Thyroidectomy

Thyroidectomy is an operative procedure to excise all or part of the thyroid gland.

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck. It is an endocrine gland that produces thyroid hormones that are secreted into the blood: - thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).


Thyroidectomy indications

The indications of thyroidectomy are -

  • Thyroid cancer
  • Metastases to the thyroid gland from the source of primary cancer
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Goitre
  • Suspicious thyroid nodules

Types of Thyroidectomy

The indications of thyroidectomy are -

  • An open thyroid biopsy - A nodule is directly excised.
  • A hemithyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy - One lobe of the thyroid gland is removed
  • Isthmusectomy - Excision of the bridge joining the two lobes together.
  • Total or near-total thyroidectomy - excision of all or most of the part of the thyroid tissue.
Thyroidectomy

Risks of thyroidectomy -

The thyroidectomy risks are as follows -

  • You need to take off your clothing and wear a hospital gown.
  • You will be asked to lie down on an operating room table.
  • You will be given general anaesthesia to make you unconscious.
  • Once unconscious, the surgeon makes an incision at the bottom and in the centre of the neck. Complete or only a part of the thyroid gland is excised, depending on the reason for the operative procedure.
  • In the case of thyroid cancer, the surgeon may check and cut the lymph nodes around the thyroid.
  • The thyroidectomy procedure takes nearly one to two hours.

Thyroidectomy procedure

The indications of thyroidectomy are -

  • An open thyroid biopsy - A nodule is directly excised.
  • A hemithyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy - One lobe of the thyroid gland is removed
  • Isthmusectomy - Excision of the bridge joining the two lobes together.
  • Total or near-total thyroidectomy - excision of all or most of the part of the thyroid tissue.
thyroid gland

Before the procedure

Before the surgery, you have to do some tests such as surgical blood tests and body scans as suggested by your doctor. This is done to know your overall general health.

The doctor will record your medical history and check if you have any bleeding problems, allergies,etc.

If you have hyperthyroidism, your healthcare provider will give you medicines like iodine and potassium solution. These medicines will control your thyroid function and reduce the chances of bleeding after the operation.

Your healthcare provider will give you separate instructions about surgery-related precautions like when to avoid eating and drinking before the surgery.

Before your planned operation, ask someone to help you get home after the procedure. Make sure to leave jewellery and other valuables at home.

During the procedure

  • You need to take off your clothing and wear a hospital gown.
  • You will be asked to lie down on an operating room table.
  • You will be given general anaesthesia to make you unconscious.
  • Once unconscious, the surgeon makes an incision at the bottom and in the centre of the neck. Complete or only a part of the thyroid gland is excised, depending on the reason for the operative procedure.
  • In the case of thyroid cancer, the surgeon may check and cut the lymph nodes around the thyroid.
  • The thyroidectomy procedure takes nearly one to two hours.

There are various methods for thyroidectomy, such as:

Conventional thyroidectomy

Conventional thyroidectomy involves making an incision in the middle of the neck to access the thyroid gland. This is a standard method.

Transoral thyroidectomy

Transoral thyroidectomyinvolves making an incision inside the mouth and not the neck.

Endoscopic thyroidectomy

Endoscopic thyroidectomy In this method, the surgeon uses smaller incisions in the neck. The incisions are used to insert surgical equipment and a small video camera. The camera guides the surgeon through the surgery.

After the procedure

After the thyroidectomy procedure, some patients may feel neck pain or irritation and a hoarse or weak voice. These symptoms are due to the breathing tube that is placed in the windpipe during the operation.

These are often short-term and may heal themselves after a few hours. After the operation, you would be able to eat and drink as usual.Depending on the surgery type and your general health, the doctor will decide how many days of hospital stay you need.


Thyroidectomy Care at Medicover Hospital

The indications of thyroidectomy are -

At Medicover Hopspitals, we are supported by a team of highly experienced surgeons and latest tools and technologies to perform thyroidectomy with great precision yielding highly successful results. Our surgeons, endocrine surgeons, and ENT surgeons will evaluate the condition and present a surgery plan to the patients to keep them informed.


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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the thyroidectomy complications?

  • Hypothyroidism
  • Laryngeal nerve injury
  • Hypoparathyroidism
  • Anaesthetic complications
  • Infection
  • Stitch granuloma
  • Haemorrhage/Hematoma
  • Removal or devascularization of the parathyroids

2. Can I lead a normal life after thyroid surgery?

You will need to take a rest for at least one or two weeks to heal to get back to your daily life. Once you have recuperated from thyroid surgery, you can get back to your everyday life.

3. Which physical restrictions I should follow after the thyroid surgery?

Limit extreme physical activities for a few weeks after the surgery. This is mainly to reduce the risk of postoperative health issues.