Risk of Bleeding After Thyroid Surgery: Matched Pairs Analysis

Objective: To identify those patients most at risk of developing a compressive post-operative haematoma following thyroid surgery.

Method: Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing thyroid surgery. Factors associated with the group of patients who developed a post-operative haematoma were examined using a matched pairs, case-control design.

Results: Following 355 thyroid operations, seven patients developed a post-operative haematoma requiring return to the operating theatre for bleeding control. A post-operative systolic blood pressure of greater than 150 mmHg, in the post-anaesthetic care unit, was the major significant factor identified by regression analysis (p = 0.002). Current smoking status was also a significant factor (p = 0.04).

Conclusion: In our facility, a post-anaesthetic systolic blood pressure in excess of 150 mmHg was associated with an increased risk of haemorrhage following thyroid surgery.