Comprehensive Analysis of Thyroidectomy-Related Complications: A Single-Center Perspective.

Abstract

Background Thyroid surgeries have become so common that they are performed for both benign and malignant conditions of the thyroid. However, hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury may turn out to be a nightmare, complicating the surgical outcome. This study will, therefore, attempt to assess the complications related to different types of thyroid surgeries in order to identify the risk factors involved. Methodology This is a report on an analytical study done in a tertiary care center for a span of 12 months on 60 patients aged between 18 and 80 who were subjected to thyroidectomy. The preoperative evaluation consisted of acomplete ear, nose, and throat (ENT) examination, indirect laryngoscopy, routine blood tests, thyroid function tests, neck ultrasound, and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). The surgical interventions carried out were total thyroidectomy (TT), near-TT, sub-TT, and hemithyroidectomy (HT). Postoperative complications are followed for at least six months. Results The study identified postoperative complications in 21 patients (35%), with hypoparathyroidism being the most prevalent, affecting nine patients (15%). This complication rate is noteworthy, especially when compared to national or international averages, which typically report postoperative complication rates ranging from 10% to 30% after thyroid surgeries. RLN injury occurred in five patients (8%), while other complications, such as hematoma and wound infection, were observed in three patients (5%) and two patients (3%), respectively. Temporary hypoparathyroidism was observed in 15 patients (25%) who underwent TT, indicating a significant increase in the incidence of this complication compared to other surgical procedures. Conclusion It seems that there is an area where very precise surgical practice and extensive workup before surgery must be in place to prevent complications arising from thyroid surgeries. Continuous observation and planned follow-up should be as crucial for better outcome of the patient and timely management of complications arisen postoperatively.