Thyroidectomy for Amiodarone-Induced Thyrotoxicosis: Mayo Clinic Experience

Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) is a difficult diagnostic and management challenge, especially during severe thyrotoxicosis accompanied by cardiovascular compromise.

To evaluate thyroidectomy for the management of AIT.

Retrospective cohort study of adults with noncongenital heart disease with AIT after >3 months of amiodarone who underwent thyroidectomy from 1 November 2002 to 31 December 2016.

Referral center.

The group was comprised of 17 patients.

Thyroid function, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and surgical complications were the main outcome measures.

Patients had median age of 60 years, 82.4% were male, and 47% had systolic heart failure. At diagnosis, median TSH was 0.005 mIU/L, median free T4 was 3.25 ng/dL, and total T3 was 198.5 ng/dL. We classified five patients as type 1 and type 2 and two patients as mixed; five patients remained undefined. The most common surgical indications were medically refractory disease, worsening cardiac status, and severe thyrotoxicosis requiring prompt resolution. Within 1 week post-thyroidectomy, median TSH was 0.565 mIU/L, and free T4 was 1.8 ng/dL. Median LVEF improved by 8% in patients with systolic heart failure. Seven patients had a complication within 30 days postsurgery (rehospitalization, n = 4; cervical hematoma, n = 2; recurrent arrhythmia, n = 2; symptomatic hypocalcemia, n = 1; death, n = 1). A larger thyroid gland was a risk factor for complications.

Thyroidectomy resulted in rapid resolution of thyrotoxicosis. Its complication rate was higher than for non-AIT indications but lower than previously reported in a similar population of high-risk surgical patients.