Impact of Postoperative Issues on Sleep Quality Following Thyroidectomy

The most common issues experienced among patients who had undergone thyroidectomy were pain, difficulty swallowing, and sore throat — all of which can be a detriment to sleep quality.

As study authors noted, thyroidectomy is “the most commonly performed safe model of endocrine surgery worldwide, although postoperative complications can arise.” One study found nearly 30% of patients develop complications at the first follow-up after thyroidectomy, and about 20% developed permanent complications at the 6-month follow-up. For cancer patients overall, “sleep disturbances … is reported to be 33% to 40%, which is approximately twice the reported rate in the general population.

This descriptive, prospective study collected data from 104 patients who had undergone thyroidectomy between 2021 and 2023. Data was collected via questionnaire, Visual Analog Scale for pain and nausea, Symptom Severity Scale, and Richard Campbell Sleep Scale. The primary aim of this study was to determine the postoperative issues experienced by patients in the early period following thyroidectomy, and the impact of those issues on the patients’ sleep quality.

The most common postoperative issues reported included pain, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, dry mouth, nausea/vomiting, tingling, hoarseness, Chvostek’s sign, tremors, Trousseu’s sign, and bleeding. When comparing the pre-operative and post-operative Richard Campbell Sleep Scale scores, there was a significant decrease in sleep quality post-operatively (average pre-operative score: 70.078; average post-operative score: 40.723). This decrease was seen especially among patients who experienced sore throat, difficult swallowing, pain, Chvostek's sign, and Trousseau’s sign. Study authors noted the 3 most commonly reported postoperative problems were “pain, difficulty swallowing, and sore throat,” and that “these issues significantly impact sleep quality, underscoring the need for effective management to improve patient recovery.”

Study authors concluded, “This study enhances our understanding of postoperative issues after thyroidectomy and inspires improved clinical practices in managing these challenges.” They added that patients “should be counseled about possible complications in the preoperative period” and “included in routine follow-up plans even after discharge from the hospital.”

Source:

Maraş Baydoğan G, Sürme Y, and Kütük Karasungu S. The challenges experienced by patients in the early period after thyroidectomy and the effects on sleep quality. Support Care Cancer. Published Online: May 1, 2025. doi:10.1007/s00520-025-09483-w