Mapping complications in thyroid surgery: statistical data are useful for medico-legal management of a recurrent safety issue

Abstract

Abstract Quality of care assessment is a crucial tool for patient safety implementation. Litigation relating to thyroid surgery is one of the most represented sectors also due to the continuous increase in the number of thyroid interventions. Given the incidence of the problem, the present study aims to outline an operational methodology for risk mapping and litigation management in thyroid surgery. The study was conducted through the analysis of data collected at Umberto I General Hospital in Rome from 2007 to 2018. All thyroid surgery claims were included and, subsequently, a descriptive statistical analysis of the categorical variables was performed with the representation of frequencies in absolute terms and as a percentage. The results obtained show that in 94% of cases (44 cases) the reported event consists of incorrect treatment. The most frequent adverse events were identified in unilateral or bilateral recurrent nerve lesions (31; 70%); incomplete removal of the thyroid gland (6; 14%), post-surgical hypoparathyroidism (4; 9%), aesthetic damage secondary to surgical scars (2; 5%), dental avulsion during intubation maneuvers (1; 2%). The experience derived from the risk mapping through management of thyroid claims proved it to be a reactive tool of considerable importance in clinical governance. The promotion of measures aimed at improving the satisfaction of some critical parameters identified in the litigation management activity such as adherence to the indications for surgery, the preoperative diagnostic path, and the adequacy of the surgical report allows to further implement the quality of care in the surgical treatment of thyroid pathology. Graphical Abstract