thyroid surgery
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland that sits in the lower part of the front of the neck. The thyroid plays an important part in the body’s functions. It produces hormones that circulate throughout the body, regulating a person’s temperature and metabolism. In certain medical conditions and some diseases, the functioning of the thyroid gland may be impaired. Doctors consider thyroid surgery and removal as a solution to treat thyroid disease and disorder. The following are the causes and types of thyroid surgery and other related issues.
Reasons for thyroid surgery
- The most common reason for thyroid surgery is the presence of nodules or tumors on the thyroid gland. Most nodules are benign, but some can be cancerous or precancerous.
- Even benign nodules can cause problems if they grow large enough to obstruct the throat, or if they stimulate the thyroid to overproduce hormones (a condition called hyperthyroidism).
- Surgery can correct hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is frequently the result of an autoimmune disorder called Graves’ disease. Graves’ disease causes the body to misidentify the thyroid gland as a foreign body and send antibodies to attack it. These antibodies inflame the thyroid, causing hormone overproduction.
- Another reason for thyroid surgery is the swelling or enlargement of the thyroid gland. This is referred to as a goiter. Like large nodules, goiters can block the throat and interfere with eating, speaking, and breathing.
Types of thyroid surgery
There are several different types of thyroid surgery. The most common are lobectomy, subtotal thyroidectomy, and total thyroidectomy.
Lobectomy: Sometimes, a nodule, inflammation, or swelling affects only half of the thyroid gland. When this happens, a doctor will remove only one of the two lobes. The part left behind should retain some or all of its function.
Subtotal thyroidectomy: a piece of tissue that connects the two lobes of the thyroid.
Total thyroidectomy: Atotal thyroidectomy removes the entire thyroid and the thyroid tissue. This surgery is appropriate when nodules, swelling, or inflammation affect the entire thyroid gland, or when cancer is present.
Procedure
Thyroid removal surgeries take place under general anesthesia, so a person will be asleep and will not feel any pain. Most of the time, the surgeon will begin by making a small incision in the neck, taking care to avoid the vocal cords and windpipe. The surgery will last about 2 hours. A person can often go home on the same day as the surgery. Otherwise, the doctor may ask them to stay overnight for monitoring.
Necessary guidelines before and after thyroid surgery
- not eating or drinking for a set period before the procedure.
- Most people can return to their regular activities the day after thyroid removal surgery.
- Limit participation in physical activities or sports for a few days or weeks, or until a doctor says it is safe to start again.
- A person will likely have a sore throat for a few days. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can usually reduce the pain. If the pain is severe, a doctor might prescribe a stronger pain reliever.
- After surgery, the doctor may monitor a person’s thyroid hormone and calcium levels to check for hypothyroidism or hypoparathyroidism.
- A person should notify their doctor if they experience hoarseness in their voice or difficulty breathing.
Risks and side effects
A doctor may prescribe hormone replacement medication after thyroid removal surgery. When an experienced surgeon performs thyroid removal surgery, the risk of serious complications is low. However, all surgeries involve some risks. Risks of thyroid removal include:
- infection
- bleeding, which occurs in the first few hours after surgery
- injury to the nerves that control the voice box
- injury to a parathyroid gland
- Another potential complication is that a person will need to take thyroid hormone replacement medication. ( levothyroxine)
Reference
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323369.php#outlook
https://www.healthline.com/health/thyroid-gland-removal#risks
