Voice- and swallowing-related symptoms after total thyroidectomy: evidence from a Brazilian national survey

ABSTRACT Purpose: to estimate the prevalence of voice- and swallowing-related symptoms in women submitted total thyroidectomy. Methods: a population-based, observational, cross-sectional, analytical study, based on Brazilian national survey. A 252 women, aged 18 58 years, thyroidectomy, residing five geographical regions country participated study. All them answered version Thyroidectomy-Related Voice Questionnaire translated adapted into Portuguese, besides questions demographic clinical issues. descriptive analysis categorical quantitative variables was conducted. The relationship between TVQ score independent analyzed with Mann-Whitney Kruskal-Wallis tests. significance level used 5%. Results: most prevalent were, tired voice, after talking for long time (50%), dry mouth/thirst (43.3%). voice-related were more than those related swallowing. not age group (p=0.141), profession (p=0.213), region residence (p=0.303), since surgery (p=0.955), radiotherapy/radioiodine therapy (p=0.666). Conclusion: thyroidectomy have high symptoms, former being predominant.