Patients' obesity is linked to prolonged thyroidectomy operative time

Obesity is a prevalent condition with potential implications for surgical outcomes, including thyroidectomy. This study investigated the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the duration of thyroidectomy surgery and length of hospital stay.

A retrospective analysis of patient records. Data included patient age, sex, procedure type, surgery duration, length of hospital stay, histological results, and BMI. Statistical analysis methods (t-tests, ANOVA, Spearman/Pearson correlation, linear regression) were used. Patients were categorized into groups based on BMI. The primary outcome was the relationship between BMI and surgical outcomes. The research was conducted in a tertiary care academic medical center over 7 years (2016-2022). Included were patients who underwent a thyroidectomy performed by otolaryngology residents (N = 232).

Surgery duration was significantly prolonged in obese patients, with an average increase of 1.3 min per BMI category (p-value < 0.01), resulting in a mean difference of approximately 10 min between normal weight and obese patients. Length of hospital stay was significantly extended for overweight and obese patients compared to the non-obese group (p-value < 0.01), with an average extension of 0.9 days between normal weight and obese groups.

Obesity is associated with prolonged thyroidectomy surgery duration and length of hospital stay. Our findings highlight the importance of considering BMI in surgical planning and resource allocation. These results can inform preoperative counseling and perioperative management of obese patients undergoing thyroidectomy. Further research is needed to investigate specific factors contributing to prolonged surgery in obese patients.