Brian Hung-Hin Lang1, Chung-Yau Lo. 1. Division of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong Medical Centre, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Total thyroidectomy for multinodular goiter (MNG) is increasingly being performed for the elderly population and yet their perioperative and long-term outcomes remain unclear. METHODS: A total of 279 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for MNG in a university-based hospital during a 9-year period were analyzed according to their age at the time of operation. RESULTS: The duration of operation (P=.023), intraoperative blood loss (P=.030), weight of resected thyroid glands (P<.001) and proportion of retrosternal goiter (P<.001) were significantly greater in the elderly group (>/=70 years) (n = 55), but the incidence of surgically related complications, including recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and hypoparathyroidism, was similar. Postoperative pneumonia occurred more frequently in the elderly group (P=.034). The number of comorbidities tended to correlate with the length of hospital stay and long-term survival in elderly patients. CONCLUSIONS: Total thyroidectomy for MNG in elderly patients had a similar perioperative outcome as their younger counterparts, but their long-term outcome is likely to be influenced by the number of comorbidities.
BACKGROUND: Total thyroidectomy for multinodular goiter (MNG) is increasingly being performed for the elderly population and yet their perioperative and long-term outcomes remain unclear. METHODS: A total of 279 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for MNG in a university-based hospital during a 9-year period were analyzed according to their age at the time of operation. RESULTS: The duration of operation (P=.023), intraoperative blood loss (P=.030), weight of resected thyroid glands (P<.001) and proportion of retrosternal goiter (P<.001) were significantly greater in the elderly group (>/=70 years) (n = 55), but the incidence of surgically related complications, including recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and hypoparathyroidism, was similar. Postoperative pneumonia occurred more frequently in the elderly group (P=.034). The number of comorbidities tended to correlate with the length of hospital stay and long-term survival in elderly patients. CONCLUSIONS: Total thyroidectomy for MNG in elderly patients had a similar perioperative outcome as their younger counterparts, but their long-term outcome is likely to be influenced by the number of comorbidities.