The challenges experienced by patients in the early period after thyroidectomy and the effects on sleep quality

TL;DR

This study explores how common post-surgery issues after thyroidectomy, like pain and sore throat, affect patients' sleep quality in the early recovery period.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the specific postoperative challenges affecting sleep quality after thyroidectomy and emphasizes the need for better clinical management.

Findings

Pain, difficulty swallowing, and sore throat were the most commonly reported postoperative issues.

These issues significantly decreased sleep quality, as measured by the Richard Campbell Sleep Scale.

Symptoms like Chvostek’s sign and Trousseau’s sign were also linked to poor sleep quality.

Abstract

Thyroidectomy, a standard surgical procedure, can lead to various postoperative issues that can significantly affect a patient’s sleep quality. This study, addressing a topic of significant importance to thyroid surgery and patient care, engages healthcare professionals, researchers, and academics, providing crucial insights into the challenges faced by patients in the early period after thyroidectomy and their effects on sleep quality.

The primary aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of postoperative issues experienced by patients in the early period after thyroidectomy and their influence on sleep quality.

This descriptive and prospective study, conducted with a sample of 104 thyroidectomy patients hospitalized in a university’s Ear, Nose, and Throat clinic between 2021 and 2023, employed a comprehensive set of tools for data collection. These tools included a questionnaire, Visual Analog Scale for pain and nausea, Symptom Severity Scale, and Richard Campbell Sleep Scale, ensuring a thorough investigation into the prevalence of postoperative issues and their influence on sleep quality.

The most frequently reported postoperative issues were pain, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, dry mouth, nausea-vomiting, tingling, hoarseness, Chvostek’s sign, tremors (tetany), Trousseau’s sign, and bleeding. Analysis of the pre-and postoperative Richard Campbell Sleep Scale scores revealed a significant decrease in sleep quality post-surgery, particularly in patients experiencing sore throat, difficulty swallowing, pain, Chvostek’s sign, and Trousseau’s sign.

Our study has revealed that patients’ three most commonly reported problems after thyroidectomy are pain, difficulty swallowing, and sore throat. Importantly, these issues significantly impact sleep quality, underscoring the need for effective management to improve patient recovery. This study enhances our understanding of postoperative issues after thyroidectomy and inspires improved clinical practices in managing these challenges.

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