The Use of Autofluorescence and Indocyanine Green to Avoid Hypocalcemia After Total Thyroidectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Hypoparathyroidism (and the resulting hypocalcemia) remains the most common morbidity after a total thyroidectomy. When defined as corrected serum calcium levels below 2.10 mmol/L, the temporary rates of hypocalcemia after a total thyroidectomy excluding lymph node neck dissection still easily exceed 20% (BAETS fifth national audit report, 2017). When extending the follow-up period to more than six months after surgery, late or permanent hypocalcemia is seen in over 5% of patients after a total thyroidectomy. These British numbers have been confirmed in large European and American databases. A large, Belgian, single-center analysis, including redo-surgery and lymph node neck dissections, confirmed temporary and permanent rates of hypocalcemia of 32% and 3%, respectively.

While temporary hypocalcemia results in a reduced quality of life, additional medical costs to the patients and the society, and hypocalcemia-related symptoms, permanent hypocalcemia adds an increased risk of developing renal failure, basal ganglia calcifications, neuropsychiatric derangements, and infections.

The identification and preservation of parathyroid glands during neck surgery has always been challenging but is crucial to avoid postoperative hypocalcemia. The visual evaluation of parathyroid gland vascularization is even more challenging, prone to subjectivity, and depending on surgical experience and surgical volume. Moreover, even experienced endocrine surgeons appear to be unreliable in using visual scores to assess the viability of parathyroid glands.

Recently, the specific autofluorescent characteristics of endogenous fluorophores in the parathyroid tissue have been used to detect and confirm parathyroid glands during thyroid surgery. However, this signal does not provide any information on viability and vascularization of the parathyroid glands. Injecting indocyanine green (ICG) and using its fluorescent characteristics has the advantage of adding information about the vascular supply of the parathyroid glands. The combined technique of autofluorescent and ICG-enhanced imaging suffers from lack of standardization, optimal technique, dosage, and timing of the ICG administration, and still must prove its possible benefit in a clinical setting.

Hence, this randomized clinical trial aims to investigate whether using autofluorescence (AF) and indocyanine green during thyroid surgery can predict or prevent postoperative hypocalcemia. By using parathyroid gland detection via autofluorescence imaging and verifying their viability after ICG injection, the authors aim to identify patients at risk of hypocalcemia.