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Updated: Apr 14, 2026
08:06
Mixed Reality Assisted Radical Endoscopic Thyroidectomy
Published on: January 31, 2025
854
Mortality after thyroid surgery, insignificant or still an issue?
Joaquín Gómez-Ramírez1, Antonio Sitges-Serra, Pablo Moreno-Llorente
1Neck and Breast Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Hospital Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Avda Reyes Católicos, 2, 28040, Madrid, Spain, jgomezramirez@hotmail.com.
Langenbeck'S Archives of Surgery
|April 23, 2015
Summary
Death after thyroidectomy is rare, occurring in 0.065% of cases. Most fatalities are linked to advanced age, large goiters, and breathing difficulties, highlighting key risk factors in thyroid surgery.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Surgical Oncology
- Public Health
Background:
- Thyroidectomy is generally safe, but rare deaths can occur.
- Investigating mortality and risk factors is crucial in modern thyroid surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and causes of death following thyroidectomy.
- To identify risk factors associated with mortality in contemporary thyroid surgery.
Main Methods:
- A nationwide questionnaire survey of endocrine surgery units in Spain.
- Data collected on deaths occurring after thyroidectomy in recent years.
Main Results:
- 20 deaths (0.065%) recorded from 30,495 thyroidectomies across 26 units.
- Leading causes of death included cervical hematoma (30%), respiratory distress (25%), and tracheal injury (15%).
- Risk factors identified were advanced age, giant goiters, and upper airway complications.
Conclusions:
- Mortality following thyroidectomy is very uncommon.
- Deaths are often associated with complex patient factors like age and goiter size, alongside surgical complications.
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