Peroperative identification of parathyroid gland using methylene blue

Abstract

Identification of the parathyroid gland during surgery of thyroid reduce the risk of postoperative hypoparathyroidism; as well as of great importance for identification of the parathyroid glands in parathyroid disease.
It is a prospective study conducted on (50 patient 10 male and 40 female) with various causes of goiter, who underwent operation in the the Surgical Department of the AL-DIWANYIA TEACHING HOSPITAL for the period between May 2008 to September 2010.
The technique of methylene blue dye injection through the inferior thyroid artery using one CC methylene blue 0.5% to recognize the parathyroid gland in patient suffering from various causes of thyroid disease and undergoing thyroid gland surgery.
The precise localization of the gland was possible in 85% . There were no adverse effect from this technique.
We conclude that peroperative identification of parathyroid gland using methylene blue is valuable technique that facilitates identification of the gland at operation.