Benefits and risks

Information for the public

The evidence that NICE looked at for video‑assisted keyhole surgery to remove the thyroid gland showed that the procedure was safe enough and worked well enough to be used on the NHS for this condition.

The 10 studies that NICE looked at involved a total of 2300 patients treated by video‑assisted keyhole surgery.

Generally, they showed the following benefits:

87% of patients with thyroid cancer were disease-free about 3.5 years after surgery
thyroid cancer hadn't come back in any patients and no patients died because of the disease up to about 5 years after treatment
1‑7% of patients who started having video‑assisted keyhole surgery had to change to have open surgery
less pain 24‑48 hours after the operation
better cosmetic results and more satisfaction with the outcome
less risk of the voice and swallowing being affected.

The studies showed that the risks included:

a side effect or complication in 10% of patients
paralysis of a nerve going to the voice box in 1‑2% of patients, which can affect ability to make high-pitched sounds
damage to a nerve going to the voice box in 2% of patients, which can cause changes such as difficulty in speaking or swallowing
bleeding after the operation in 1 patient, who needed more surgery
wound infection in 2 patients
underactive parathyroid glands in 4 patients
low calcium levels in the blood, which was temporary in 12 patients and permanent in 2 patients
a skin burn in 5 patients.

NICE was also told about another possible risk: bruising.

If you want to know more about the studies see the guidance. Ask your health professional to explain anything you don't understand.