Thyroidectomy (Goitre) Treatment

What is the thyroid gland and thyroidectomy?

The thyroid gland is a structure in your neck that produces a hormone called thyroxine, which regulates your body's metabolism. This gland can become enlarged (thyroid goitre).
A thyroidectomy is an operation which incorportates the surgical removal of all or a section of the thyroid gland. Head and Neck or Endocrine Surgeon generally performs a thyroidectomy when a patient has thyroid cancer or another condition of the thyroid gland or goitre.

What are the benefits of surgery?

Removing the gland will improve the appearance of your neck.
It will conjointly stop or cure respiratory or swallowing difficulties.

A thyroidectomy may also be recommended for conditions such as:
• Thyroid cancer. Cancer is the most common reason for thyroidectomy.
If you have got thyroid cancer, removing most, if not all, of your thyroid will likely be a treatment option.
• Noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid (goiter).
Removing all or a part of your thyroid gland is a possibility if you have got an outsized goiter that's uncomfortable or causes problem in respiration or swallowing or, in some cases, if the goiter is causing hyperthyroidism.
• Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which your thyroid gland produces an excessive amount of of the hormonethyroxine.
If you have problems with anti-thyroid drugs and don't want radioactive iodine therapy, thyroidectomy may be an option.

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What does the operation involve?

The operation is performed under a general anaesthetic and usually takes 90 minutes to two hours. Once you are unconscious, the operating surgeon makes a little incision within the center of your neck or a series of incisions some distance apart from the thyroid, depending on the surgical technique he or she uses.
All or a part of the thyroid gland is then removed, looking on the rationale for the surgery. If you are having thyroidectomy as a result of thyroid cancer, the operating surgeon may additionally examine and take away lymph nodes around your thyroid.
Thyroidectomy usually takes a few hours.
There are three main approaches to thyroidectomy:
• Typical thyroidectomy involves creating an incision within the center of your neck to directly access your thyroid gland.

• Endoscopic thyroidectomy uses smaller incisions within the neck. Surgical instruments and a little video camera are inserted through the incisions.
The camera guides your surgeon through the procedure.
• Robotic thyroidectomy is performed either through incisions within the chest and armpit or via an incision high within the neck.
The robotic approach permits a thyroidectomy to be performed while also avoiding an incision within the center of your neck.

How you can be prepared?

Food and medications
If you have suffer from hyperthyroidism, your doctor may prescribe medication such as an iodine and potassium solution to regulate your thyroid function and decrease the risk of bleeding. You may ought to avoid eating and drinking for an explicit period of time before surgery, as well, to avoid anesthesia complications.
Your doctor will provide specific instructions.

Other precautions
Before your scheduled surgery, raise a devotee or loved one to assist you home after the procedure.
Be sure to leave jewellery and valuables at home.

What you can expect?

Before the procedure
Surgeons generally perform thyroidectomy during anesthesia, thus you will not be conscious throughout the procedure. The medical specialist or anesthesiologist provides you an anesthetic medication as a gas to breathe through a mask or injects a liquid medication into a vein.
A respiratory tube will then be placed in your trachea to help respiration throughout the procedure. The surgical team places several monitors on your body to assist as well as to certify that your pulse, blood pressure and blood oxygen remain at safe levels throughout the procedure.These monitors embrace a blood pressure cuff on your arm and heart-monitor leads connected to your chest.

What complications can happen?

Thyroidectomy is generally a safe procedure.
But like any surgery, thyroidectomy carries a risk of complications.

Potential complications include:
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Airway obstruction caused by bleeding
• Permanent hoarse or weak voice due to nerve damage
• Damage to the four tiny glands located behind your thyroid, which can lead to hypoparathyroidism, results in abnormal low calcium levels and an increased amount of phosphorus in your blood.
• Specific complications includes change in your voice, drop in calcium levels, drop in thyroid hormone levels, breathing difficulties.

After the procedure
After surgery, you're moved to a recovery room where the health care team monitors your recovery from the surgery and anesthesia. Once you are absolutely conscious, you'll be moved to a hospital room. You may have a drain below the incision in your neck. This drain is usually removed the morning after surgery. After a thyroidectomy, you might experience some neck pain and a hoarse or weak voice. This doesn't essentially mean there is permanent harm to the nerve that controls your vocal cords.
These symptoms are usually temporary and will be due to irritation from the respiratory tube (endotracheal tube) that is inserted into your windpipe (trachea) throughout surgery, or as a result of nerve irritation caused by the surgery. You'll be ready to eat and drink as usual after the surgery.
Depending on the kind of surgery you had, you may be able to go home the day of your procedure or your doctor may recommend you stay overnight in
the hospital. When you get back home, you can usually return to your regular activities. Wait at least a week or two before doing anything vigorous, such as heavy lifting or strenuous sports.

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Are there any alternatives to surgery?

It may be doable to treat your condition with medication like thyroxine tablets.

How soon will I recover?

You should be able to return after one to two days.
You should be able to come back to work and normal activities in about two weeks.
Regular exercise ought to assist you to come to normal activities as soon as possible.The healthcare team will usually arrange for you to come back back to the clinic.