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II. summary
The next bearer to fall in the battle for surgery to treat senior citizens appears to be the one that has stopped thyroid surgery for older people. A new study shows that in thyroid surgery performed, older adults did not appear to have more complications than younger patients. Melanie W. Seybt, M.D., and colleagues at Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, analyzed data from 86 younger (age 21 to 35, average age 29.5) and 44 older (older than age 65, average age 71.3) patients who underwent thyroidectomy (surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid) performed by a surgeon between November 2003 and December 2007. She mentioned that the oldest patient is 84 years old. They assessed pathology reports, complications and the need for admission or readmission to the hospital. No patients in either group died or experienced permanent vocal cord paralysis, and rates of complications were similar. Dr. Seybt also explained ultrasound screening would be helpful in determining the presence of thyroid disease in every age. Different approaches such as endoscopic and thyroidectomy would also be useful in treating the disease.

III. reaction
This article served as an eye-opener to the increasing geriatric population, especially those who are critically suffering from thyroid diseases. According to the U.S, Census Bureau, geriatric population has increased by 90 percent in the last 30 years. Thyroid surgeons will be faced more often with the prospect of elective thyroid surgery in patients of advanced age as an increasingly aged population emerges and the prevalence of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer increases. In the study being performed by Dr. Melanie W. Seybt, the patients were also suffering from different diseases such as heart failure, hypertension and restrictive lung disease. These patients who clearly require surgery should receive better preoperative evaluation and risk certification, and improved postoperative care. In the study, it would be better if the researchers have included who among the patients are suffering from heart failure, lung disease or hypertension in order to determine who among the patients aging 65 years old and above and patients aging 21 to 35 years old are at higher risk for developing complications. Different complications such as hypocalemia and numbness or tingling around the lips and cramping of the hands and feet should be address carefully in order to prevent secondary complications which could post threat to the lives of the patients. With the three weeks tapering dose of calcium these could be avoided, however careful monitoring should be observed in order to prevent the occurrence of such complications. Early surgical interventions may be advised in patients at higher risk for disease prevention. However this should be evaluated extensively and conversely, follow-up strategies without surgery may be advised for those at low risk for cancer or for disease progression, with the highest risk for complications.

Recommendation
a. To the Patient. This article is good news for patients suffering from thyroid disease especially geriatric patients who are afraid of undergoing thyroidectomy. This article could encourage older patients to comply with the necessary interventions in order to prevent the spread of diseases. b. To the Public. Awareness of the possibilities that older patients could have a

mininimal risk of undergoing thyroid surgery would place them not to feel more anxious since the members of the healthcare team would give them the necessary health teachings and reliable incidence rates made by the researchers. The public would be eager to be involved here since the number of older patients diagnosed with the

problem is escalating and the number of geriatric population has increased by 90 percent in the last 30 years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the numbers are likely to continue upward. c. To the Researchers. Having this information would actually lead to criticisms and further evaluation of the said study in order to prove that geriatric patients would have a chance to do thyroid surgery without placing their lives at risk of death or any complications. Further research and proper assessment and evaluation of patients are necessary. This places the researchers to continue what they have done and discover new information regarding thyroidectomy and improve the technology that science has to offer. Having a good grasp on this topic may help the health workers to be a

better and efficient someday in providing adequate and proper health teachings on different alternative procedures to their future clients.

Angeles University Foundation

College of Nursing

Compilation of Journal Readings

SUBMITTED BY: Rhema Miranda Villanueva Group 9

SUBMITTED TO: Mr. S.David RN,MN