Hypothyroidism after thyroidectomy for Graves' disease.

In 100 patients who underwent subtotal thyroidectomy for Graves' disease in 1970 through 1975, postoperative hypothyroidism developed in 75 patients an average of 4.6 months after operation. One patient had permanent hypocalcemia. Unilateral vocal cord function was abnormal postoperatively in three patients. Thyroidectomy for Graves' disease is used at our institution much less frequently than in the past and its use is being restricted to a younger population. The low recurrence rates of thyrotoxicosis (1 percent) was obtained at the expense of a high rate of postoperative hypothyroidism.