Thyroidectomy in Türkiye

Thyroidectomy is the surgical procedure in which the thyroid gland is removed in whole or in part with the aim of treating multiple conditions to treat thyroid disorders such as cancer , goiter, and hyperthyroidism .

What is the thyroid gland?

It is a butterfly- or bow-tie-like gland located in the neck, in front of the windpipe. It controls blood pressure , heart rate , body temperature, weight , and other vital functions and contains special cells located in its lining called cystic cells. These cells are responsible for the secretion of thyroid hormones (thyroxine and triiodothyronine).

Why remove the thyroid gland?

The thyroid gland is removed if:

Thyroid cancer : It is the most common reason for thyroidectomy.
Noncancerous goiter: Removing all or part of the thyroid gland is an option if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing , or if the goiter causes hyperthyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism: a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too much thyroxine, so thyroidectomy is an option if radioactive iodine treatment is not desired and anti-thyroid drugs are not successful.
Thyroid nodule: Doctors may recommend that people with these nodules undergo thyroidectomy if the nodule is at increased risk of cancer.

What are the risks of thyroidectomy?

Ablation carries a risk of complications such as bleeding or infection. Other complications include:

Decrease in parathyroid hormone levels (hypoparathyroidism) caused by surgical damage or removal of the parathyroid glands.

Note: The work of the parathyroid glands (parathyroid glands) is linked to the levels of calcium and phosphorous in the body, so their insufficiency results in disturbances in the levels of these minerals, which may lead to many complications,

Airway obstruction due to bleeding.
A persistent hoarse or weak voice due to nerve damage.

How to prepare for thyroidectomy surgery?

The patient must inform the doctor of all medications. Whether prescribed or over-the-counter medications, in addition to herbal supplements and other mixtures. The doctor may change her doses or stop them completely, and may give iodine and potassium medications to control thyroid function and reduce the risk of bleeding after surgery. You must stop eating and drinking for a certain period of time before surgery to avoid complications, and follow all instructions provided by the doctor carefully.

Procedure steps:

before the procedure

The medical staff supervising the operation puts the patient under general anesthesia through an anesthesia gas mask. Or a liquid anesthetic is injected into a vein and then a breathing tube is placed into the trachea to aid breathing during the procedure and devices that monitor the heart , blood pressure, oxygen, and breathing are installed.

during the procedure

The surgical procedure begins after the previous preliminary preparations have been completed.

First, the surgeon makes an incision down the middle of the neck, in the skin crease, to hide the scars. Then all or part of the thyroid gland is removed, depending on the reason for the surgery.

Other excision methods include:

Oral resection : This method avoids the incision of the neck by making an incision inside the mouth.
Laparoscopic resection : This method uses smaller incisions in the neck and then surgical tools and a small video camera are inserted through the incisions.

Note: In the event that the reason for the resection is cancer , the surgeon also examines and removes the lymph nodes around the thyroid gland.

After the procedure:

The patient is taken to the recovery room after surgery. Supervisors monitor vital signs until the anesthesia wears off, and a few people experience neck pain or a weak voice. These symptoms are often short-term and may be caused by irritation from the breathing tube. The patient can go home on the day of the procedure or stay the night.

At home, the patient can eat and drink as usual and return to daily activities, but must wait 10 days before doing anything strenuous such as lifting weights or strenuous sports.

Results of thyroidectomy:

Long-term effects depend on how much of the gland is removed

Partial thyroidectomy:

The remainder takes over the function of the thyroid gland so there is no need for thyroid hormone therapy.

Total thyroidectomy:

The body will not be able to produce thyroid hormone and the patient will need to take the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Synthroid, Unithroid, others). These hormones are identical to the hormones made by the thyroid gland and perform the same functions.