Complications of thyroid surgery performed by residents

The purpose of this report is to study the incidence of complications in thyroid surgery performed by the residents in a surgical training program. This is a report of complications in 200 consecutive thyroidectomies performed by residents with attending surgeons' assistance. There were 128 female and 72 male patients, ranging in age from 16 to 89 years. Ten patients had undergone previous thyroid surgery. There were 40 total thyroidectomies, 38 subtotal thyroidectomies, and 122 lobectomies with isthmusectomy. Preoperative and postoperative evaluation of the vocal cords was a standard routine. Identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve was routine except in patients with large goiters, who underwent intracapsular subtotal thyroidectomy. An attempt was made to identify and preserve all four parathyroid glands. Even in lobectomy procedures, the ipsilateral parathyroids were identified and preserved. Parathyroid autotransplantation into the sternomastoid muscle was performed in thirteen instances, whenever any of the parathyroids was devascularized. Complications included superior laryngeal nerve palsy (one case) and temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (one case). There was only one patient in whom temporary hypoparathyroidism developed. In three patients hematomas developed in the recovery room and reexploration was required. Two diabetic patients had wound infections develop that required drainage. Seromas and minor wound collections were noted in 6% of the patients. The incidence of major postoperative complications of thyroidectomy is low, even when residents are the primary surgeons. Thyroidectomy appears to be a safe operation in the hands of residents with close supervision and assistance by the attending surgeons.