Postoperative complications and preventive strategies of complications following thyroidectomy

Goiter is the most common condition encountered in surgical endocrinology, and thyroidectomy is considered the mostly done endocrine surgical procedure worldwide. In the modern era, thyroidectomy is considered one of the safest surgical procedures. However, complications from thyroidectomy can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life. Although the mortality rate following thyroidectomy is rare, the occurrence of major complications is still seen. Those complications include postoperative bleeding, hypocalcaemia, vocal cord palsy, injury to the superior laryngeal nerve, hypothyroidism, thyrotoxic storm, and postoperative infection. Changes in voice and difficulty in swallowing are complications that require further investigation and clarification. Identification of predictive factors of post-operative complications and adherence to preventive strategies will improve the outcome of thyroidectomy.