Short-stay Sutureless Thyroidectomy is Safe and Effective: Cerrahpasa Experience

Hospitalizing patients up to 72 hours after thyroidectomy is a classical approach. However, the length of hospitalization has decreased following surgical procedures with new technological devices. Seven hundred one consecutive patients who underwent sutureless total thyroidectomy (STT) between October 2011 and 2013 were included in this study. Six hundred seventy-two (95.9%) were discharged before 24 hours following surgery (short-stay = SS), and 29 were discharged later (delayed-discharge = DD). This study aims to assess short-stay STT with early postoperative complications and readmission to hospital. One hundred forty-three SS patients were male and 529 were female. Mean age was 48 ± 13 years, BMI was 28.7 ± 8.3 kg/m2. Mean hospital stay for SS was 18.13 ± 1.97 (17-23) hours. Histopathology was benign in 443 (65.92%) and malignant in 229 (34.08%) in the SS group. In three (0.4%) of the SS group drainage was required because of hematoma, and in seven (1%) wound infection was observed. One hundred seven (7.9%) [permanent = 7 (0.52%)] of 1344 recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLNs) in SS were seen paralyzed in postoperative vocal cord examination. Hypocalcemia (all transient) was observed in 52 (7.74%) of the SS group. Eight of those 52 readmitted to hospital with symptomatic hypocalcemia and were treated as outpatients. There was no mortality. Of the DD group, two stayed in the intensive care unit, two had dysphonia, two had hematoma with anti-coagulant use, one had fever, four did not tolerate diet, five refused discharge, and 13 had symptomatic hypocalcemia. Sutureless total thyroidectomy can be performed safely and effectively as short-stay surgery.