Sternotomy for substernal goiter: retrospective study of 52 operations.

Purpose: Surgical treatment of substernal goiter occasionally involves sternotomy. Classification and handling of these operations are widely discussed. We aimed to review surgical results after thyroid operations including median sternotomy. Methods: A retrospective review of all thyroid operations performed in the department from 01.01.95 to 31.12.12. In 55 of 2065 thyroid operations (2.7 %), median sternotomy was performed. All hospital journals of the patients were collected and carefully reviewed. Results: We included 52 of 55 identified patients. Pathologic examinations discovered malignant disease in 4 patients (8 %) and multinodular goiter in 48 patients (92 %). Mean operation time was 4 h and 5 min ( n = 48). Mean estimated blood loss was 464 ml ( n = 48). Blood transfusion was given in nine operations (17 %). Median duration of postoperative hospitalization was 7 days (range 4-27 days). Pulmonary complications occurred in 11 patients (21 %): six with pneumonia or atelectasis, three with pneumothorax, and two with pleural effusion. Three patients (6 %) had postoperative hypocalcaemia (permanent in two patients (4 %)). Three patients (6 %) had transient voice changes. Permanent vocal cord paresis was not observed in this series of patients. Conclusion: Thyroid operations with sternotomy are complicated procedures accompanied with considerable pulmonary complications. In spite of a large invasive procedure, the risk of hypoparathyroidism or recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was not increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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