Risks and complications of thyroid surgery

: Despite technical improvements, complications may still occur after thyroid surgery, mostly after total thyroidectomy, removal of diving or suffocating goiters for Graves' disease or carcinoma, and in reoperations. Hypoparathyreosis or unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy are observed in 10% of the patients but persist in only 1% of the cases managed by orthophony or vitaminocalcic supply. Two early complications are severe respiratory obstruction by bilateral nerve palsy and suffocating haematoma. Claude-Bernard Horner syndrome, lymphorrhea, abscess or disgraciods scar are rarely observed. The prevention of these complications requires adequate surgical indications performed by specialized endocrine surgeons.