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Updated: Nov 29, 2025

Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Vestibular Approach for Thyroid Lobectomy
Published on: May 12, 2023
Evaluation of opioid prescription patterns among patients undergoing thyroid surgery
Hilary C McCrary1, Christopher I Newberry1, Geoffrey C Casazza2
1Division of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Background:
There is variability in opioid prescription patterns among surgeons performing thyroidectomy. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate opioid prescription rates and opioid use among hemithyroidectomy (HT) and total thyroidectomy (TT) patients.
Design/Method:
An electronic postoperative survey was distributed to assess opiate use among patients undergoing HT/TT. Groups were compared using t-tests, chi-square tests, and analysis of variance.
Results:
A total of 142 opiate naïve patients were included, of which 75 (52.8%) underwent HT and 67 (47.1%) underwent TT. The mean number of tablets prescribed was 21.3 (HT = 22.1, TT = 20.4; P = 0.3), with a mean of 14.1 tablets unused after surgery (HT = 13.2 tablets, TT = 15.0 tablets; P = 0.44). The mean morphine milligram equivalent (MME) prescribed was 150.1 mg (HT = 159.0 mg, TT = 140.2 mg; P = 0.3), with a mean of 98.2 MME unused after surgery (HT = 93.7 mg, TT = 103.2 mg; P = 0.6).
Conclusions:
Opioids are overprescribed after thyroid surgery. Avoidance of overprescribing is vital in mitigating the current opioid crisis.
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