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Background and Objectives Voice change after thyroidectomy is a common complication that affects a patient’s quality of life. In this study, we aimed to compare voice outcomes between minimally invasive open hemithyroidectomy (MIOT) and conventional hemithyroidectomy.Materials and Method We enrolled 215 patients who underwent hemithyroidectomy performed by an experienced surgeon at our institute between June 2017 and December 2021. All patients underwent voice evaluations, including subjective and objective assessments, preoperatively and 2 weeks and 2 months postoperatively.Results Sixty-one patients underwent MIOT (M group) and 154 patients underwent conventional hemithyroidectomy (C group). There were 50 female (82.0%) and 11 male (18.0%) in the M group, and 129 female (83.8%) and 25 male (16.2%) in the C group. In both groups, the thyroidectomy-related voice questionnaire score increased at 2 weeks and 2 months postoperatively. However, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups. Voice parameters were analyzed according to sex. There were some changes in the parameters in both groups. However, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups.Conclusion Our study showed no differences in the acoustic results between MIOT and conventional hemithyroidectomy.

Background and Objectives The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system 8th Edition has stated that gross extrathyroid extension (ETE) is more important than microscopic ETE, and that it plays an important factor in the classification of T stages. Therefore, the prediction of gross ETE before surgery is important in establishing the clinical stage and determining the surgical extent. However, there are few studies predicting gross ETE using preoperative ultrasonography (US). The purpose of this study is to predict the gross ETE of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) using preoperative US. Subjects and Method The preoperative US findings of 688 patients with PTC were compared with gross ETE confirmed during the surgery. The efficacy of preoperative US was statistically analyzed. Results A total of 70 (10%) patients were confirmed of their gross ETE. Thyroid tumors were classified into three groups (isolation, capsular contact, and capsular protrusion) according to their relationship with capsules, and evaluated using the preoperative US. There was a significant difference in gross ETE between groups (ppp=0.187). There was no difference in the degree of protrusion (p=0.868), but the difference in tumor size was significant (p

Background and Objective Positive airway pressure (PAP) is considered a standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Although PAP is effective in resolving upper airway collapse, a major challenge is maximizing adherence. Polysomnography and PAP have been included in Korean National Health Insurance (NHI) coverage since July 2018. This study was performed to investigate the adherence to PAP therapy according to the device manager after NHI coverage in OSA patients. Methods Between July 2018 and May 2020, a total of 211 patients were prescribed PAP in a single tertiary hospital, and the PAP devices were managed by two companies. Among them, 187 patients constituted the final study population. Assessment of adherence was performed at 3 and 12 months after initiating PAP therapy. Good adherence was defined as using a PAP device for ≥ 4 hours daily and on ≥ 70% of nights. Results Ninety-three patients used the PAP machine obtained from device manager A and 94 patients used the PAP machine obtained from device manager B. During 90 days, the total good adherence rate was 66.8% (n = 125). The good adherence rate for device manager A was 66.7% (62/93) and that for device manager B was 67.0% (63/94), which was not statistically different (p = 0.959). However, the good adherence rate at 1 year after initiating PAP therapy was 38.7% (36/93) for device manager A and 58.5% (55/94) for device manager B, which was statistically significant (p = 0.007). Conclusions The good adherence rate was decreased at 1 year after initiating PAP therapy despite NHI coverage. Furthermore, the device manager may play an important role in increasing the adherence rate in patients with OSA.

Objective Septoplasty has been reported as the most common cause of the septal perforation. The interposition of the graft materials between the flaps at the site of the tear may be helpful to decrease the likelihood of septal perforation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of TnR Nasal Mesh on the prevention of septal perforation following septoplasty. Methods Among 46 patients had septal perforation after septoplasty, 35 patients were treated with TnR Nasal Mesh and 11 with autologous septal cartilage for bilateral mucosal tears at the corresponding area of the nasal septum. TnR Nasal Mesh or septal cartilage was placed between the injured mucoperichondrial flaps and confirmed in its original position at both sides under nasal endoscope. Objective endoscopic examination for septal mucosa status was evaluated between the patients who were treated with TnR Nasal Mesh or septal cartilage. Results Twenty patients (57.1%) showed complete bilateral mucosa healing and nine (25.7%) had unilateral healing after TnR Nasal Mesh insertion. However, complete bilateral and unilateral mucosa healing was observed in 4 (36.4%) and 1 patients (9.1%) treated with septal cartilage, respectively. Complete healing rate for septal perforation was significantly higher in TnR Nasal Mesh than in septal cartilage insertion (p=0.022). None of the patients showed complications or adverse reactions after TnR Nasal Mesh or septal cartilage treatment. Conclusion TnR Nasal Mesh insertion after bilateral septal mucosal tear during septoplasty reduces permanent septal perforation without an apparent adverse effect. Therefore, TnR Nasal Mesh may be a safe and effective graft material for the prevention of septal perforation following septoplasty.