title: Outpatient Thyroidectomy: Is it Safe?
abstract: Outpatient thyroid surgery is controversial because of concerns over life-threatening cervical hematoma. Despite this concern, outpatient thyroidectomy is becoming increasingly common, especially among high-volume endocrine surgeons. Multiple studies have now demonstrated that careful patient selection combined with surgeon experience can result in successful and safe surgery without a full inpatient admission. This article reviews the data on safety and outcomes for outpatient thyroidectomy and discusses several techniques used to minimize risk to patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Avenue, K3/704 Clinical Science Center, Madison, WI 53792-7375, USA.
authors.forename: Courtney J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Balentine
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Avenue, K3/704 Clinical Science Center, Madison, WI 53792-7375, USA. Electronic address: sippel@surgery.wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Sippel
mesh_terms: D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Hematoma; Outpatient thyroidectomy; Safety; Same day thyroidectomy; Short stay thyroidectomy