Thyroïdectomie ambulatoire : recommandations de l'Association francophone de chirurgie endocrinienne (AFCE). Enquête sur les pratiques actuelles

The standard today is at least an overnight hospital stay. In fact, hospital stay can be less than 24 h because the risk of cervical compressive hematoma is very unusual beyond this interval. Ambulatory (outpatient) thyroidectomy (0 nights) is possible under certain conditions for highly selected patients according to criteria described in the literature that also define relative contra-indications. In case of life-threatening or functional complications, the surgeon stands first in the line of responsibility. The surgeon must therefore ensure that the patient and family were fully informed of the contra-indications, the normal course of postoperative events, of pertinent elements of postoperative surveillance and of the conditions under which the patient can be safely discharged. The surgeon must also realize that this type of management is time-consuming.