A retrospective review was performed to assess the surgical complicati
ons of thyroidectomy performed by otolaryngology residents under close
supervision by faculty, One hundred eighty-six consecutive cases of t
hyroidectomy performed by the residents in the Department of Otolaryng
ology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Southern California w
ere reviewed. Sixty-nine percent of thyroidectomies were performed for
malignant or possible malignant diseases, and 31% were performed for
benign conditions, Transient (less than 2 weeks in duration) hypocalce
mia occurred in 26% of the patients; the vast majority of cases resolv
ed within the first week. Five percent of the patients developed persi
stent hypocalcemia requiring prolonged replacement therapy. The incide
nce of unexpected postoperative permanent vocal cord paralysis was 0.9
%. These complication rates are comparable to those in previously publ
ished large series on results of thyroidectomy. Thyroidectomy performe
d in an otolaryngology residency training program is a safe procedure
when closely supervised by experienced faculty.