Reducing the Risk of Significant Bleeding After thyroid and Parathyroid
Surgery: The Role of a Protocol Driven Approach.
Abstract
Introduction Post-operative haemorrhage following thyroid and
parathyroid surgery is a well-recognised life-threatening complication.
Following an audit reporting a reoperation for bleeding rate of 1.3% in
1913 patients, a protocol driven approach including several specific
measures at the time of wound closure (captured by the ‘ITSRED Fred’
mnemonic - Irrigation of wound, Time, Systolic blood pressure
>100 mm Hg, Relief of neck extension, Elevation of venous
pressure, Drain avoidance and Flap evaluation) was implemented and
evaluated. Methods The records of 1525 thyroid and/or parathyroid
surgical procedures in a single tertiary unit between 2017 and 2022 were
reviewed following the implementation of the ‘ITSRED Fred’ protocol. The
rates of re-bleeding requiring surgery and the management of patients
requiring reoperation for bleeding were examined. Results The median
age of the cohort was 53 years with a male: female ratio of 1:4. Of
these, 946 (62%) had thyroid surgery, 541(35%) had parathyroid surgery
and 38(2.5%) had both. Twelve (0.79%) patients had re-operation for
bleeding (lower than previously reported). Of these, 4 (0.26%) required
re-operation before leaving theatre; 6 (0.39%) had bleeding within 6
hours and two (0.13%) after 6 hours. Bleeding rates were 1.06% (n=10)
in thyroid surgery (n=946) compared to 0.37% (n=2) in parathyroid
surgery (n=541). Hospital stay was not increased for those needing
re-operation for bleeding. Conclusions A protocol driven
implementation of specific measures (such as the ‘ITSRED Fred’ protocol)
may reduce the rate of re-operation for bleeding after thyroid and
parathyroid surgery.