Lumps and Bumps: Neck Lumps and Thyroid

Question 1

Complications of Total Thyroidectomy

Answer 1

Complications of total thyroidectomy includes those complications that occur intraoperatively and postoperative complications.

Complications that can occur secondary to the procedure itself or anesthetic complications such as damage to teeth, allergic reactions…
Intraoperative complications includes primary haemorage, damage to local structure, specifically the trachea and laryngeal nerve.

Postoperative complications can be further divided into immediate (3 weeks) complications.
Specific immediate complications include laryngeal oedema and thyroid storm.
Early complications involve reactionary haemorrhage, hypocalcaemia (due to removal of parathyroid glands) and infection
Late complications include hypothyroidism, keloid scar formation and recurrence.