Risk factors for postoperative hemorrhage and airway obstruction following thyroid surgery

Thyroid surgery is commonly performed ; however, when severe postoperative complications such as hemorrhage or airway obstruction occur, prompt intervention is required.In this retrospective study, we analyzed 471 cases of thyroid surgery performed at our institution between 2017 and 2024 to investigate risk factors for postoperative complications requiring emergency management.Postoperative complications occurred in 9 cases (1.9%) , including 7 cases of hemorrhage and 3 cases of airway obstruction (with overlap) .Multivariate analysis identified operative time ≥ 130 minutes, blood loss ≥ 80mL, total thyroidectomy, and Gravesʼ disease as independent risk factors.In high-risk cases, the use of intraoperative nerve monitoring and consideration of staged surgery may contribute to improved safety.This study highlights the importance of early detection and preventive management of postoperative complications.