Publication:

Thyroidectomy by lateral approach our experience of 218 cases

Background Thyroidectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedure worldwide. During the last century, it became an accepted operation. The aim of the study was to observe the outcome of thyroid surgery by lateral approach.

Methods A prospective study was conducted in department of ENT, National institute of ENT, Tejgaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2015 to June 2019. A total number of 218 patients of thyroid surgeries were selected as a study sample by simple random sampling technique.

Results In our study, male to female ratio was 1:4.3 with an age ranges from 10-70 years. Mean age was 38.5±8.10 years. Among the participants, 80 were carcinoma thyroid and 138 were benign thyroid diseases. Out of 138 benign thyroid lesions, nodular goitres were 126 (91.30%), follicular adenoma were 8 (5.79%), and toxic MNG were 4 (2.89%). Among 80 cases of carcinoma thyroid, papillary carcinoma were 75 (93.75%), follicular carcinoma were 2 (2.57%) and medullary carcinoma were 3 (3.75%). 28 patients of carcinoma thyroid presented with neck node metastasis. We could identify 382 (98.96%) of recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLN). Temporary paresis of RLN were 16 (4.16%), permanent RLN palsy was 03 (0.78%). Temporary parathyroid insufficiency were 47 (27.97%), permanent insufficiency were 2 (1.19%) up to one year follow up.

Conclusions Lateral approach to thyroid is a safe alternative to the standard approach for re-explorative thyroid surgery. Lateral approach to thyroid is an alternative to both conventional thyroidectomy and for parathyroid explorations.