A CLINICAL STUDY OF BLEEDING AFTER THYROID OPERATION

A retrospective analysis of 10 patients with thyroid disease who underwent reoperation for postoperative bleeding was performed to know the prevention and strategies for this complication. There were five patients with Graves disease (subtotoal thyroidectomy), three with benign thyroid tumors (extirpation of thyroid tumors), and two with thyroid carcinoma. Eight of 10 patients were reoperated within 6 hours after initial operation. All patients had a complaint of pulsion of the anterior neck. Four patients complained of dyspnea. Removal of hematoma, hemostasis and closed drainage under general anesthesia were done in 9 and under local ansthesia in one patient. The origins of bleeding were twig of artery in anterior neck muscles in four, twig of the superior thyroid artery in two, inferior thyroid vein in one, subcutaneus vein in one and indistinctness in two patients. No complication occurred after reoperation and they were discharged from the hospital 10.7 days on an average after initial operation. Postoperative bleeding often occur from twigs of artery in the surrounding tissues in a short time after operation. A sure hemostasis by ligation of fine vessels and careful observation after operation are important. Prompt surgical treatment brings about favorable outcome if postoperative bleeding has occurred.