An overview of thyroid gland surgery in Khartoum Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Thyroidectomy is the second common surgical operation performed in Khartoum Teaching Hospital. The thyroid gland diseases are many and common in Sudan, almost all types of thyroid diseases are seen, yet endemic goitre warrant special note, as it is seen in western Sudan where iodine deficiency is known. Thyroidectomy is not without risks; it is known to have many complications, the things which dictate the need of perfection in the patient selection, investigations, operative and postoperative care. Methodology: One hundred and sixty two patients underwent thyroidectomy in Khartoum Teaching Hospital in the period January 2001 to June 2002 was both retrospectively and prospectively analyzed. The information was collected using a data collection sheet and a questionnaire respectively. Both included the presentation, indications for thyroidectomy, surgical procedure and the immediate postoperative complications. The data were analyzed and the results were obtained in the form of tables and figures. Results: Mean age of patients was 42 years. The male to female ratio was found to be 1: 7. Multinodular goitre was the commonest presentation (56.5%). 63.1% of patients had their goitre for more than five years. Pressure symptoms were seen in 38.3% of patients. Thoracic inlet G x-ray showed tracheal compression, deviation, and substernal extension in one third patients. The commonest indication for surgery was for cosmetic reasons (22.2%), followed by pressure symptoms (19.8%). The commonest postoperative complications were voice change (19.1%), followed by airway obstruction (13.0%), bleeding (3.7%), and RLN palsy (3.1%). The mortality rate was 2.4%, all died of respiratory obstruction. Conclusion: The study is comparable to the literature in most of its aspects.