Procedure

Thyroidectomy​

Thyroid surgery involves a variety of operations including:

  • Total thyroidectomy.
  • Hemithyroidectomy (excision of one thyroid love and the isthmus).
  • Isthmectomy (resection of the isthmus only).
  • Subtotal thyroidectomy (seldom practiced due to high recurrence/reoperation rate).
Thyroidectomy

Indication:

  • Goiter/nodule with local compressive symptoms.
  • Graves’ thyrotoxicosis that is refractory/unsuitable for medical treatment.
  • Thyroid cancer.
  • Diagnostic procedure for a cytologically indeterminate lesion.
  • Improving cosmesis in a large goiter.

Procedure:

An incision will be made in the crease of your neck. Careful dissection to visualize the thyroid will be undertaken. Nerves and arteries will be looked for and protected. After removal of the thyroid a drain will be placed in the neck. The skin will be closed with absorbable sutures. A preoperative vocal cord check is mandatory.

Possible complications:

  • Early postoperative hemorrhage requiring re-intervention (maximal risk in the first 6 – 12h, overall rate 0.9%).
  • Voice change (overall rate 4.9%).
  • Injury to the RLN (overall 2.5%).
  • Hypocalcemia (may be temporary or permanent; overall rate 11%, long-term 7%).
  • Mortality (0.24%).
  • Risk of RLN palsy and postoperative hypocalcemia is greater following lateral cervical lymphadenectomy.
  • Complication rates are higher in re-operative cases.

Duration:

N/A

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