THE LIGATURE OF THE INFERIOR THYROID ARTERY AND THE INCIDENCE OF GOITRE RECURRENCE AFTER SUBTOTAL THYROIDECTOMY

ABSTRACT A short historical introduction is given about vascular ligature in goitre surgery. By means of various experiments an attempt was made to investigate the effect of various types of vascular ligatures on the thyroid gland. In addition on the basis of follow-up examinations of patients operated on for goitre, the effect of vascular ligature on recurrence was examined. The results of these investigations cast doubt on the value of ligature of all four thyroid arteries required by some investigators ( Huber 1967; Kreiner 1952; Steiner 1960) as a prophylactic measure against the danger of recurrence.