Thyroidectomy

Anesthesia:

• General anesthesia is administered, meaning the patient is unconscious and pain-free during the surgery.

Incision:

• A small horizontal incision (3-5 cm) is made in the lower front of the neck, just above the collarbone.

Thyroid Exposure:

• The surgeon carefully separates the muscles and tissues to expose the thyroid gland.

Thyroid Removal:

• Based on the type of thyroidectomy (partial or total), the surgeon removes part or all of the thyroid gland while avoiding damage to nearby structures, including:
  • Parathyroid glands: Small glands regulating calcium, located near the thyroid.
  • Recurrent laryngeal nerve: Nerve responsible for voice modulation.

Closing the Incision:

• The incision is closed using sutures or surgical glue, and a small drain may be placed to remove excess fluid.

Postoperative Care:

• The patient is monitored for vital signs and any immediate complications.

• Injury to the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve: This can lead to hoarseness, voice changes, or, in rare cases, breathing difficulty.
• Hypocalcemia: Temporary or permanent low calcium levels due to accidental damage or removal of the parathyroid glands.
• Bleeding or Hematoma: Postoperative bleeding may cause neck swelling and difficulty breathing, requiring urgent intervention.
• Infection: Though rare, infections at the surgical site are a potential risk.
• Thyroid Hormone Imbalance: After total thyroidectomy, patients will need lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
• Scar Formation: While the scar from thyroidectomy is typically small and fades with time, some patients may develop hypertrophic scars.