Thyroidectomy Complications

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ThyroidectomyComplications
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General

• Wound infection
• Anaesthetic complications
• Haemorrhage
• During op uncontrollable
• Post-op
• Major
• Mediastinal

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Specific

• Hypoparathyroidism
• Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury
• Damage to surrounding structures
  oesophagus/trachea/laryngeal muscles
• Thyrotoxic crisis
• Tracheal obstruction (Laryngeal oedema)

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Hypoparathyroidism

• Permanent in 0.8 to 3 post-total thyroidectomy
  (hypocalcaemia)
• Transient hypocalcaemia in up to 20.
• Sx include distal extremity paresthesias and
  muscle cramps, abdo pain, dry hair
• Tetany, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, seizures and
  cardiac arrythmias are rare

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Long Term

• Hypothyroidism loss of energy, weight gain,
  depression, intellectual deterioration, cold
  intolerance
• Recurrent thyrotoxicosis occurs in up to 5.
  Insufficient gland removed

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References

• Up To Date
• Bailey Loves Short Practice of Surgery, 24th
  edn. Russel, Williams, Bulstrode. 2004
• Operation Surgery, 2nd edn. McLatchie, Leaper.
  2006
• Gonçalves Kowalski. Postoperative complications
  of thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid
  carcinoma. Am J Otolaryngology. Aug 04