receive 20 mL isotonic sodium chloride or 20 mL bupivacaine 0.25% with 1:200,000 epinephrine. Postoperative pain was assessed every 4 h using an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS-11). All patients received acetaminophen every 6 h. In addition, morphine was administered following a standardized protocol if the NRS-11 score was > or = 4. The main outcome variables were pain scores (NRS-11), the proportion of patients given morphine at any time during the 24-h period, and the amount of morphine administered. The Bupivacaine group had a smaller proportion of patients given morphine (66.0% vs 90.0%; P = 0.016), and lower initial median pain scores (P = 0.002). We conclude that bilateral superficial cervical plexus blocks significantly reduce pain intensity in the postoperative period after thyroid surgery but do not provide optimal pain relief alone.

Background: Conventional parathyroidectomy involves a bilateral neck exploration with the patient under general anesthesia with a thorough search for all parathyroid tissue. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of unilateral neck exploration under local anesthesia in patients with asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (first-degree hyperparathyroidism)., Methods: Of 679 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy for first-degree hyperparathyroidism from July 1989 to June 1997, 230 asymptomatic patients underwent unilateral neck exploration under local anesthesia. Selection criteria for this approach included the successful identification of a solitary parathyroid adenoma on preoperative imaging, no thyroid disease, and no family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia. Intact parathyroid hormone levels were monitored during the operation., Results: Total serum calcium levels were normal in 220 patients (96%) 3 to 6 months after surgery. Ten patients (4%) experienced persistent hypercalcemia, 8 of whom had multiple gland disease and 2 of whom had false-positive imaging. Two of these patients underwent bilateral neck exploration under general anesthesia and were cured, although 8 patients remained asymptomatic and were followed up non-operatively. The mean operating time was 30 minutes (range, 12-65 minutes). There were two complications (0.87%) including one wound hematoma and one transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy., Conclusions: Unilateral neck exploration under local anesthesia is an efficacious and safe approach to the treatment of first-degree hyperparathyroidism and should be considered in all patients with asymptomatic disease.

Villin is an actin-binding protein found in a few normal adult epithelia, namely epithelial cells in the digestive and urogenital tracts. Moreover, villin production is maintained in malignant cells. We assumed that cell lysis and necrosis of solid tumors producing villin might result in villin release into blood. We analyzed the villin content of sera from 788 patients and controls using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients and controls were classified into healthy donors, patients with benign diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, patients with colorectal cancers, and patients with malignant nondigestive diseases. In the panel of sera analyzed, the sensitivity of the assay for colorectal cancers was 50.5%, and its overall specificity for malignant digestive tumors was 94.5%. Results were statistically analyzed comparing each group of sera with each other. We conclude that the presence of villin is indicative of a pathological state in the gastrointestinal tract (P less than 0.001). Finally, we followed villin levels after tumor resections (60 patients). We found that the villin level in sera remains low in remissions but is raised in recurrences. We suggest that the villin assay may have clinical utility as a diagnostic adjunct for adenocarcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract. It may also have some value in monitoring patients with advancing colorectal carcinomas after resection of these tumors.