Indications and complications of thyroidectomy in Al-Ramadi teaching hospital

Abstract

Thyroidectomy is one of the common operations performed worldwide. It is a main option of treatment for different benign and malignant thyroid problems. Despite improvements in procedures have decreased mortality and even and morbidity rates to a minimum; however, postoperative complications remain a major concern among surgeons. We aimed to evaluate the indications and complications of thyroidectomy. A Prospective study was conducted at Al-Ramadi Teaching Hospital/Ramadi city/Iraq during the period from January 2009 to January 2010. There were 130 patients underwent thyroidectomy. A demographic and clinical data for each patient was recorded to assess indications and complications of different types of thyroidectomies. The majority of the patients were females (93{df6391716bcab23f197eab8ba5a452daee5812a1941604c42f67c7803ea6be47}). The most age group affected was 21-30 years (41.54{df6391716bcab23f197eab8ba5a452daee5812a1941604c42f67c7803ea6be47}). Pressure symptoms were accounting for 61.54{df6391716bcab23f197eab8ba5a452daee5812a1941604c42f67c7803ea6be47} of the indications. Thyroid enlargement in euthyroid states (80{df6391716bcab23f197eab8ba5a452daee5812a1941604c42f67c7803ea6be47}) was the common presenting state. Subtotal thyroidectomy (58.46{df6391716bcab23f197eab8ba5a452daee5812a1941604c42f67c7803ea6be47}) was the commonest procedure. Out of 130 patients, 36 patients (27.69{df6391716bcab23f197eab8ba5a452daee5812a1941604c42f67c7803ea6be47}) were suffered from complications. The 2 most common complications encountered in the study were hypocalcemia (61.11{df6391716bcab23f197eab8ba5a452daee5812a1941604c42f67c7803ea6be47}) and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (5.38{df6391716bcab23f197eab8ba5a452daee5812a1941604c42f67c7803ea6be47}). In conclusion, subtotal thyroidectomy is a common procedure in our hospital. Compressive complaints were the most common indication. Hypocalcemia and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy were the 2 most postoperative complications.