Thyroid Surgery in a Resource-Limited Setting. 2017

Aria Jafari, and David Campbell, and Bruce H Campbell, and Henry Nono Ngoitsi, and Titus M Sisenda, and Makaya Denge, and Benjamin C James, and Susan R Cordes
1 Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.

Objective The present study reviews a series of patients who underwent thyroid surgery in Eldoret, Kenya, to demonstrate the feasibility of conducting long-term (>1 year) outcomes research in a resource-limited setting, impact on the quality of life of the recipient population, and inform future humanitarian collaborations. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary public referral hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. Subjects and Methods Twenty-one patients were enrolled during the study period. A retrospective chart review was performed for all adult patients who underwent thyroid surgery during humanitarian trips (2010-2015). Patients were contacted by mobile telephone. Medical history and physical examination, including laryngoscopy, were performed, and the SF-36 was administered (a quality-of-life questionnaire). Laboratory measurements of thyroid function and neck ultrasound were obtained. Results The mean follow-up was 33.6 ± 20.2 months after surgery: 37.5% of subtotal thyroidectomy patients and 15.4% of lobectomy patients were hypothyroid postoperatively according to serologic studies. There were no cases of goiter recurrence or malignancy. All patients reported postoperative symptomatic improvement and collectively showed positive pre- and postoperative score differences on the SF-36. Conclusion Although limited by a small sample size and the retrospective nature, our study demonstrates the feasibility of long-term surgical and quality-of-life outcomes research in a resource-limited setting. The low complication rates suggest minimal adverse effects of performing surgery in this context. Despite a considerable rate of postoperative hypothyroidism, it is in accordance with prior studies and emphasizes the need for individualized, longitudinal, and multidisciplinary care. Quality-of-life score improvements suggest benefit to the recipient population.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007630 Kenya A republic in eastern Africa, south of ETHIOPIA, west of SOMALIA with TANZANIA to its south, and coastline on the Indian Ocean. Its capital is Nairobi. Republic of Kenya
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011183 Postoperative Complications Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery. Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D012066 Relief Work Assistance, such as money, food, or shelter, given to the needy, aged, or victims of disaster. It is usually granted on a temporary basis. (From The American Heritage Dictionary, 2d college ed) Humanitarian Assistance,Assistance, Humanitarian,Assistances, Humanitarian,Humanitarian Assistances,Relief Works,Work, Relief,Works, Relief
D005240 Feasibility Studies Studies to determine the advantages or disadvantages, practicability, or capability of accomplishing a projected plan, study, or project. Feasibility Study,Studies, Feasibility,Study, Feasibility
D005260 Female Females
D006295 Health Resources Available manpower, facilities, revenue, equipment, and supplies to produce requisite health care and services. Resources,Health Resource,Resource,Resource, Health,Resources, Health
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

Related Publications

Aria Jafari, and David Campbell, and Bruce H Campbell, and Henry Nono Ngoitsi, and Titus M Sisenda, and Makaya Denge, and Benjamin C James, and Susan R Cordes
January 2024, Annals of plastic surgery,
Aria Jafari, and David Campbell, and Bruce H Campbell, and Henry Nono Ngoitsi, and Titus M Sisenda, and Makaya Denge, and Benjamin C James, and Susan R Cordes
June 2024, JCEM case reports,
Aria Jafari, and David Campbell, and Bruce H Campbell, and Henry Nono Ngoitsi, and Titus M Sisenda, and Makaya Denge, and Benjamin C James, and Susan R Cordes
January 2022, Briefings in bioinformatics,
Aria Jafari, and David Campbell, and Bruce H Campbell, and Henry Nono Ngoitsi, and Titus M Sisenda, and Makaya Denge, and Benjamin C James, and Susan R Cordes
December 2023, The Journal of infection,
Aria Jafari, and David Campbell, and Bruce H Campbell, and Henry Nono Ngoitsi, and Titus M Sisenda, and Makaya Denge, and Benjamin C James, and Susan R Cordes
January 2014, Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999),
Aria Jafari, and David Campbell, and Bruce H Campbell, and Henry Nono Ngoitsi, and Titus M Sisenda, and Makaya Denge, and Benjamin C James, and Susan R Cordes
December 2022, Epilepsia open,
Aria Jafari, and David Campbell, and Bruce H Campbell, and Henry Nono Ngoitsi, and Titus M Sisenda, and Makaya Denge, and Benjamin C James, and Susan R Cordes
January 2015, Seminars in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery,
Aria Jafari, and David Campbell, and Bruce H Campbell, and Henry Nono Ngoitsi, and Titus M Sisenda, and Makaya Denge, and Benjamin C James, and Susan R Cordes
February 2012, Archives of disease in childhood,
Aria Jafari, and David Campbell, and Bruce H Campbell, and Henry Nono Ngoitsi, and Titus M Sisenda, and Makaya Denge, and Benjamin C James, and Susan R Cordes
November 2020, Research in social & administrative pharmacy : RSAP,
Aria Jafari, and David Campbell, and Bruce H Campbell, and Henry Nono Ngoitsi, and Titus M Sisenda, and Makaya Denge, and Benjamin C James, and Susan R Cordes
November 2018, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!