HRQOL after endoscopic transaxillary gasless hemithyroidectomy

Introduction: Endoscopic transaxillary gasless hemithyroidectomy (TAH) is one of several different hemithyroidectomy approaches. TAH has the advantage of better cosmesis compared to open surgery, although we have a lack of information about patient health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after TAH. Aim: To evaluate HRQOL after TAH. Material and methods: The prospective clinical study involved 40 patients who underwent TAH. Patient demographic and clinical data were collected. Patients completed the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) before surgery, and at 1 and 6 months after surgery. Patients were followed up at an outpatient clinic for a check-up and postoperative evaluation. Patient HRQOL preoperative scores were compared with the general population. Results: All patients were female, with a median age of 32 years and median body mass index of 23 kg/m2. The overall complication rate was 12.5%. According to the SF-36, patient HRQOL 1 month after TAH decreased in role physical (RP) and bodily pain (BP) scores (p < 0.05). RP and BP scores reached the preoperative level 6 months after surgery. Patients' role emotional score 6 months after surgery was higher than before surgery (78.94 & PLUSMN;34.16 vs. 93.38 & PLUSMN;19.24; p < 0.05). Role physical, general health, physical functioning and vitality scores were changed (p < 0.05) 1 month after surgery in patients with different pathological examination results, lobe weight, lobe volume and postoperative complications. Conclusions: Patient HRQOL scores are higher 6 months after TAH than before surgery. Thyroiditis in pathological examination, resected lobe weight and volume, postoperative complications have significance to postoperative HRQOL scores.