POST THYROIDECTOMY COMPLICATIONS: THE HYDERABAD EXPERIENCE

Authors

  • Tariq Wahab Khanzada
  • Abdul Samad
  • Waseem Memon
  • Basant Kumar

Abstract

Objective: Thyroidectomy is a very common surgical procedure worldwide and is performed bysurgeons with varied training. The outcome and complication rates are largely dependent onsurgeon’s skill and experience, the extent of surgery, indication of surgery and number of thyroidsurgeries performed at that particular centre. The objective of this study was to determine thefrequency of postoperative complications after thyroid surgery in Hyderabad, Pakistan. StudyDesign: It was a descriptive study and was carried out at 2 private hospitals including a teachingUniversity Hospital over a period of 3 years from April 2005 to March 2008. Patients andMethods: All patients with goitre, who underwent any sort of thyroid surgery, were included inthis study. Patients’ bio-data including name, age sex, clinical status of thyroid, thyroid functiontests, ultrasound, fine needle aspiration cytology and operative procedure, findings, post operativecomplications and histopathology reports were recorded. Data were analysed using SPSS 16.0.Results: The overall postoperative complication rate was 10.7%. Postoperative hypocalcaemiawas the most frequent complication observed in 3.5% of all patients followed by recurrentlaryngeal nerve (RLN) injury noted in 2.8% patients. The less common complications werebleeding, seroma formation and wound infection. Majority of these complications were associatedwith total thyroidectomy, male gender, and in patients with age more than 30 years. Conclusion:The commonest post thyroidectomy complication was hypocalcaemia. Male gender, old age, andextensive thyroid surgery were associated with increased complication rate.Keywords: thyroidectomy, hypocalcaemia, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury

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Published

2010-03-01

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 1 (2010): JOURNAL OF AYUB MEDICAL COLLEGE, ABBOTTABAD

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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