Stress hormone response to various anaesthetic techniques during thyreidectomy

Background
Thyroidectomy is among the most frequently performed procedures in endocrine surgery. The hormonal response to surgery and anaesthesia depends in part on the anaesthetic techniques used; therefore, we measured serum concentrations of TSH, fT4, and fT3 in patients scheduled for elective thyroidectomy under TIVA or VIMA.

Methods
Seventy-eight adult patients, of both sexes, with non-toxic or hyperthyroid nodular goitre, were divided into groups with regard to the goitre type and the technique of anaesthesia used during thyroid surgery. Serum concentrations of TSH, fT4, and fT3, were measured and the surgical stress was estimated using the E-PASS scale.

Results
In the groups examined, the mean serum concentrations of TSH remained unchanged during the period of observation. The initially high fT4 and fT3 concentrations gradually decreased, reaching their lowest level on the fourth day after surgery.

Conclusion
Both VIMA and TIVA can be regarded as safe techniques of anaesthesia for thyroidectomy.