Thyroid Surgery What are the risks?

Recurrent nerve injury accounts for 2-3% of medical legal claims in general surgery.
Identification of the nerve is a key to reduction in nerve injuries.

Nerves not identified during the surgery 5.2% nerve injury
Nerves identified during the surgery 1.2% nerve injury

Parathyroid Calcium damage 1-4% present incidence
This is due to these procedures at surgery
Routine idenification of the glands at surgery,
preserving blood supply, autotransplantation
of parathyroid glands damaged and without blood supply.

Experience of 50-150 thyroidectomies a year by the surgeon, results in the lowest complication rate.
Check out the surgeon before you sign up for the surgery

Dr.G.

Who Should Do Your Thyroid Surgery?

60,000 thyroidectomies were performed in the US in 2002.
This is the most common surgery done, even more than hernia repair! Remember the volume of cases per year is a key factor in short hospital stays, and a reduced complication rate for coronary bypass surgery, transplants, value repalcements, and pancreatic cancer surgery. Well, it also applies to thyroid cancer surgery. During 1991-1996, in Maryland, the high volume thyroid surgeons, had the best results! The one surgeon that did 346 thyroidectomies over 6 years, or 60 per year had the best results! Thyroid Vol.15 #3 p.185-187, 2005
The range of complication rates reported.
Permanent Nerve Damage 0%-14%
Permanent Parathyroid Damage 1.2-11%

Where do you want to be after surgery?
I would want to be in the 0% or 1.2 % group, who took the time to research the surgeon before letting them put me under their knives.

Many HMO's let any general surgeon, or ENT, or head and neck surgeon do thyroid surgery. Think twice before allowing this to happen to you.

Dr.G.