Is Morbidity High in Completion Thyroidectomy?

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to compare primary total thyroidectomy and completion thyroidectomy in terms of postoperative morbidity. Methods: The morbidity of primary thyroidectomy operations and completion thyroidectomy operations performed in the general surgery clinic at Haseki Research and Training Hospital Hospital was retrospectively evaluated. Consecutive patients, in whom neuromonitoring was not done according to the surgeon's choice, were enrolled for primary thyroidectomy and completion thyroidectomy groups. Results: There were no statistically significant difference in age, sex (p=0.998), hormonal status (p=0.287), presence of nodule (p=0.287), number of lobes removed (p=0.695), multicentricity (p=0.081) in regard to complications between the two groups. It was seen that the risk ratio (the odds ratio) was 11.9 times higher in patients in whom appropriate time was not waited for the second operation. When all patients were evaluated, the distribution of complication was found to be significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (p=0.003). The probability of developing complications in group 2 was 10.6 fold (odds ratio) higher than in group 1. Neither nerve nor parathyroid damage was permanent. Conclusion: Although technological developments and preoperative diagnostic methods reduce the need for completion thyroidectomy nowadays, the probability of complication is higher than that in patients who initially underwent total thyroidectomy. However, in experienced hands, the rate of permanent complications does not change.