Morbidity after total thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease: comparison of Graves' disease and non-Graves' disease

The purpose of this study was to review the safety of total thyroidectomies for benign thyroid disease, with special emphasis on the comparison between Graves' disease and non-Graves' disease. In this study, 107 patients who underwent total thyroidectomies for clinically benign thyroid disease performed by the same surgeon between January 1987 and December 2004 were enrolled; 48 had Graves' disease and 59 had non-Graves' disease. The rates of temporary vs. permanent hypoparathyroidism, hematoma requiring surgical intervention, and temporary vs. permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (RLNP) after total thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease were 34.6% vs. 3.7%, 6.5%, and 6.5% vs. 1.85%, respectively. The rates of permanent hypoparathyroidism and temporary RLNP in the Graves' disease group were significantly different when compared with the non-Graves' disease group (8.3% vs. 0% and 11.5% vs. 2.5%, respectively). However, comparing the rates of temporary hypoparathyroidism, permanent RLNP, and postoperative hematoma, there was no statistically significant difference. Compared with total lobectomy, the rates of postoperative hematoma increased significantly for total thyroidectomy (6.5% vs. 0.48%). Total thyroidectomy for non-Graves' benign thyroid disease may be performed with minimal morbidity as has been advocated by many authors. For patients with Graves' disease in this study, however, the complication rates of permanent hypoparathyroidism and temporary RLNP were significantly increased. Therefore, we suggest that total thyroidectomy for Graves' disease should be performed by an experienced surgeon.