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Updated: Jul 27, 2025
05:12
Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Vestibular Approach for Thyroid Lobectomy
Published on: May 12, 2023
3.8K
Professional liability due to complete esophagus section during thyroidectomy: a rare case report
Cristina Mondello1, Gennaro Baldino1, Vincenzo Cianci1
1Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, Messina, Italy.
Gland Surgery
|June 7, 2023
Summary
Thyroid surgery complications, like rare esophageal transection, can arise from misdiagnosis and deviation from established medical guidelines. Adhering to diagnostic-therapeutic protocols is crucial for patient safety and preventing severe adverse events.
Area of Science:
- Medical Malpractice
- Surgical Complications
- Endocrinology
Background:
- International and national guidelines standardize thyroid disease diagnosis and treatment.
- Thyroid surgery carries risks, including hypocalcemia, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, and rare esophageal lesions.
- Adherence to guidelines is vital for patient safety and preventing malpractice litigation.
Observation:
- A case of alleged medical malpractice involving a 22-year-old woman is presented.
- The patient underwent thyroidectomy for suspected Graves-Basedow disease, later diagnosed as Hashimoto thyroiditis.
- A complete esophageal transection occurred during the thyroidectomy, requiring complex reconstructive surgery.
Findings:
- Medico-legal analysis revealed malpractice in both misdiagnosis and the surgical complication.
- The diagnostic-therapeutic procedure was inappropriate, leading to misdiagnosis.
- Esophageal transection is an extremely rare but severe complication of thyroidectomy.
Implications:
- Clinicians must follow evidence-based guidelines for thyroid disease diagnosis and treatment.
- Failure to adhere to established protocols can result in severe complications and compromise patient quality of life.
- Ensuring an adequate diagnostic-therapeutic path is essential for mitigating risks in thyroid surgery.
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