Table 2.

Patient selection criteria for outpatient thyroidectomy.

Patient Factors
No major co-morbidities, ASA score of 2 or less
No current pregnancy
BMI <30 and no known diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea
No neurological (visual or auditory) impairment or psychiatric disorders that  could impair communication and/or compliance with instructions
No known medically irreversible bleeding diatheses
Patient referred to the Surgical Pre-admission Clinic and achieved clearance for  outpatient surgery
Social Factors
Patient willing to participate
Patient has adequate support at home (presence of a caregiver for 48 hours)
Patient and caregiver understanding of pre-operative education
Transportation availability and patient’s proximity to a tertiary care center  hospital (<30 minutes)
Surgical Factors
Absence of massive or extensive substernal goiter, no locally advanced cancer

ASA, American Society of Anesthesiologists.

Adapted from the ATA guidelines (1).