Post-thyroidectomy emergency room visits and readmissions: Assessment from the Collaborative Endocrine Surgery Quality Improvement Program (CESQIP)

This study analyzed independent factors associated with post-thyroidectomy Emergency Room (ER) visits and Hospital Readmissions (HR). This is a retrospective review from the CESQIP registry of 8381 thyroidectomy patients by 173 surgeons at 46 institutions. A total of 7142 ER visits and 7265 HR were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the risk factors for an ER visit or HR. Within 30-days of surgery, rates of all ER visits were 3.4% (n = 250) and all HR were 2.3% (n = 170). Hypocalcemia was the reason for 21.9% of ER encounters and 36.4% of HR. BMI >40 kg/m2 was a risk factor for both ER visit (OR1.86) and HR (OR1.94). Surgical duration >3 h (OR2.63), and transection of recurrent laryngeal nerve (OR4.58) were risk factors for HR. Strategies to decrease hypocalcemia and improve perioperative care of patients with BMI >40 kg/m2 may improve post-thyroidectomy outcome. •Hypocalcemia was the most common reason for post-thyroidectomy related complication.•Minor complaints or complaints unrelated to thyroidectomy made up half of the reasons for ER visits.•Complications of swelling/seroma, infection, respiratory distress and neck hematoma are rare.•Patient BMI >40 kg/m2 is a risk factor for ER visit and hospital readmission after thyroidectomy.