To summarize the incidence rate, reasons and precautions of postoperative complications in patients undergoing endoscopic thyroidectomy via anterior chest.

A retrospective analysis was carried out of clinical data for two hundred and twenty-six cases with laparoscopic thyroidectomy via anterior chest from June 2009 to June 2012.

The laparoscopic thyroidectomy was successfully carried out in 217 cases. The other 9 cases were converted to open surgery. The operation time ranged from 90 to 200 minutes, a mean of (110 ± 15) minutes. Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury occurred in 3 cases and temporary hoarse voice in 8 patients. Subcutaneous hydrops was found in 13 cases, skin ecchymosis and swelling in 4 cases, and skin adhesion at anterior chest in 3 cases. Two cases had postoperative subcutaneous pneumoderma, and five had intensity and discomfort of neck and thoracic skin.

The most common complication after endoscopic thyroidectomy is the subcutaneous hydrops mainly due to freeing the skin and use of ultrasound scalpel, most of which needs no special treatment and can be reduced or prevented by appropriate selection of the cases, careful observation, and proper use of equipment.