This prospective observational study evaluates the association between postoperative analgesic approaches and recovery outcomes in patients undergoing elective total thyroidectomy. Patients will be followed under routine clinical care without intervention or randomization.
The primary outcome is the Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) score at 24 hours. Secondary outcomes include swallowing pain, resting pain, opioid consumption, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and additional analgesic requirement.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 65 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Patients aged 18-75 years
* ASA physical status classification I-III
* Patients scheduled for elective bilateral total thyroidectomy
* Patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia
* Individuals able to read and understand Turkish and cognitively capable of completing the QoR-15 questionnaire
* Patients providing written informed consent to participate in the study
Exclusion Criteria:
* Chronic opioid use (≥3 months of regular opioid use)
* Presence of chronic pain syndrome
* Psychiatric illness or cognitive impairment
* History of neurological disease (stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, etc.)
* Known allergy to local anesthetic agents
* Previous surgical interventions in the cervical region (including revision thyroid surgery)
* Planned extended surgery with concomitant neck dissection
* Substernal/retrosternal goiter cases (with potential need for sternotomy or additional procedures)
* Emergency surgical procedures
* Patients with ASA physical status IV or higher
* Pregnancy
* Patients expected to require postoperative intensive care
* Patients experiencing intraoperative complications that deviate from the standard monitoring protocol
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.