Postoperative Complications of Thyroidectomy

Bode Rovena, Celiku Etmond

Abstract: Thyroidectomy as a frequent and relatively safety surgical procedure is associated with a minimal rate of complications. Modern thyroidectomy, centers on potential morbidity from the procedure with emphasis on prevention of injury to closely investing structures such as the parathyroid glands and the recurrent laryngeal nerves. This study was a prospective review of all thyroidectomies performed at the Department of General Surgery in the University Hospital Center Mother Teresa of Tirana during January 2010- January 2013. It is focused in the complications of postoperative period of thyroidectomy, especially hypocalcemia and laryngeal nerve palsy. For each case, presence or absence of individual surgical complications including wound infection, postoperative hemorrhage, fistula formation, hypocalcemia, and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was determined. Besides recommending particular care with intraoperative identification and preservation of the parathyroids and recurrent laryngeal nerve, it may also be prudent to examine the thyroidectomy specimens of these patients carefully with the intention of identifying healthy parathyroid glands that may be suitable for autotransplantation.

Keywords: hypocalcemia, hypoparathyroidism, laryngeal nerve palsy, parathyroid