Premium
Safety of thyroidectomy in residency: A review of 186 consecutive cases
Author(s) -
Shindo Maisie L.,
Sinha Uttam K.,
Rice Dale H.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-199511000-00006
Subject(s) - medicine , otorhinolaryngology , thyroidectomy , incidence (geometry) , surgery , vocal cord paralysis , complication , general surgery , retrospective cohort study , paralysis , thyroid , physics , optics
A retrospective review was performed to assess the surgical complications of thyroidectomy performed by otolaryngology residents under close supervision by faculty. One hundred eighty‐six consecutive cases of thyroidectomy performed by the residents in the Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Southern California were reviewed. Sixty‐nine percent of thyroidectomies were performed for malignant or possible malignant diseases, and 31% were performed for benign conditions. Transient (less than 2 weeks in duration) hypocalcemia occurred in 26% of the patients; the vast majority of cases resolved within the first week. Five percent of the patients developed persistent hypocalcemia requiring prolonged replacement therapy. The incidence of unexpected postoperative permanent vocal cord paralysis was 0.9%. These complication rates are comparable to those in previously published large series on results of thyroidectomy. Thyroidectomy performed in an otolaryngology residency training program is a safe procedure when closely supervised by experienced faculty. Laryngoscope, 105:1173‐1175, 1995