Objective: To identify risk factors for bleeding after thyroid surgery, and discuss the potential relevance between the bleeding timing and sources.
Methods: A total of 2568 cases that underwent thyroid operation from June 2012 to June 2013 were collected and analysed retrospectively the risk factors for postoperative bleeding by Cox and the potential relevance between the bleeding timing and sources.
Results: Among 2568 patients, 40 patients occurred postoperative bleeding Indentified risk factors were extent resection (P=0.0435) and surgeon (P=0.0071). Thyroid bed and strap muscles/sternocleidomastoid were the most common sources of bleeding after surgery within 6 hours; while thyroid bed was the most common source of bleeding after surgery between 6 and 8 h; wound errhysis was the most common source during 8-24 h after the operation; thyroid bed and strap muscles/sternocleidomastoid were the most common sources within 24 h after thgroid surgery.
Conclusions: Bleeding after thyroid surgery is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication, and the extent of resection and the surgeon are risk factors. Thyroid bed and strap muscles/sternocleidomastoid are the most common sources of bleeding after surgery within 24 hours.