The outcomes of thyroid surgery in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Thyroid surgery is considered one of the most common procedures in the surgical field. Thyroid surgery could be done for both benign and malignant diseases, and as with any surgery, it has its complications. In this study, we aim to find out the outcomes of thyroid surgery in Saudi Arabia and whether there are associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done on 414 patients who met our inclusion criteria of being over 18 years old and have undergone thyroid surgery. The data were collected from April to May 2024 in Saudi Arabia by using a self-administered online questionnaire created by Google Forms and distributed randomly through social platforms. We obtained patient-informed consent and ensured the confidentiality of the data. The questionnaire includes sociodemographic and clinical factors. Both descriptive and inferential data analysis was performed. Result: The result showed 52% have done total thyroidectomy, 48% have done partial thyroidectomy, and female patients were (306) while males were (108). In addition, most patients were between the ages of 19 and 30, and most had a university education. We found benign disease to be more than malignant. The complications with total thyroidectomy were more prevalent than with partial thyroidectomy, and most of the complications were temporary. Conclusion: The study shows the importance of thyroid surgery by highlighting the outcomes, as we found important factors based on patient responses, like the nature of diseases, that make total thyroidectomy more significant than partial thyroidectomy. Also, the complications were significantly associated with a total thyroidectomy.