Thyroidectomy in patients with a high BMI: a safe surgery?

OBJECTIVE

To study and compare the specific postoperative complications of thyroidectomy in a population with a BMI ≥25 with a population having a BMI below 25.

DESIGN

A prospective study was carried out from September 2010 to January 2013.

METHODS

Postoperative calcemia, laryngeal mobility, bleeding or infectious complications, postoperative hospital stay, and operation time were studied and compared statistically by a χ(2)-test or Student's t-test.

RESULTS

A total of 240 patients underwent total thyroidectomy and 126 underwent a partial thyroidectomy. Of them, 168 patients had a BMI below 25 and 198 patients had a BMI ≥25. There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of early or permanent hypoparathyroidism, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, bleeding complications, or postoperative duration of hospital stay. There was, however, a significant operative time in patients with a BMI ≥25.

CONCLUSION

Despite the longer operative time, thyroidectomy (total or partial) can be performed safely in patients with a BMI ≥25.