The clinical outcome of 199 patients with Graves' disease treated with standardized 185MBq 131I therapy doses has been analysed. Most patients were controlled with antithyroid drugs prior to the 131I therapy, and also received antithyroid drugs for several months following 131I. The median follow-up period was 5.5 years. The single 185MBq 131I dose successfully treated 72.4% of patients. The 1, 2 and 5 year hypothyroid figures were 15.5%, 19.3% and 27.3%, respectively. Previous thyroidectomy was associated with an increased hypothyroid rate. Retreatment was required by 25.6%, with 3.5% requiring more than two 131I doses. Discriminant analysis of pretreatment variables suggests that patients with large goitres or severe disease (serum T3 greater than 10nmol/l) should be treated with higher doses of 131I.
An understanding of the principles of operation and hazards of the surgical diathermy is necessary for the safety of the anaesthetized patient. The surgical diathermy performs its function by the application of high density radio frequency current which can be used to cut or coagulate tissue. Its improper lIse can result in electrical burns and even electrocution. The principles underlying its safe llse are outlined, and detailed recommendations are made to enSllre the patient's safety.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.