Comparison of postoperative complications in benign thyroid disorders: subtotal versus total thyroidectomy, an institutional experience

Subtotal and total thyroidectomy are the surgeries commonly performed for benign thyroid disorders. Total thyroidectomy was not routinely performed in the past as it was believed that complications like hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury are more common after total thyroidectomy. However subtotal thyroidectomy is associated with recurrence of the disease which warrants a second surgery. Reoperation has higher rate of above mentioned complications. The aim of our study was to compare the post operative complications in patients undergoing subtotal thyroidectomy with those undergoing total thyroidectomy. Our study involved 140 patients out of which 37 and 103 patients underwent subtotal and total thyroidectomy respectively. Post operative complications, mainly hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury were compared between the study groups. The incidence of complications were almost similar in both the groups and was slightly higher in patients with total thyroidectomy. As chances of recurrence of disease is high in patients undergoing subtotal thyroidectomy and nil in total thyroidectomy group, we came to the conclusion that total thyroidectomy can be considered as a suitable and safe operative procedure for benign thyroid diseases.