Major outpatient surgery of the thyroid and parathyroid glands. Results after 6 years experience

Abstract

Objetive: Ambulatory or overnight stay surgery have been consolidated in many different procedures. However, its use in thyroid and parathyroid surgery is still controversial. The aim of this report is to present the results of 6 years of ambulatory patients undergoing surgery of the thyroid or parathyroid glands.

Material and Methods: Prospective observational study of patients who underwent hemithyroidectomy or selective parathyroidectomy in the ambulatory program from January 2011 to December 2016. All patients included met the general criteria of ambulatory surgery. During the first years nodules bigger than 3cm and patients classified as ASA III were excluded. Patients arrive at hospital the morning of surgery. After the operation, patients pass to the post-anesthesia care unit and then to the hospitalization room. 8 hours after surgery patients are discharged home if they meet the criteria.

Results: 270 patients were operated, 159 of them met the inclusion criteria. The overall applicability rate was 59%. The acceptance rate was 83.6% and the substitution index was 49.2%. The unwanted hospital admission was 10.4% for the parathyroidectomy and 17.6% for the hemithyroidectomy. Any patient presented major complications at home. The satisfaction rate was high or very high for 94% of the patients.

Conclusion: Selective parathyroidectomy and hemithyroidectomy performed by experienced surgeons in selected patients can be safely and effectively carried out in ambulatory surgery (outpatient). It would be possible to improve the substitution index by increasing the application and acceptability ratios.