subject: Know About Thyroid Surgery [print this page] Thyroid surgery is a treatment used in thyroid cancer, thyroid nodules, and hyperthyroidism. In thyroid surgery, part or all of the thyroid gland is removed, which is usually performed in the hospital. It requires general anesthesia.
Thyroid surgery removes the lobe of the thyroid gland containing the lump and possibly the isthmus. A frozen section (an immediate microscopic reading) may or may not be used to determine if the rest of the thyroid gland should be removed.
Based on the result of the frozen section, the surgeon may decide not to remove any additional thyroid tissue, or proceed to remove the entire thyroid gland, and/or other tissue in the neck. This is done usually in the operating room by the surgeon, depending on findings at the time of surgery.
Surgery is rarely used to treat hyperthyroidism. It is a good option only if the thyroid gland is so big that it makes swallowing or breathing difficult or thyroid cancer has been diagnosed or is suspected. Surgery also may be done if you are pregnant or cannot tolerate antithyroid medicines.
Many people leave the hospital a few days after surgery. How much time you spend in the hospital and how fast you recover depend on your age and general health, the extent of the surgery, and whether cancer is present.
There may be times when the definite microscopic answer cannot be determined until several days after surgery. If a malignancy is identified, your surgeon may suggest to remove the remaining lobe of the thyroid be removed at a second procedure. If you have specific questions about thyroid surgery, ask your otolaryngologist and he or she will answer them in detail.
You may be eager to know what happens after surgery. After surgery, you may have a drain, which prevents fluid and blood from building up in the wound. Once the fluid accumulation is stabilized, it will be removed. Usually this happens within 24 hours after surgery. Most patients are discharged later the same day or the day following the procedure.
Some times the surgery may lead to complications such as bleeding, a hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, numbness of the skin on the neck, vocal cord paralysis, and low blood calcium.
