Safe thyroid surgery: comparison effectiveness of ICG angiography and intrathyroidal brilliant green injection for the prevention of postoperative hypoparathyroidism

BACKGROUND: More than 30,000 surgical interventions on the thyroid gland are performed annually in the Russian Federation. Surgeons are developing methods for the prevention of various postoperative complications, and therefore operations on this organ are considered relatively safe. Currently, there is no unequivocal effective method to prevent postoperative hypoparathyroidism. This complication is often recorded and can threaten the life and health of the patient, which is contrary to the concept of safe surgery.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of intraoperative ICG angiography and intrathyroidal injection of brilliant green for the prevention of postoperative hypoparathyroidism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 143 thyroidectomies were performed. The patients were divided into 3 groups: intraoperative angiography was used in 24 cases, brilliant green was injected to identify the parathyroid glands in 58 cases, visual assessment of the preservation of the parathyroid glands was used in 61 case. Calcium levels were measured in all patients included in the study before and after surgery.

RESULTS: Serum calcium levels in the pre- and postoperative period: 2.37±0.14 and 2.27±0.17 in group 1, and 2.38±0.16 and 2.21±0.16 in group 2, 2.39±0.17 and 2.18±0.19 in group 3. Hypocalcemia in the postoperative period was significantly higher in the group with a visual assessment of the parathyroid glands relative to the first two groups. Differences between calcium levels in the postoperative period in groups 2 and 3 were significant with a probability of more than 99% (p<0.01). Significant differences (≥95%) in calcium levels in the postoperative period between groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.05) were obtained. Serum PTH levels in the postoperative period: 6,2±0,4 in group 1, 5,6±0,57 in group 2, 3,5±0,32 in group 3. Differences between PTH levels in the postoperative period in groups 1 and 3 were significant with a probability of more than 99% (p<0.01). Significant differences (≥95%) in PTH levels in the postoperative period between groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.05) were obtained.

CONCLUSION: ICG angiography and brilliant green intrathyroidal injection are safe methods for identifying and preserving the parathyroid glands. The high level of hypocalcemia in group 3 indicates the need to search for new techniques in endocrine surgery in order to improve the safety of patients undergoing surgical treatment of thyroid pathology.

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