Evaluation of Surgical Treatment of Graves' Disease

Abstract

From 1978 to 1987 141 patients with Graves' disease were treated surgically. Their clinical records were reviewed to evaluate the results of surgical treatment and the incidence of surgical complications. Complications of the surgery were rare, we experienced only two cases of postoperative bleeding and two cases of transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. A high incidence (33%) of recurrent hyperthyroidism was found in the patients who were operated on from 1978 to 1982. The incidence of recurrence has decreased since 1983 when we decided to preserve about 6 grams of the thyroid gland; 80% of the patients operated from 1983 have been cured. © 1989, The Society of Practical Otolaryngology. All rights reserved.