title: Risk of bleeding after thyroid surgery: matched pairs analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify those patients most at risk of developing a compressive post-operative haematoma following thyroid surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing thyroid surgery. Factors associated with the group of patients who developed a post-operative haematoma were examined using a matched pairs, case-control design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following 355 thyroid operations, seven patients developed a post-operative haematoma requiring return to the operating theatre for bleeding control. A post-operative systolic blood pressure of greater than 150 mmHg, in the post-anaesthetic care unit, was the major significant factor identified by regression analysis (p = 0.002). Current smoking status was also a significant factor (p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our facility, a post-anaesthetic systolic blood pressure in excess of 150 mmHg was associated with an increased risk of haemorrhage following thyroid surgery.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Counties Manukau District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand. RPMorton@middlemore.co.nz
authors: R P
authors: RP
authors: Morton
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Mak
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Moss
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Ahmad
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Sevao
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data