Subtotal Thyroidectomy for Giant Goiters under Local Anesthesia: Experience with 15 Nigerians
B. A. Eke
Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.
B. A. Ojo *
Department of Histopathology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.
W. T. Yongu
Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.
C. Ahachi
Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.
P. Denen-Akaa
Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.
V. I. Ugwu
Department of Pathology, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
P. Abayol
College of Health Science, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.
E. O. Umobong
Department of Laboratory Medicine, State House Clinic, Abuja, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Thyroid surgery is performed by majority of surgeons using general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation. In resource poor countries, the paucity of equipment and Anaesthetists limits such procedure needing endotracheal intubation. We describe our experiences with 15 Nigerians who presented with giant goitres and were operated using local anaesthesia. We concluded that subtotal thyroidectomy under local anaesthesia is safe and cost effective. It should be encouraged in resource poor countries and save the patients from living with the stigmata of goitres when they were not able to pay their ways to centres that use general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation for such procedure.
Keywords: Thyroid surgery, local anaesthesia, giant goitres