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| Thyroid Surgery |
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Thyroidectomy is the removal of all or part of
your thyroid gland. Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland
located at the base of your neck. It produces hormones that
regulate every aspect of your metabolism, from your heart rate
to how quickly you burn calories.
Usually a patient is clinically evaluated by a Physician and/or
an Endocrinologist. Patients often present with either an enlargement
of the thyroid gland known as a ‘Goitre’ or the
presence of a nodule which is seen on ultrasound imaging of
the thyroid gland.
If blood tests have shown that the function of the thyroid gland
is normal, then the clinician or the surgeon proceeds to investigate
the nature of the nodule. For this, a fine needle aspiration
cytology (FNAC) is taken from the nodule. In this procedure,
a small needle is inserted into the nodule (under ultrasound
guidance), and a small amount of fluid is aspirated (drawn up
into a syringe), which is sent to the laboratory for diagnosis.
This will determine the nature of the thyroid nodule and decide
any further course of action.
Investigations available for thyroid problems:
- Thyroid Function blood test
- Ultrasound of Thyroid gland
- Nuclear Scan of Thyroid gland
- Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC)
- Radioactive iodine
Indications
for Thyroidectomy
A thyroidectomy may be recommended for conditions such
as:
- Thyroid cancer
Cancer is the most common reason for thyroidectomy. If you
have thyroid cancer, removing most, if not all of your thyroid
will likely be a treatment option.
- Non-cancerous enlargement of the thyroid (goitre)
Removing all or part of your thyroid gland is an option
if you have a large goitre that is uncomfortable or causes
difficulty breathing or swallowing, or in some cases, if
the goitre is causing hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid
gland.)
- Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which your thyroid gland
produces too much of the hormone thyroxine. If you have
problems with anti-thyroid drugs and do not wish to receive
radioactive iodine therapy, thyroidectomy may be an option.
Types of surgeries
- Partial Thyroidectomy
- Subtotal Thyroidectomy
- Total Thyroidectomy
Risks and complications after the surgery
Potential complications include:
- Bleeding
- Airway obstruction caused by bleeding
- Permanent hoarse or weak voice due to nerve damage
Damage to the four small glands located behind your thyroid
(parathyroid glands), which can lead to hypoparathyroidism,
resulting in abnormally low calcium levels in your blood and
bones and an increased amount of phosphorus in your blood.
Surgical Procedure
During thyroidectomy
Surgeons perform thyroidectomy using general anaesthesia, so
you are unconscious during the procedure. The anaesthesiologist
or anaethetist administers an anaesthetic medication either
as a gas by breathing it through a mask, or as a liquid which
is inserted into a vein located in your hand or arm.
The surgical team places several monitors on your body to help
make sure that your heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen
remain at safe levels throughout the procedure. These monitors
include a blood pressure cuff on your arm and heart-monitor
leads attached to your chest.
Once you are unconscious, the surgeon makes a small incision
in the front of your neck, and all or part of the thyroid gland
is removed, depending on the reason for the surgery. If you
are having a thyroidectomy as a result of thyroid cancer, the
surgeon may also examine and remove lymph nodes around your
thyroid. Lymph nodes are known to be involved in the spread
of cancer to other parts of the body, so it is for this reason
that they are removed. Thyroidectomy usually takes several hours.
After thyroidectomy
Following surgery, you are moved to a recovery room where the
health care team monitors you for complications from the surgery
and anaesthesia. Once fully conscious and comfortable, you will
be transferred to the ward where you will be continued to be
closely monitored. You may have a drain insitu under the incision
in your neck. This drain is usually removed the morning after
surgery.
You will be able to eat and drink as usual after surgery. Your
throat may be sore and your voice hoarse. Most people who have
thyroidectomies remain in the hospital for about 24 hours. When
you go home, you can usually return to your regular activities,
often within a few weeks. Talk to your doctor about specific
activity restrictions.
- After a thyroidectomy, you may experience some neck pain
and a hoarse or weak voice. This does not necessarily mean
that there is any permanent damage to the nerve that controls
your vocal cords. These symptoms are often temporary and
may be due to irritation from the breathing tube (endotracheal
tube) that is inserted into your windpipe (trachea) during
surgery, or as a result of nerve irritation — but
not permanent damage — caused by the surgery.
- The long-term effects of thyroidectomy depend on how
much of the thyroid is removed. If only part of your thyroid
is removed, the remaining portion typically takes over the
function of the entire thyroid gland, and you don't need
thyroid hormone therapy.
- If your entire thyroid is removed, your body cannot make
thyroid hormone and signs and symptoms of underactive thyroid
(hypothyroidism) will develop. As a result, you will need
to take a pill every day that contains the thyroid hormone
thyroxine (levothyroxine). This hormone replacement is identical
to the hormone normally made by your thyroid gland and performs
all of the same functions. Your doctor will determine the
amount of thyroid hormone replacement you need based on
blood tests.
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Surgery.ae - Mediclinic Dubai Mall
P.O.Box: 49147, Tel: +971-55-9546068, Mobile: +971 55 6550869, Fax: +971-4-4503874 | E-mail :info@surgery.ae
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