title: Analysis of safety of short-stay thyroid surgery.
abstract: The duration of hospital stay, following surgical procedures, has undergone a significant reduction in recent years. However, there are some risks associated with short-stay thyroid surgery. An analysis has been made of data from patients who underwent short-stay thyroid surgery, analyzing the complications associated with this procedure. Overall 270 consecutive patients undergoing thyroidectomy in 2007 and 2008 were prospectively analyzed. Post-operative care included routine ward overnight observation. The discharge criteria were: stable vital signs; apyretic; no wound or airway problems; tolerating diet; and established autonomy at discharge. Data were collected regarding patients' discharge criteria status, length of hospital stay and readmission, as well as morbidity (post-operative haemorrhage, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and hypocalcaemia) and mortality. This series comprised 175 total thyroidectomies, 93 hemi-thyroidectomies and 2 isthmusectomies. No cases of death or post-operative haemorrhage occurred in any of these patients. Permanent unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was observed in 4 patients (1.48%). Transient post-operative hypocalcaemia occurred in 23 patients, whereas permanent post-operative hypocalcaemia was observed in 8 patients (2.96%); 4 patients were re-admitted and required early calcium supplementation. Five patients failed to tolerate the diet during the immediate post-operative period. The average duration of hospital stay was 1.02 days. Considering the 4 patients who required re-admission due to hypocalcaemia, the total length of hospital stay was 1.05 days. In conclusion, the one-day surgery model is safe and effective in patients undergoing surgery for thyroid disorders.
authors.affiliation: Fundação Lusíada UNILUS, Santos, Departments of Head and Neck Surgery, Ana Costa Hospital and Irmandade da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Santos, Santos, Brazil. dedivitis.hns@uol.com.br
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dedivitis
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Pfuetzenreiter
authors.forename: M A F
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: O V P
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Denardin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
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