OUTPATIENT THYROIDECTOMY

In current clinical practice, the concept of outpatient surgery could apply to thyroidectomy. As the thyroid is anatomically accessible, its removal is not physiologically disabling; it makes surgery safer and precludes hospitalization. To evaluate the feasibility and solidity of outpatient thyroidectomy (OPT), the authors conducted a 12 1/2-year s tudy (1982-1994), including an earlier 4-year randomized trial on 309 and cumulative posttrial experiences in 869 cases. The results showed the safety, practicality, and efficacy of OPT as compared with standar d thyroidectomy. The study confirms the validity of OPT and is suggest ed for selected patients with thyroid disease. (C) 1997 by Excerpta Me dica, Inc.