Thyroidectomy

Thyroidectomy is a common surgical procedure that can be associated with significant complications. These include haemorrhage, infection, permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, and hypoparathyroidism. Complications should be relatively uncommon in expert hands. This contribution outlines how to carry out a thyroidectomy, highlights the necessary avoidance measures to keep complications to a minimum, and offers guidelines for difficult cases. After surgery, the appropriate outcome measures should be recorded, and patients are entitled to expect recognized standards of care relating to thyroid surgery.