Complications of thyroid surgery: a five year experience at fauji foundation hosp., Rawalpindi

ABSTRACT

To determine the prevalence of complications after thyroid surgery and to compare our results with those in the international literature. This prospective observational study was conducted from April 2000 to March 2005. Department of Surgery, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi. 310 patients who underwent thyroid surgery were included. The data of all these patients was collected and analysed. Majority of the patients were females [97.09%] and only 8.06% were hyperthyroid pre-operatively, the rest being euthyroid. Subtotal thyroidectomy was done in 63.23%, while 10.96% patients underwent near total thyroidectomy. Complications were noted in 16.45% patients. Amongst them 5.48% developed hypocalecmia, 3.22% recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, 2.90% seroma formation and 0.96% post-operative bleeding. Successful outcome of thyroid surgery depends on improving surgical training and skills