Total thyroidectomy for Graves’ disease: Compliance with American Thyroid Association guidelines may not always be necessary

BackgroundTotal thyroidectomy (TT) is the preferred operative approach to Graves’ disease. Current guidelines of the American Thyroid Association call for the administration of potassium iodide (KI) and achievement of euthyroid state before operation. Small numbers and a mixture of operative approaches spanning several decades hinder previous operative series. We present the outcomes for TT at a single high-volume center.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted on 165 patients undergoing TT for Graves’ disease from July 2007 to May 2012.ResultsMean age was 43 years (range, 17−78), and 128 patients (78%) were female. A total of 95% of patients were on methimazole or propylthiouracil, and 42% remained hyperthyroid at time of TT. Only 3 (2%) patients received KI. Mean operative time was 132 minutes (range, 59−271). Mean gland size and blood loss were 41 g (range, 8−180) and 55 mL (range, 10−1050), respectively. No patient developed thyroid storm. Median follow-up was 7.5 months. Temporary and permanent hypocalcemia developed in 51 (31%) and 2 patients (1.2%), respectively. Temporary and permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis occurred in 12 (7%) and one (0.6%) patient, respectively. Sixty-one (37%) patients experienced at least one complication. On multivariate analysis, patient age younger than 45 years (odds ratio 2.93, 95% confidence interval 1.39–6.19) and obesity (odds ratio 2.11, 95% confidence interval 1.00–4.43) were associated with the occurrence of complications.ConclusionThis high-volume surgeon experience demonstrates no appreciable detriment to patient outcomes when recommendations of the American Thyroid Association for routine use of KI and euthyroid state before thyroidectomy are not met. Transient hypocalcemia and hoarseness are frequent complications of TT for Graves’ disease, resolving within 6 months in most patients. Age younger than 45 years and obesity are risk factors for postoperative complications.