From 1990 to 1997, 318 patients had undergone operations for thyroid carcinoma at our facility. We investigated the complications observed in these cases retrospectively, and summarized them in this report.
Postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy was observed in 70 cases; the palsy was temporary in 39 sides, but was permanent in 33 sides. There was no statistical difference in the frequency of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy whether we performed a paratracheal dissection or not.
Postoperative hypoparathyroidism was observed in 124 cases; this was temporary in 59 cases and permanent in 65 cases. Surgeons should therefore preserve or transplant at least two parathyroid glands, if possible, especially during a total thyroidectomy.
