Type of publication:
Conference abstract

Author(s):
*McNamara K.; *Albuidair A.; *Ahsan F.

Citation:
European Journal of Surgical Oncology; Dec 2017; vol. 43 (no. 12); p. 2389

Abstract:
Background: The British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons' (BAETS) set a standard of permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy of 1-2% and risk of permanent hypocalcaemia of 5-10%. Aim: To establish ates of permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and post-operative hypocalcaemia from thyroidectomy by a single surgeon in a District General Hospital Setting. Methods: Patient demographics, rates of permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and postoperative hypocalcaemia were obtained from all hemithyroidectomy, completion thyroidectomy and total thyroidectomy procedures performed between June 2012 and January 2017. Data was collected from the online Clinical Portal. All cases of RLN palsy and hypocalcaemia had been documented in patient's clinical letters. Results: 245 thyroidectomy procedures were performed during this time. This included 179 hemithyroidectomy, 41 completion thyroidectomy and 16 total thyroidectomy procedures. 1/245 (0.4%) patient suffered with permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in this patient group. 1/57 patients (2%) developed postoperative hypocalcaemia following completion or total thyroidectomy. Conclusion: This study reveals a lower incidence of RLN palsy and hypocalcaemia than is set by standards. Careful preoperative evaluation helps in achieving a satisfactory outcome in thyroid surgery. Thyroid surgery is safe to be done in a District General Hospital in the hands of a Head and Neck surgeon with a subspecialist fellowship training in thyroid.