Interventions in heart and thyroid surgery: can they be safely combined?

OBJECTIVE Thyroid diseases are relatively common problems in patients with cardiac disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of combined interventions in heart and thyroid surgery. METHODS A retrospective study of 2530 cardiac operations yielded six patients who underwent thyroid intervention combined with cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting, valvular surgery or both) between 1996 and 2003. All patients were examined for age, gender, cardiac problems, thyroid pathology and related symptoms. RESULTS four males and two females were operated for coronary artery disease, valvular disease or both and for thyroid pathologies. All patients had anticoagulation with intravenous heparin peroperatively and then postoperatively. No patient suffered from bleeding at the neck neither per- or postoperatively. No hemodynamic or cardiovascular compromises were noted. CONCLUSION The combined staged thyroid and cardiac surgery was feasible with a little risk for the both operations.