Surgical complications after thyroid surgery performed in a cancer hospital

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the incidence and risk factors of complications in patients submitted to thyroidectomy in a cancer hospital with residency training. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart and complications review of 1020 patients (1990–2000) underwent to thyroidectomy. RESULTS: At our cancer hospital, 1020 patients underwent thyroidectomy. The main postoperative complications consisted of transient hypocalcemia in 134 (13.1%) patients, permanent hypocalcemia in 26 (2.5%) patients, transient vocal cord palsy in 14 (1.4%) patients, and permanent vocal cord palsy in 4 (0.4%) patients. The type of thyroidectomy, neck dissection, and paratracheal lymph node dissection were significantly associated with transitory and permanent hypocalcemia. CONCLUSION: Thyroid surgery can be performed safely in a surgical residency training program under direct supervision of an experienced surgeon with little morbidity to the patients. Hypocalcemia is the most significant complication. Neck and para-tracheal lymph node dissections were the most significant predictors of hypocalcemia in patients who underwent total thyroidectomy.