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Total Thyroidectomy as an Ambulatory Procedure in Community Practice
Rebecca A Compton1, Jonathan C Simmonds1, Jagdish K Dhingra1,2
1Tufts Medical Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
OTO Open
|October 16, 2020
Summary
Ambulatory total thyroidectomy is safe in community settings. This study found that carefully selected patients undergoing outpatient thyroid surgery experienced low complication rates, similar to those admitted for the procedure.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Surgical Outcomes
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Ambulatory total thyroidectomy is increasingly common.
- Most outcomes research originates from academic centers, not community practices.
- Community settings perform the majority of thyroid surgeries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the safety of ambulatory total thyroidectomy.
- To evaluate outcomes in a community otolaryngology practice.
- To compare ambulatory vs. inpatient thyroidectomy safety.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 99 total thyroidectomies (2013-2019).
- Comparison of planned ambulatory vs. planned admission cohorts.
- Analysis of national Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project databases (2015-2016).
Main Results:
- 67% of thyroidectomies were planned ambulatory procedures.
- Only 8% of planned ambulatory surgeries required admission.
- Complications were less frequent in the ambulatory cohort compared to inpatients.
Conclusions:
- Ambulatory total thyroidectomy is safe in community settings for selected patients.
- Community practice outcomes for ambulatory thyroidectomy can be favorable.
- Careful patient selection is key for successful outpatient thyroid surgery.
