title: Thyroidectomy in high body mass index patients: A single center experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To identify the correlation between high body mass index (BMI ≥ 25) and the risk of postoperative complications of thyroidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparative study between thyroidectomy performed in normal or overweigh-obese patients has been performed. Postoperative outcomes, including hypocalcemia, laryngeal nerve palsy, bleeding, operation time and hospital stay, were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 266 patients underwent total thyroidectomy were included. Of them, 104 patients had a BMI below 25 and 162 patients had a BMI ≥ 25. There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of early or permanent hypoparathyroidism, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, bleeding complications, or postoperative duration of hospital stay. There was, however, a higher operative time in patients with a BMI ≥ 25.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the longer operative time, thyroidectomy can be performed safely in patients with a BMI ≥ 25.
authors.affiliation: University of Naples "Federico II", Department of Advanced Biomedical Science, Italy. Electronic address: milone.marco.md@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milone
authors.affiliation: University of Naples "Federico II", Department of Advanced Biomedical Science, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Musella
authors.affiliation: University of Naples "Federico II", Department of Advanced Biomedical Science, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Conzo
authors.affiliation: University of Naples "Federico II", Department of Advanced Biomedical Science, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campana
authors.affiliation: University of Naples "Federico II", Department of Advanced Biomedical Science, Italy.
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Filippo
authors.affiliation: University of Naples "Federico II", Department of Advanced Biomedical Science, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coretti
authors.affiliation: University of Naples "Federico II", Department of Advanced Biomedical Science, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.affiliation: University of Naples "Federico II", Department of Advanced Biomedical Science, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salvatore
authors.affiliation: University of Naples "Federico II", Department of Advanced Biomedical Science, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.affiliation: University of Naples "Federico II", Department of Advanced Biomedical Science, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Milone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000209:etiology; D007011:Hypoparathyroidism / Q000209:etiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D061646:Operative Time; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000209:etiology
keywords: BMI; Body mass index; Obesity; Thyroid; Thyroidectomy