Background: Although Lugol’s iodine is routinely used in hyperthyroid patients before thyroidectomy to reduce gland vascularity, its role in euthyroid patients remains controversial.
Aim: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Lugol’s iodine in reducing intraoperative blood loss in euthyroid patients undergoing thyroidectomy.
Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus was performed up to May 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing preoperative Lugol’s iodine to placebo or no intervention in euthyroid patients were included. The primary outcome was intraoperative blood loss. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model, with mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Results: Out of 487 screened records, 3 RCTs with 250 euthyroid patients (125 Lugol’s, 125 control) were included. Lugol’s iodine significantly reduced intraoperative blood loss compared to control (MD: –18.22 mL, 95% CI: –21.53 to –14.92; p < 0.00001). Moderate heterogeneity was observed (I² = 85%). All included studies had moderate-to-high methodological quality. No consistent data on adverse effects were reported.
Conclusion: Preoperative Lugol’s iodine significantly reduces intraoperative blood loss in euthyroid patients undergoing thyroidectomy. While findings support its use as a blood-conserving adjunct, further large-scale trials with standardized protocols are warranted to confirm efficacy and assess safety.
KW: Lugol’s iodine, thyroidectomy, euthyroid, intraoperative blood loss, randomized controlled trials, iodine preparation. UL https://dawnmed.com.sa/../abstract?article_id=3