Abstract
Objective: To compare open thyroidectomy with
and without neck extension in terms of mean
postoperative pain.
Methodology: This randomized control trial was
conducted at Department of Surgery, Benazir
Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi for a period of six
months. A total 160 patients, 80 in each group,
were included through non- probability
consecutive sampling. In Group A, thyroidectomy
was performed with standard thirty-degree
reverse Trendelenburg tilt and neck extension and
in Group B, there was no extension group. Visual
analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure
postoperative pain. SPSS version 21 was used for
data analysis.
Results: Males were slightly more in number
(51.87%) than females (48.12%). Mean age was
41.93±10.587 years. Pain scores at 24 hours
post-surgery were 3.56 ±1.077 in Group A and
2.58 ±1.123 in Group B (p< 0.05).
Conclusion: Open subtotal thyroidectomy
without neck extension caused less postoperative
pain as compared to surgery with neck extension.
Further randomized, multicenter large controlled
trials are required to establish this fact. (Rawal
Med J 202;45:84-86).
