Association of Preoperative Thyroid Hormone Replacement with Increased Morbidity and Length of Stay in Major Abdominal Surgery

Preoperative thyroid hormone replacement is significantly associated with higher morbidity and longer length of stay following major abdominal surgery. A retrospective study on 2700 patients found that those on thyroid replacement had a 1.5-fold increased risk of serious morbidity and a 1.7-fold greater risk for serious sepsis. They also had a longer length of stay compared to patients not on thyroid replacement. These findings imply that preoperative thyroid hormone replacement independently predicts operative morbidity and longer hospital stays.