The effect of thyroid gland weight on early complications in total thyroidectomy: Cerrahpasa experience

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In this study we aimed to show whether thyroid gland weight has an effect on early and late complications in thyroidectomy done in an experienced center. 721 patients in Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty General Surgery Department, in whom sutureless total thyroidectomy with vessel sealing devices were done, were retrospectively evaluated from January 2012 to December 2015. Reoperations, plonjan goiter, patients with capsule invasion and lymph node metastases who were operated due to thyroid cancer were excluded in the study. Demographic data, operation indications, operation duration, incision length, postoperative complications of the patients were recorded. The complications were recurrent nerve paralysis, hypocalcemia, hematoma and wound infection. These complications were compared according to the thyroid gland weight separately. Also, each complication group was divided into four groups, according to thyroid gland weight, as below 30 grams, 30-60 grams, 60-90 grams and heavier than 90 grams. The effect of thyroid gland weight on postoperative complications was evaluated. 22.2 % of the patients (n=160) were males and 77.8 % (n=561) were females. Mean age of the patients was 48,58±SD (18-85) years. Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis was seen in 5.68% (n=82) of the 721 patients, to whom vocal cord examination was done. Hypocalcemia symptoms in 5.54% of the patients (n=40), wound infections in 0.97% (n=7) of the patients and hemorrhage in 0.69% (n=5) of the patients were seen. Mean thyroid gland weight in patients with thyroid surgery complication was 56.1±SD (15-315) grams, while it was 56,94±SD (20-795) grams for noncomplicated thyroid surgery. The complications were divided into four groups. When these groups were compared according to thyroid gland weight separately, it was seen that thyroid gland weight does not affect early complications (p >0,5). Total thyroidectomy, when done in an experienced center, is the suggested surgery, which has 1% complication rate and the least recurrence rate. In our study, there was no statistically significant difference. This may be due to lighter thyroid gland weights in our study.