title: Total thyroidectomy is improved by loupe magnification.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Section of General, Vascular, and Clinical Oncology, Department of Application in Surgery of Innovative Technologies, University Medical School, Bari, Italy. mario.testini@tin.it
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Testini
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nacchiero
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piccinni
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Portincasa
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Di Venere
authors.forename: Germana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lissidini
authors.forename: G Martino
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Bonomo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007909:Lenses; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors