Risk factors for postoperative haemorrhage after total thyroidectomy: clinical results based on 2,678 patients

The aim of this study was to analyse postoperative haemorrhage (POH) after a total thyroidectomy and explore the possible risk factors. Records of patients receiving a total thyroidectomy were reviewed and analysed for risk factors of POH. From the 2,678 patients in this study, a total of 39 patients had POH, representing an incidence of 1.5%. The majority (59.0%) of POH events occurred within four hours after surgery. Arterial haemorrhage was the primary cause of POH and was identifiable prior to venous bleeding, making it the first sign of POH. A univariate analysis revealed an association between POH, certain disease factors and BMI, but only a BMI greater than 30 was found to significantly increase the risk of POH (almost 6-fold). At the first sign of POH, all patients showed an obvious red drainage, and 92.3% of the patients had neck swelling. In summary, arterial bleeding is the main cause and first sign of postoperative haemorrhage, as it starts earlier than venous bleeding. A BMI greater than 30 significantly increases the risk of neck haematoma.