Abstract
This study evaluates the clinical significance of using nano-carbon suspension in total thyroidectomy with cervical lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The objective is to assess the efficacy of nano-carbon in enhancing parathyroid gland preservation, reducing postoperative complications, and improving surgical precision. A retrospective analysis of 219 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and cervical lymph node dissection from March 2014 to March 2018 was conducted. Patients were divided into two groups: control (n = 112) without nano-carbon suspension and experimental (n = 107) with nano-carbon suspension. Comparative analyses included demographics, surgical parameters, postoperative calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, number of lymph nodes dissected, and incidence of complications. Baseline characteristics, including age, sex, and BMI, were comparable between the experimental and control groups, with no statistically significant differences observed. Postoperative calcium levels were significantly more stable in the experimental group, with median levels of 2.22 mmol/L on day 1 compared to 2.06 mmol/L in the control group (p < 0.001), and 2.29 mmol/L at week 1 compared to 2.22 mmol/L in the control group (p < 0.001). PTH levels were also higher in the experimental group (35 pg/mL on day 1 vs. 28 pg/mL, p < 0.001; 37 pg/mL at week 1 vs. 30 pg/mL, p < 0.001). The experimental group had more lymph nodes dissected (median 135.83 vs. 84.12, p < 0.001) and a lower pathological parathyroid gland count (6.5% vs. 23.2%, p < 0.001). Postoperative numbness and twitching were reduced (4.7% vs. 16.1%, p = 0.006), and the recurrence rate at 12 months was lower (4.7% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.040). Nano-carbon suspension in thyroidectomy with cervical lymph node dissection for PTC enhances parathyroid gland preservation, improves surgical precision, and reduces specific postoperative complications, advocating its standard use in thyroid cancer surgeries to optimize patient outcomes.