The surgical management of thyrotoxicosis

Preparation of selected thyrotoxic patients for partial thyroidectomy can be safely and quickly achieved using propranolol, the duration of preoperative therapy and the number of out-patient attendances being reduced by over 50 per cent. No problems have been encountered during preparation or intra-operatively in patients pretreated with propranolol when compared with patients pretreated with conventional preparations. The commonest form of morbidity following destructive therapy for thyrotoxicosis is hypothyroidism. In surgically treated patients hypothyroidism can be defined within 1 year of operation. The factors influencing postoperative hypothyroidism are discussed.