Outpatient thyroid surgery is safe and desirable.

Abstract

Thyroid surgery has traditionally been done on an inpatient basis. With the advent of minimal access techniques, drains are frequently not required and ambulatory thyroidectomy is possible. Prospective, nonrandomized analysis of consecutive series of patients. Patients undergoing thyroid surgery between 12/1/04 and 10/31/05 were stratified based on admission status. Demographic data were collected and outcome measures were considered. Ninety-one patients underwent thyroid surgery. Fifty-two were done on an outpatient basis, 26 patients were observed under a 23-hour status, and 13 were admitted. There were two complications in the outpatient group and one in the inpatient group (P = 1.0). Costs were significantly lower for outpatients ($7,814) than for inpatients ($10,288; P < 0.0001). In carefully selected patients who prefer convalescence at home, outpatient thyroidectomy can be performed safely and cost-effectively, particularly when prophylactic calcium supplementation is utilized after total thyroidectomy to prevent transient postoperative hypocalcemia.