Outcomes and complications of thyroid surgery: retrospective study.

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.