Outcomes and complications of thyroid surgery: retrospective study

TL Chow, W Chu, BH Lim, SPY Kwok
Department of Surgery, United Christian Hospital, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

OBJECTIVE. To study the outcome and complications of thyroid surgery.

DESIGN. Retrospective study.

SETTING: Regional hospital, Hong Kong.

PATIENTS. Three hundred and twelve patients (266 women and 46 men) underwent thyroid surgery between January 1994 and December 1999.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. Complications of thyroidectomy for various thyroid diseases according to surgical technique used.

RESULTS. Capsular dissection gradually became a more popular surgical technique: 33% and 58% in the first and second halves of the study period respectively (P<0.001). The overall rate of permanent vocal cord palsy was 2%. Near-total thyroidectomy became the preferred surgical treatment for toxic goitre over the study period. The incidence of recurrent hyperthyroidism was reduced from 21% to 7% (P>0.1, not significant). The incidence of hypoparathyroidism was approximately 30% after thyroidectomy for cancer.

CONCLUSION. Capsular dissection is increasingly utilised in thyroid surgery. Low complication rates can be achieved after thyroidectomy for benign diseases. Hypoparathyroidism, however, is a relatively common complication after surgery for thyroid cancer.

Hong Kong Med J 2001;7:261-5

Key words: Dissection; Hyperthyroidism; Hypoparathyroidism; Thyroidectomy; Vocal cord paralysis