Associations between body mass index and complications after total thyroidectomy: An analysis of patient records at a large public hospital in Ankara, Turkey

Abstract

[Accepted Research Article]

Background: Obesity is a major public health problem and rates have increased. The aim of the current study was to compare the surgical outcomes of total thyroidectomy at a normal weight, overweight, and obese patients.

Methods: Six hundred and one patients who underwent thyroidectomy between 2009 - 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, preoperative diagnosis, preoperative biochemical markers, length of stay, operative time, and postoperative histopathological diagnosis, and complications were recorded. Patients were categorized into three groups according to body mass index: Group A (normal), Group B (overweight), and Group C (obese).

Results: In the current study, 415 patients underwent total thyroidectomy. Of these, 81 (19.5%) patients were identified with Group A, 164 (39.5%) patients with Group B, and 170 (41%) patients Group C. There was no statistically significant difference between all groups except gender distribution, in terms of age, comorbid illness, preoperative biochemical markers, postoperative diagnosis. There was no difference between the groups in terms of postoperative length of stay and operative time (p>0,05). No statistically significant difference was observed between groups in terms of postoperative complications (p>0,05).

Conclusions:  In light of our present study, we can say that obese and overweight patients did not face high complication rates while undergoing total thyroidectomy.