Morbidity of redo surgery for thyroid disease

Redo thyroid surgery is generally associated with more complications than firsthand surgery. The actual study reports a single center experience of redo thyroid surgery compared to primary bilateral thyroidectomy.

Mono institutional retrospective study.

Institutional review of redo thyroid surgery patients (Group 2 : completion thyroidectomy and Group 3 : thyroidectomy for recurrent thyroid diseases) compared to Group 1 : primary bilateral thyroidectomy operated on during the same time interval.

Demographic characteristics were not different between groups. Substernal extension and hyperthyroidism were more frequent in group 1. Weight of the resected thyroid gland was lower in groups 2 and 3. Incidence of transient hypocalcemia, permanent hypoparathyroidism, transient and permanent recurrent laryngeal palsy was not different between the groups. Hematoma occurred in 5% of cases in the 3 groups and postoperative length of stay was 1 day in 92% of cases of the 3 groups.

Redo thyroid surgery can be performed with no excess morbidity provided strict selection criteria, having reoperation in mind while performing firsthand intervention.