title: Complications of thyroid surgery.
abstract: Thyroid surgery has a history of significant changes in the technique and the incidence of complications. Since then continuous developments in surgical techniques and better understanding of thyroid anatomy and pathology have increased the safety of thyroid surgery and reduced the incidence of complications. Nowadays, the rate of postoperative mortality is extremely low. Nevertheless, the incidence of postoperative complications varies in literature from 7.4% to 53% of the operations performed. The most common and potentially life-threatening complications in thyroid gland surgery are vocal cord palsy and hypocalcemia. Herein we discuss the common complications in thyroid gland surgery and their proper management.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Propedeutic Surgery, University of Athens, School of Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece. stamatakosmih@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Safioleas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stamatakos
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rompoti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mouzopoulos
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iannescu
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Salichou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skandalakis
mesh_terms: D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000209:etiology*; D007011:Hypoparathyroidism / Q000209:etiology*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000209:etiology; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D061226:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery / Q000379:methods; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control