Evidence map›Paper›PMID 23718902›Full record

ArticleJournal of otolaryngology - head & neck surgery = Le Journal d'oto-rhino-laryngologie et de chirurgie cervico-faciale2013

Changing trends in surgery for Graves' disease: a cohort comparison of those having surgery intended to preserve thyroid function with those having ablative surgery.

Ahmed Al-Adhami, Ailsa C Snaith, Wendy L Craig, Zygmunt H Krukowski

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of otolaryngology - head & neck surgery = Le Journal d'oto-rhino-laryngologie et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Ahmed Al-AdhamiDepartment of General Surgery, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, UK. zhk@abdn.ac.uk.
Ailsa C Snaith
Wendy L Craig
Zygmunt H Krukowski

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSurgery for Graves' disease may be performed with the intent of preserving thyroid function (subtotal thyroidectomy) or ablating thyroid function (total thyroidectomy). This study examines the evolving practice in a specialist endocrine surgical unit.

methodLongitudinal cohort study of patients undergoing surgery for Graves' disease between 1986 and 2008. Outcome measures were thyroid failure, recurrent toxicity, recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy, early reoperation and hypocalcaemia. Time to thyroid failure was analysed by potential predictors.

resultsOf 149 patients (129 female), 78 (52.3 percent) underwent subtotal thyroidectomy with the intention to preserve function (PF) and 71 (47.6 percent) total thyroidectomy with the intention to ablate thyroid function (AF). Mean duration of follow-up was 11.1 years; 14.8 years and 7.0 years respectively. Of 78 PF procedures: six (7.7 percent) patients suffered recurrent toxicity; 68 (87.2 percent) developed thyroid failure (four after treatment for recurrent toxicity); and eight (10 percent) remained euthyroid without replacement. Male gender and remnant gland weight were significant predictors of failure (P = 0.021 and 0.022 respectively). One patient developed permanent RLN palsy and one permanent hypocalcaemia. Of 71 AF procedures: one developed acute airway obstruction; one permanent RLN palsy; four permanent hypocalcaemia; and none developed recurrent toxicity. There were no deaths within a year of surgery. There was no statistically significant difference in complication rates.

conclusionMost PF resections resulted in eventual thyroid failure. The shift to ablative surgery virtually eliminated the need for lifelong specialist follow-up, albeit with an insignificant rise in permanent hypocalcaemia.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultAgedChildFemaleGraves DiseaseHumansLength of StayLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedPostoperative ComplicationsThyroidectomyThyroid GlandVocal Cord ParalysisYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID23718902
PMCPMC3681644

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.