title: Outpatient thyroid surgery is safe and desirable.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thyroid surgery has traditionally been done on an inpatient basis. With the advent of minimal access techniques, drains are frequently not required and ambulatory thyroidectomy is possible.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, nonrandomized analysis of consecutive series of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing thyroid surgery between 12/1/04 and 10/31/05 were stratified based on admission status. Demographic data were collected and outcome measures were considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-one patients underwent thyroid surgery. Fifty-two were done on an outpatient basis, 26 patients were observed under a 23-hour status, and 13 were admitted. There were two complications in the outpatient group and one in the inpatient group (P = 1.0). Costs were significantly lower for outpatients ($7,814) than for inpatients ($10,288; P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In carefully selected patients who prefer convalescence at home, outpatient thyroidectomy can be performed safely and cost-effectively, particularly when prophylactic calcium supplementation is utilized after total thyroidectomy to prevent transient postoperative hypocalcemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912-4060, USA. dterris@mcg.edu
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Terris
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moister
authors.forename: Melanie W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Seybt
authors.forename: Christine G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Gourin
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chin
mesh_terms: D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods