Total thyroidectomy: the procedure of choice for multinodular goitre

OBJECTIVE: To review our experience of total thyroidectomy for bilateral multinodular goitre.
DESIGN: Prospective open study.
SETTING: Teaching hospital, Malaysia.
SUBJECTS: 98 consecutive patients whose bilateral multinodular goitres were treated by total thyroidectomy, January 1998-November 1999.
INTERVENTION: A revised technique of total thyroidectomy in which more attention than is customary was paid to the exposure and safety of the laryngeal nerves and the parathyroid glands. All patients had at least 1 parathyroid gland autotransplanted.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morbidity and mortality
RESULTS: There were no injuries to the recurrent laryngeal nerves and no patient developed persistent hypocalcaemia; 27/98 developed transient hypocalcaemia, but this had settled by 6 months postoperatively. 59 patients had persistent symptoms of pressure preoperatively, and these all resolved by 3 months postoperatively. 6 patients had occult malignant disease discovered on histological examination, and 3 developed minor wound infections.
CONCLUSIONS: Total thyroidectomy is the procedure of choice for bilateral multinodular goitres, provided that sufficient attention is paid to the preservation of the laryngeal nerves and the parathyroid glands.