Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Levothyroxine replacement therapy after thyroid surgery.

N Verhaert1, V Vander Poorten, P Delaere

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

B-ENT
|October 28, 2006
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Recurrence detection in head and neck cancer: a systematic review of routine follow-up practices and clinical implications.

European journal of surgical oncology : the journal of the European Society of Surgical Oncology and the British Association of Surgical Oncology·2025
Same author

Bilateral vestibular hypofunction in children.

International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology·2025
Same author

The evolution of vestibular function and health-related quality of life in bilateral vestibulopathy.

Scientific reports·2025
Same author

Deciding whether to do elective neck dissection in patients with salivary gland tumors with no evidence of neck lymph node metastasis.

European annals of otorhinolaryngology, head and neck diseases·2025
Same author

First branchial cleft anomalies in children: long-term outcome in 16 patients.

European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·2025
Same author

Fulminant ectopic Cushing's syndrome caused by metastatic small intestine neuroendocrine tumour - a case report and review of the literature.

Acta gastro-enterologica Belgica·2024
Same journal

Listeria Monocytogenes: an uncommon pathogen of cervical necrotizing fasciitis.

B-ENT·2018
Same journal

A case of a sinonasal adenocarcinoma with metaplastic ossification.

B-ENT·2018
Same journal

Nasopharyngeal thyroid-like low-grade papillary adenocarcinoma.

B-ENT·2018
Same journal

Could nasal septal deformities type 5 and 6 be a predictive factor of the indi- vidual genetic predilection for the onset of an acute coronary syndrome?.

B-ENT·2018
Same journal

Predictive factors of speech understanding in adults with cochlear implants.

B-ENT·2018
Same journal

Effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on cisplatin ototoxicity.

B-ENT·2018
See all related articles

Thyroid hormone replacement therapy after thyroidectomy often requires dose adjustments, particularly for hyperthyroid patients. Endocrinological follow-up is crucial to ensure optimal levothyroxine (L-T4) dosage and prevent over- or undersubstitution.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Thyroid Surgery
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Thyroidectomy is increasingly common, leading to a rise in lifelong hormone substitution needs.
  • Improved diagnostic methods facilitate the identification of subclinical over- and undersubstitution post-thyroid surgery.
  • Conventional thyroid hormone replacement therapy warrants review in the context of modern surgical and diagnostic advancements.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the adequacy of initial levothyroxine (L-T4) replacement therapy for three months post-thyroidectomy.
  • To assess the need for dose adjustments based on thyrotropin (TSH) levels using an upper reference limit of 4.6 mU/L.
  • To compare therapy adequacy across different thyroidectomy extents (total, subtotal, hemithyroidectomy) and preoperative thyroid states.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Eighty-seven patients undergoing thyroidectomy for benign pathology were included.
  • Post-operative L-T4 treatment was initiated five days after surgery with standardized initial doses based on thyroidectomy extent and preoperative status.
  • Thyrotropin (TSH) levels were measured approximately six weeks post-surgery to guide L-T4 dose adjustments.

Main Results:

  • A significant percentage of patients required L-T4 dose adjustments: 45% (total), 42% (subtotal), and 17% (hemithyroidectomy) among preoperatively euthyroid patients.
  • Among preoperatively hyperthyroid patients, 60% (total) and 100% (subtotal) required dose adjustments.
  • Initial L-T4 dosing strategies were deemed justifiable when the extent of resection was consistent between hyperthyroid and euthyroid groups.

Conclusions:

  • Optimal L-T4 replacement therapy is essential to prevent over- and undersubstitution following thyroidectomy.
  • Endocrinological follow-up six weeks post-surgery is vital for identifying necessary L-T4 dose adjustments, especially in preoperatively hyperthyroid individuals.
  • A majority of preoperatively euthyroid patients achieved adequate initial therapy, but adjustments were frequently needed, highlighting the importance of monitoring.