Propranolol in the Surgical Management of Thyrotoxicosis
Resource
JOURNAL OF THE FORMOSAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION v.76 n.11 pp.857-863
Journal
JOURNAL OF THE FORMOSAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Journal Volume
v.76
Journal Issue
n.11
Pages
857-863
Date Issued
1977
Date
1977
Author(s)
LIAW, KOUNG-YI
CHANG, CHIEH-YAO
CHANG, CHING-CHUNG
CHEN, FANG-WU
Abstract
The purpose of this present study is to observe the use of propranolol as the preoperative medication for thyrotoxic patients. Twenty patients in Group 1 were given only propranolol 60-160 mg/day orally for 3 to 21 days. Another 25 patients in Group 2 were given propranolol 60-120mg/day orally combined with varying doses of conventional anti- thyroid drugs for 4 to 26 days. The mean duration of preoperative treatment in Group 1 was 12.2 days, as compared with 10.4 days in Group 2. The mean pulse rate before and after operation was similar in both groups, but it fluctuated more in Group 1 during the early postoperative period. The serum PBI. T3 and I131 uptakes of the thyroid immediately before and after operations were higher in Group 1 than in Group 2. In both grouups, all vital signs were well controlled but 6 cases showed crisis-like symptoms such as gastrointestinal disturbance, profuse sweating and insomnia for 2 3 dys after operation. The results of this study indicate that the preparation of thyrotoxic patients with propranolol before operation is more rapid than with propranolol before operation is more rapid than with the classic method. It has reduced the mean duration of preoperataive preparation from 69 days with standard anti- thyroid drugs to 10 to 12 days with propranolol. However, the hyperfunction of the thyroid persists in sole propranolol therapy. So propranolol combined with conventional anti- thyroid drugs provides safer preoperative preparation than with propranolol alone.
Type
journal article