Open AccessHead and neck radiotherapy - A risk factor for anaesthesia?
Author(s) -
Deepshikha Jain,
Anjum Khan Joad
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
indian journal of anaesthesia/indian journal of anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.645
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 0976-2817
pISSN - 0019-5049
DOI - 10.4103/ija.ija_864_19
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , perioperative , subclinical infection , levothyroxine , thyroid cancer , airway , radiation therapy , surgery , thyroid , head and neck cancer , thyroidectomy , anesthesia
The aim was to study perioperative management in head and neck cancer, the commonest cancer in Indian men, after radiation therapy. Radiotherapy (RT) targets the tumour and the neck including the thyroid gland. RT induced physical effects (on the airway) and physiological effects (on the thyroid) impact perioperative care. Patients with RT-induced subclinical and mild clinical hypothyroidism are often asymptomatic. Cancer surgery is time-sensitive. Given that parenteral levothyroxine is not available, is a TSH of 15 acceptable for cancer surgery?