Effect of different surgical methods on the serum thyroid hormone level in patients after thyroidectomy

Objective: To explore the effect of three different surgical methods on the serum thyroid hormone (TH) level and postoperative living quality in patients after thyroidectomy. Methods: A total of 101 patients who were admitted in our hospital and underwent thyroidectomy were included in the study and divided into group A (n=40, performed with unilateral thyroidectomy), group B (n=40, performed with bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy), and group C (n=21, performed with total thyroidectomy) according to different surgical methods, among which the patients in group A and B were divided into the control group (A1 and B1), and the observation group (A2 and B2) with 20 cases in each group according to whether requiring replacement therapy or not after operation. The patients in the observation group and group C were given replacement therapy, while the patients in the control group were given no replacement therapy. The serum TT3, TT4, FT3, and FT4 levels, and the living quality 1 year after operation in each group were observed and compared. Results: The serum TT3, TT4, FT3, and FT4 levels in group A2, B2, and C were not significantly different from those before operation. The serum TT3 and TT4 levels in group A1 and B1 were not significantly different from those before operation, while the serum FT3 and FT4 levels 7 d after operation were significantly reduced when compared with before operation. The serum FT3 and FT4 levels in group A1 and B1 were recovered to the preoperative state 1 and 3 months after operation. When compared with group A, the living quality index scores 1 year after operation in group B and C were reduced to a different degree, especially for group C, the physiological function, affection function, and social activity function were significantly reduced. Conclusions: Different surgical methods can produce different effects on TH, while given replacement therapy can maintain the normal levels of TT3, TT4, FT3, and FT4 to prevent the occurrence of hypothyroidism. The total thyroidectomy has a great effect on the living quality