Clinicopathological features and complications of thyroid operations: a single centre experience

Thyroid surgery evolution is important with a lots of hurdles faced by many surgeons to reach the present stage. The complications from the olden days reduced with improvement in understanding the disease process, development of antibiotics, anaesthesia and now restricted mainly to hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries. A retrospective analysis of thyroid surgeries performed at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences centre from 2007 to 2011 Clinicopathological features and complications were analyzed. Among 203 patients who underwent surgery for thyroid operations, 53 were malignant and 150 were benign cases. Hemithyroidectomy was the most common procedure performed (118 cases). Papillary thyroid cancer was the most common malignant lesion and colloid goiter the most common benign lesion. Postoperative complications occurred in 12 patients-infection in two patients, bleeding requiring reexploration in one patient, hypocalcemia in 6 (5-transient and 1-permanent) and hoarseness of voice in three patients (2-temporary and 1-permanent). FNAC is an easy, cost effective, reliable investigation in experienced hands. Reoperation, primary stage of the tumor and central node dissection are associated with increased complication rates.