Complications of Goitre Surgery in “A” Surgery at the Chu of Point G ()
1. Introduction
Thyroidectomy is considered a surgical procedure with a low incidence of definitive complications [1]. In France 50,000 thyroidectomies are performed each year according the national hospital assessment agency [2]. Thyroidectomy accounted for 5.9% of surgeries in “A” surgery at Point G University Hospital in Mali in 2019. Two major postoperative complications are classic and specific, due to the anatomical relationship of the gland with the laryngeal nerves and the parathyroids [3]: hypocalcaemia and recurrent paralysis, the incidence of which is approximately 20% to 30% and 5% to 11%, respectively. Although their rate is less than 0.1%, the occurrence of recurrent bilateral adduction paralysis or a compressive hematoma can be life-threatening and require emergency management [4].
Prevention of complications requires a careful resection technique and for some teams by the use of specific techniques such as recurrent neuromonitoring (NIM) [5].
Compensation for hypocalcaemia is based on the administration of calcium, possibly coupled with vitamin D, for at least ten days. Recurrent paralysis recovers in the majority of cases, and no invasive therapy should be performed for six months except in emergencies [6]. Laryngeal surgery techniques allow a notable improvement if, after six months, the phonatory or respiratory sequelae are major, but their result is inconsistent [7]. The detection of a complication after thyroidectomy, must be systematic and their management multidisciplinary.
The objective of this study is to determine the complications associated with goiter surgery in the A surgery department at the G-spot CHU.
2. Material and Methods
This was a retrospective and descriptive study carried out in the “A” surgery department of the CHU of POINT G from January 2007 to August 2017. All the patients referred or received and operated on for goiters including the consequences were complicated intraoperatively or postoperatively. Patients with simple postoperative effects were not included in the study.
The information was obtained through: the patient register, the operating report and the patient file. The parameters studied were: The sex, the size of the goiter, the surgical techniques used, the complications occurring during and after the operation, the mortality linked to the thyroidectomy.
The variables were studied by the software IBM SPSSSTATISTICS VERSION 20.
3. Results
Out of a total of 409 patients operated on for goitres in the department, we colligated 48 patient files (11.82%) having presented one or more complications. The sex ratio was 7.6 in favor of women. The size of the goiter is greater than 8 cm in 124 patients (30.32%). ASA I and ASA II patients were in the majority (248 cases; 60.63%, and 120 cases; 29.33%). The size of the goiter measured on the transverse diameter varied from 4 cm to 8 cm in 200 patients (48.90%). It was greater than 8 cm in 124 patients (30.32). The surgical techniques used were subtotal thyroidectomy (226; 55.25%), isthmo-lobectomy (145; 32.54%), total thyroidectomy (114; 3.41%). The surgical techniques are summarized in Table 1. Complications that occurred intraoperatively were haemorrhage (18; 4.40%), recurrent lesions (1; 0.24%). The complications that occurred immediately after the operation were made up of 8 cases of infection (1.96%), 5 cases of transient
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Table 1. Distribution according to surgical technique.
hypocalcemia (1.22%), hemorrhage (requiring revision for hemostasis). Phonation disorders were noted in 9 cases (2.20%). We recorded 6 deaths (1.47%). Complications that have arisen intraoperatively are summarized in Table 2. We recorded 6 deaths (1.47%).
4. Discussion
4.1. Frequency
The complication rate of 11.74% is higher than those found by some authors [5] [6] [8] [9] [10]. There is a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). This could be explained by the fact that their study focused on cases of hyperthyroid goitre mainly on the one hand and the small size of their sample on the other.
4.2. Age
The 40 - 59 age group was most affected by bleeding complications, which was compliant with the mean age (42.29) years with a standard deviation of 13.76;
The average age of 42.29 years does not differ statistically from that of African authors [3] [11]. Goiter appears to be a pathology of young adults. There is a statistically significant difference with the mean age of 51 reported by Rios [12]. This could be explained by the youth of the African population.
4.3. Gender
The relationship between gender and the occurrence of complications has not been established. The female sex was the most affected with a ratio of 7.18. This trend has been found by several authors at the national and international level [3] [9] [11]. Female sex is a risk factor for thyroid disease [9]. The strong female predominance is probably due to the action of estrogen during puberty. The thyroid has receptors for these female hormones which decrease the penetration of iodine into the gland. The role of pregnancies is also mentioned, the thyroid cells of fetus, once the pregnancy is terminated, causes an autoimmune reaction in the gland [13].
4.4. Technique and Complications
The surgical techniques used were sub-total thyroidectomy (226; 55.25%), isthmolo-bectomy (145; 32.54%), total thyroidectomy (114; 3.41%). No significant difference appeared concerning recurrent and parathyroid complications between the 3 surgical procedures. Total thyroidectomy presents a morbidity similar
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Table 2. Breakdown by complications.
to that of subtotal thyroidectomy and lobectomy in benign nodular pathology [8]. It also prevents recurrence of which surgical revisions are difficult. Admittedly, it involves a life-long replacement opotherapy that other surgical techniques can nevertheless not always avoid? Henceforth, total thyroidectomy is, for the authors, the treatment of choice in the surgical management of benign multinodular goiters [9]. In all cases, the decision should be consensual between the patient, the endocrinologist and the surgeon.
4.5. Hemorrhage
The hemorrhage rate of (4.40%) does not differ some 6.2% found by Koumaré S [10], but higher than those of Marrakech in 2010 [13]. and Togo [11] in the same year in CHU Gabriel who found 1.2% and 1.5% respectively. This could be explained by the fact that their study focused on cases of hyperthyroid goiters mainly on the one hand and the small size of their sample on the other hand (p < 0.05). This complication is most often secondary to surgery for a large goiter (you will find the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative images of a large goiter in Figures 1-3 or a goiter for Graves’ disease, to the release of a vascular section frame, but also to the surgeon’s experience [14].
4.6. Hypocalcaemia
Transient or definitive parathyroid morbidity after thyroid surgery is a common complication after subtotal or total thyroidectomy. The excision of the parathyroid parenchyma associated with the devascularization of the parathyroid glands at the time of dissection are the mechanisms usually chosen [15]. Hypocalcaemia is a common complication of thyroid surgery. The rate varied from 1.6% to 50% according to Jafari [7] and is transient in 1.4% of cases.
4.7. Recursive Paralysis
The rate was 2.6% in our study. Rosato et al. found a rate of 0.4% [14]. This paralysis could be explained by an excess of electrocoagulation near the nerve, a stretch of the nerve or even a section. It now seems accepted by most authors that the inferior or recurrent laryngeal nerve must be identified or dissected during a thyroid lobectomy. Identification and dissection would guarantee the anatomical and functional integrity of the nerve [16].
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Figure 1. Voluminous multinodular bilateral preoperative goiter. Source: Department of surgery A of the CHU of POINT G.
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Figure 2. Exposure of bilateral multinodular goiter intraoperatively. Source: Department of surgery A of the CHU of POINT G.
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Figure 3. Operative part of a total thyroidectomy for large bilateral multinodular goiter. Source: Department of surgery A of the CHU of POINT G.
4.8. Infection
Thyroid surgery is classified as Altemeier type I. Wound infection is exceptional (less than 1%) in the literature [17]. We identified 8 cases (2%) of postoperative infection. This rate was 0.75% according to ZIRARI in Marrakech. Six deaths were recorded (1.7%) including two from hemorrhage and four from neoplastic complications.
Limitations of the study were marked by: incomplete records; the inaccessibility of some patients after discharge; the unavailability of certain additional emergency examinations.
5. Conclusions
Goiter surgery is a regular practice in our department. Surgical procedures are in the majority of cases straightforward.
Hyperthyroid goiters must be balanced before any surgery to avoid complications.