A fifteen year experience of total thyroidectomy for the management of simple multinodular goitres in a low medium income country

INTRODUCTION: Total thyroidectomy as a treatment for simple multinodular goitre is not well recognised in most centres in low middle income countries. METHODS: This paper is a retrospective review of outcomes of total thyroidectomy for simple multinodular goitres in the last fifteen years in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. RESULTS: A total of 652 thyroidectomies were done from January 2001 to December 2015. Simple multinodular goitres were indication for a total thyroidectomy in 447 patients (68.6%) with a male to female ratio of 1:6. Postoperative complications were hypocalcaemia in 22 (4.9%), unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in 13 (2.8%) and haemorrhage in 2 patients. Others were seroma and cellulitis. Tracheostomy was required in 35 (5.8%) patients but none was permanent. CONCLUSION: Total thyroidectomy is a relatively safe treatment option for patients who have simple multinodular goitre. It provides a permanent cure with a low postoperative morbidity risk. The burden of replacement l-thyroxine needs to be discussed with the patients.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Afolabi,A O, Ayandipo,O O, Afuwape,O O, Ogundoyin,O A
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Association of Surgeons of South Africa 2016
Online Access:http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0038-23612016000400010
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Summary:INTRODUCTION: Total thyroidectomy as a treatment for simple multinodular goitre is not well recognised in most centres in low middle income countries. METHODS: This paper is a retrospective review of outcomes of total thyroidectomy for simple multinodular goitres in the last fifteen years in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. RESULTS: A total of 652 thyroidectomies were done from January 2001 to December 2015. Simple multinodular goitres were indication for a total thyroidectomy in 447 patients (68.6%) with a male to female ratio of 1:6. Postoperative complications were hypocalcaemia in 22 (4.9%), unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in 13 (2.8%) and haemorrhage in 2 patients. Others were seroma and cellulitis. Tracheostomy was required in 35 (5.8%) patients but none was permanent. CONCLUSION: Total thyroidectomy is a relatively safe treatment option for patients who have simple multinodular goitre. It provides a permanent cure with a low postoperative morbidity risk. The burden of replacement l-thyroxine needs to be discussed with the patients.