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Published in: Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery 5/2008

01-09-2008 | Controlled Prospective Clinical Trials

Complications to thyroid surgery: results as reported in a database from a multicenter audit comprising 3,660 patients

Authors: A. Bergenfelz, S. Jansson, A. Kristoffersson, H. Mårtensson, E. Reihnér, G. Wallin, I. Lausen

Published in: Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery | Issue 5/2008

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Abstract

Background and Aim

During recent years, more radical surgery for thyroid disease, i.e., total instead of subtotal resection, has been evident. Results following this strategy on national levels are scarce.

Materials and methods

From 2004 to 2006, 26 Scandinavian Departments registered 3,660 thyroid operations in a database. Risk factors for complications were analyzed with multiple logistic regression.

Results

After thyroidectomy, re-bleeding occurred in 2.1% and was associated with older age (OR 1.04; p < 0.0001) and male gender (OR 1.90; p = 0.014). Postoperative infection occurred in 1.6% and associated with lymph node operation (OR 8.18; p < 0.0001). Postoperative unilateral paresis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve was diagnosed 3.9% and bilateral paresis in 0.2%. Unilateral paresis was associated with older age, intrathoracic goiter, thyreotoxicosis, and if routine laryngoscopy was practiced (OR 1.92; p = 0.0002). After 6 months, the incidence of nerve paresis was 0.97%. After bilateral thyroid surgery (n = 1,648), hypocalcaemia treated with vitamin D analogue occurred in 9.9% of the patients at the first follow-up and in 4.4% after 6 months.

Conclusion

Complications to thyroid surgery are not uncommon. The high frequency of hypocalcaemia treated with vitamin D after 6 months is a cause of concern.
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Metadata
Title
Complications to thyroid surgery: results as reported in a database from a multicenter audit comprising 3,660 patients
Authors
A. Bergenfelz
S. Jansson
A. Kristoffersson
H. Mårtensson
E. Reihnér
G. Wallin
I. Lausen
Publication date
01-09-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery / Issue 5/2008
Print ISSN: 1435-2443
Electronic ISSN: 1435-2451
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-008-0366-7

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