Pediatric thyroglossal duct cysts: Post-operative complications.

Introduction: Thyroglossal duct cysts (TGDCs) result from incomplete involution of the thyroglossal duct and are resected with a Sistrunk-procedure. We studied and graded severity of postoperative complications in children who underwent this procedure, with corresponding risk factors.

Methods: In our electronic health record system we reviewed the medical records of all patients aged <18 years, with surgically treated TGDC between 01-01-2005 and 31-12-2015 in two university hospitals. Risk factors (age, gender, recurrence at presentation, treatment hospital, cyst inflammation, cyst rupture, drain placement, antibiotics or postoperative infection) were studied by univariate analysis. The Clavien-Dindo surgical complication classification was used as postoperative surgical grading system.

Results: Of the ninety-one patients, with a mean age of 4.4 years, seven were referred from other hospitals with a recurrent TGDC. 24 patients (26.4%) had a complication. Hemorrhage and resection of thyroid cartilage were the most severe complications. Recurrence and wound infection (both n = 7, 7.7%) were most common. We could not identify risk factors for these complications.

Conclusions: The treatment of children with thyroglossal duct cysts shows a considerable amount of complications. Pre-selected risk factors did not show any significant correlation with these complications.