Abstract
Background
Disparities distinguishing patients with substernal goiters from nonsubsternal goiters
have not been thoroughly described.
Methods
The National Inpatient Sample database was used to compare patients who underwent
substernal thyroidectomy years 2000 to 2010 with those who underwent thyroidectomy
for nonsubsternal goiter.
Results
A total of 110,889 patients underwent thyroidectomy for goiter (5,525 substernal and
105,364 nonsubsternal). Substernal thyroidectomy patients were older, more likely
to be Black or Hispanic and to have Medicare insurance. They had a higher comorbidity
index, were more likely to be admitted emergently and to have postoperative complications
such as hemorrhage/hematoma, pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism, and hypocalcemia/hypoparathyroidism.
Furthermore, substernal thyroidectomy patients had 73% increased odds of death during
admission than nonsubsternal thyroidectomy patients.
Conclusions
Substernal goiters present a distinct type of goiter with identifiable patient-level
characteristics and an increased risk of postoperative complications and death. Earlier
identification and treatment of goiters may allow earlier interventions at a stage
when risks are reduced.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 05, 2016
Received in revised form:
November 12,
2015
Received:
June 1,
2015
Footnotes
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
