A complication of thyroidectomy: Do not forget suture reaction

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we aimed to present patients who have developed suture reaction and were treated in our clinic following thyroidectomy operation.
Material and Methods: Patients who had been treated for suture reaction following thyroidectomy between January 2012 and December 2014 were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were analyzed in terms of their age, gender, duration of the symptoms, type of previous operation and treatment modality.
Results: Between January 2012 and December 2014, 559 thyroid/parathyroid operations were performed in our clinic. A total of 12 patients were admitted with suture reaction within this period thus yielding a suture reaction incidence of 2.1%. The mean age of these patients was 42±7.65 years, 75% of them were female while 25% of them were male. The types of previous operations were bilateral total thyroidectomy in 83.3%, lobectomy in 8.3% and near total thyroidectomy in 8.3% of the patients. The mean symptom duration was 7.2±4.3 (2-16) months. Two patients (16.7%) underwent a second surgical operation for suture reaction, while 10 patients (83.3%) were treated conservatively. None of the patients developed complications.
Conclusion: One of the most common complications that develop after thyroidectomy is bleeding. Ligation must be performed in order to prevent this complication. As it is known, surgical ligation with sutures may cause tissue reaction. Sutures that are absorbable and have a low risk for reaction formation should be chosen if suturing is preferred.

Cite this paper as: Kanat BH, Bozan MB, Emir S, Yazar FM, Erol F, Alataş Ö, Altınsoy HB, Aksu A. A complication of thyroidectomy: Do not forget suture reaction. Turk J Surg 2017; 33(2): 58-61

Authors declared that the research was conducted according to the principles of the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki “Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects”. (amended in October 2013).

Written informed consent was obtained from patients who participated in this study.

Externally peer-reviewed.

Concept - B.H.K., F.M.Y., S.E.; Design - B.H.K., M.B.B., F.M.Y., S.E.; Supervision - M.B.B., B.H.K., F.M.Y.; Resource - M.B.B., F.M.Y., B.H.K., Ö.A., H.B.A.; Materials - F.M.Y., B.H.K., Ö.A., H.B.A.; Data Collection and/or Processing - F.E., A.A., Ö.A., H.B.A.; Analysis and/or Interpretation - B.H.K., M.B.B., F.M.Y.; Literature Search - A.A., Ö.A., F.E., M.B.B., Writing Manuscript - B.H.K., M.B.B., S.E.; Critical Reviews - F.M.Y., S.E., B.H.K., M.B.B.; Other - A.A., Ö.A., H.B.A.

No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

The authors declared that this study has received no financial support.