What are the risks of thyroidectomy? How does the procedure work? What happens during recovery? Discover the essential details about this critical surgery.

Thyroidectomy: Addressing Thyroid Conditions

Thyroidectomy, the surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland, can be a necessary treatment for various thyroid-related conditions. This delicate procedure may be recommended for individuals dealing with thyroid cancer, thyroid nodules, or hyperthyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland produces an excess of thyroid hormone.

Understanding the Thyroidectomy Procedure

Before the surgery, the medical team will conduct imaging tests like ultrasound, CT, or MRI, as well as blood tests to assess thyroid hormone levels and other factors. Depending on the patient’s condition, the doctor may also examine the vocal cords using a laryngoscope.

During the traditional thyroidectomy, the surgeon will make a small incision in the neck and access the thyroid gland, removing one or both lobes as needed. In some cases, a newer “scarless” technique called transoral thyroidectomy can be performed, where the surgeon accesses the thyroid through the mouth, leaving no visible scar.

Risks and Potential Complications

Like any surgical procedure, thyroidectomy carries certain risks, including:

• Voice changes, such as hoarseness
• Sore throat
• Bleeding and blood clots
• Adhesions or scar tissue that require additional surgery
• Injury to the esophagus or trachea
• Hypoparathyroidism (low parathyroid hormone levels, leading to low blood calcium)

Recovery and Thyroid Hormone Replacement

After the thyroidectomy, some patients may be discharged the same day, while others may spend a night in the hospital for observation and monitoring of calcium levels. Since the thyroid gland is responsible for producing hormones that regulate the body’s metabolism, its removal requires the patient to take synthetic or natural thyroid hormone replacement therapy in the form of daily pills.

Preparing for and Undergoing Thyroidectomy

Before the procedure, the medical team will work to ensure the patient’s thyroid hormones are in balance, especially for those with hyperthyroidism. During the surgery, the surgeon will take care to minimize the risk of complications, such as damage to the vocal cords or parathyroid glands.

The Importance of Thyroid Hormone Replacement

Without the thyroid gland, the body cannot produce the necessary thyroid hormones to maintain proper metabolic function. Therefore, lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy is essential for patients who have undergone a total or partial thyroidectomy. This therapy helps to keep the body’s vital functions in balance.

Monitoring and Managing Thyroidectomy Recovery

During the recovery period, the patient’s healthcare team will closely monitor their calcium levels and adjust the thyroid hormone replacement medication as needed. Patients may also experience temporary voice changes or a sore throat, which should improve over time. Regular follow-up appointments are crucial to ensure the patient’s smooth transition to life after thyroidectomy.

What are the key factors to consider when preparing for a thyroidectomy? The medical team will carefully evaluate the patient’s thyroid condition and overall health to determine the appropriate surgical approach and ensure the best possible outcome. Thorough pre-operative testing, medication management, and careful surgical technique are all critical components of a successful thyroidectomy.

How does thyroid hormone replacement therapy work after a thyroidectomy? Since the thyroid gland is responsible for producing hormones that regulate the body’s metabolism, its removal requires the patient to take synthetic or natural thyroid hormone replacement pills. This therapy helps to maintain the body’s vital functions and keep the patient healthy after the surgery.

What are the potential risks and complications of a thyroidectomy? Some of the most common risks include voice changes, sore throat, bleeding, blood clots, adhesions or scar tissue, injury to the esophagus or trachea, and hypoparathyroidism (low parathyroid hormone levels leading to low blood calcium). Careful surgical technique and close post-operative monitoring are essential to mitigate these risks.

How long does a thyroidectomy procedure typically take? The duration of the surgery can vary, but it generally ranges from 2 to 4 hours, depending on the type of procedure (total vs. partial thyroidectomy) and the complexity of the case. The surgeon’s skill and experience, as well as the patient’s specific anatomical factors, can also impact the length of the surgery.

Thyroidectomy | Johns Hopkins Medicine

Thyroidectomy is surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland, which is located in the front of the neck. The thyroid gland releases thyroid hormone, which controls many critical functions of the body.

What You Need to Know

• Thyroid cancer, thyroid nodules and other conditions may require thyroidectomy.
• Once the thyroid gland is removed, the person takes replacement thyroid hormone to keep the body’s functions in balance.
• Thyroidectomy can be performed through an incision at the front of the neck, or through the mouth (scarless thyroidectomy).

Why might I need a thyroidectomy?

A thyroidectomy may be appropriate for people who have a thyroid tumor, thyroid nodules or hyperthyroidism, which occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone.

Hyperthyroidism can be the result of an autoimmune problem, too much iodine in the diet, a benign tumor in the pituitary gland, too much thyroid medication, a swelling (goiter) in the thyroid gland or an inflammatory process.

What are the risks of thyroidectomy?

• Voice changes, such as hoarseness
• Sore throat
• Bleeding and blood clots
• Adhesions or scar tissue that require another surgery
• Injury to the esophagus or trachea (windpipe)
• Hypoparathyroidism (too little parathyroid hormone, which can result in abnormally low blood calcium levels)

What happens during a thyroidectomy?

Before the Procedure

The doctor will order imaging and laboratory tests, including:

• Thyroid imaging with ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

• Blood test(s) for thyroid hormone levels and other factors

• Examination of the vocal cords using an instrument called a laryngoscope

Just before your procedure, the surgical team may give you an antibiotic if you have a weakened immune system or other condition that makes you prone to getting infections. You may receive medicines to reduce nausea and vomiting (antiemetics).

For people with hyperthyroidism, the doctor will administer medications to keep thyroid hormones in balance during and after surgery.

Types of Thyroidectomy

Traditional Thyroidectomy

In the operating room, you will be in a semi-seated position, with or without your chin tilted back and with support under your neck and shoulders. Most thyroidectomies are performed under general anesthesia, meaning you are asleep and pain-free during the procedure.

The surgeon makes a small incision in the skin of the neck as close to a natural crease as possible to reduce the appearance of the scar. The surgeon parts a thin layer of muscle to gain access to the thyroid gland, then removes one or both lobes of the thyroid gland as well as any nearby lymph nodes that may be affected by disease.

The surgeon then returns the muscles of the front of the neck to their proper position and secures them in place. The skin is closed with sutures or glue.

Scarless (Transoral) Thyroidectomy

A newer technique involves accessing the thyroid gland through the mouth. This surgery leaves no visible scar since there is no incision on the outside of the neck.

Thyroidectomy: Recovery and Next Steps

In some cases, patients return home the same day as the surgery, but some
people spend the night in the hospital. There, the team can observe the
patient and monitor calcium levels in the blood.

When the thyroid gland is surgically removed, the body still requires
thyroid hormone to keep vital functions in balance.

Thyroid hormone replacement therapy

involves taking synthetic or naturally derived thyroid hormones in pill
form.

Thyroidectomy – Procedure & Risks

By Julie Lynn MarksMedically Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD

Reviewed: October 23, 2015

Medically Reviewed

Removal of the thyroid may be necessary due to cancer, enlargement, or noncancerous growths on the thyroid.

A thyroidectomy is surgery to remove part or all of a person’s thyroid.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck. It helps regulate your body’s metabolism.

A thyroidectomy might be needed if you have:

• Thyroid cancer
• Noncancerous growths on the thyroid
• An enlarged thyroid
• An overactive thyroid

A total thyroidectomy is a procedure to remove the entire thyroid.

A partial thyroidectomy means that just a portion of the gland is taken out.

The Thyroidectomy Procedure

A thyroidectomy can take up to four hours, depending on the type of surgery you’re having.

Most of the time, general anesthesia is given. This means you won’t be conscious during the procedure.

A surgeon will make an incision in the middle of your neck, or several small cuts in or near the neck.

If you’re having a conventional thyroidectomy, the surgeon will remove part or all of your thyroid through the incision in your neck.

If you’re having an endoscopic or robotic thyroidectomy, the surgeon will use small instruments and a video camera to perform the procedure through tiny incisions.

A catheter may be placed in the area to help drain blood and fluids.

Before a Thyroidectomy

Before your thyroidectomy, your doctor may perform tests to determine if a growth on your thyroid is cancerous.

You may also undergo imaging tests to find exactly where the thyroid growth is located.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take before your surgery.

You might need to stop taking certain drugs, such as Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate), aspirin, Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), or Coumadin (warfarin), prior to your procedure.

Let your doctor know if you smoke. Smoking may slow down your recovery.

Your doctor may prescribe a thyroid medicine or iodine treatment for you to take one to two weeks before your thyroidectomy.

You’ll probably be told not to eat or drink anything for several hours before your surgery. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.

After a Thyroidectomy

If you have a catheter in your neck to drain fluid, it’s usually removed the morning after your surgery.

You’ll probably be able to go home the day after your thyroidectomy, but you could spend up to three days in the hospital.

The length of your stay will depend on your medical condition and recovery. You must be able to swallow liquids and pills before you can return home.

It will take about three to four weeks for you to fully recover from your surgery.

If you’ve had your entire thyroid removed, you’ll probably need to take thyroid hormone pills for the rest of your life.

Risks of a Thyroidectomy

Potential risks of a thyroidectomy include:

• Bleeding or infection
• Difficulty breathing
• Permanent hoarseness or weak voice due to nerve damage
• Injury to parathyroid glands (glands near the thyroid) or their blood supply, which can cause low blood calcium levels and sometimes muscle spasms or other neuromuscular symptoms

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Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking

• Thyroid gland removal; MedlinePlus.
• Thyroidectomy; Mayo Clinic.
• Thyroidectomy; Cedars-Sinai.

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Thyroidectomy – removal of the thyroid gland

Prices Doctors Our centers

Indications Contraindications Preparation Surgery Rehabilitation Complications Thyroidectomy at SM-Clinic

Thyroidectomy is a surgical operation that involves complete or partial excision of the thyroid gland. Intervention is one of the main methods of treatment of malignant and benign neoplasms of this organ.

Indications

The most common indications for thyroidectomy are:

• thyroid cancer;
• large benign neoplasms: adenoma, nodes, cysts;
• multinodular goiter;
• diffuse toxic goiter;
• Thyroid nodes that produce hormones (toxic nodes).

Surgery is also indicated in cases where the patient develops cancer, but there are contraindications for radioiodine therapy.

Contraindications

Intervention is low-traumatic and therefore has a minimum number of contraindications. Thyroidectomy is not performed if the patient is found to have:

• acute infectious diseases;
• chronic pathologies in the acute stage;
• blood clotting disorders.

Preparation

As part of the preparation, you need to undergo a comprehensive examination, which includes:

• consultation with the attending physician;
• consultation with an anesthesiologist;
• blood tests, including coagulogram;
• urine tests;
• electrocardiogram.

If necessary, additional laboratory or instrumental studies, consultations with highly specialized specialists are prescribed.

Tell the doctor in advance about the medications the patient takes regularly. It is important to inform about the presence of allergies. As part of the preparation, a course of antibiotics may also be prescribed.

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Operation

Any type of thyroid surgery is performed under general anesthesia. The patient is put into a state of sleep and does not feel anything during the operation.

After the anesthesia has taken effect, the surgeon makes a transverse incision at the base of the neck. The incision is made in such a way that in the future the scar merges with the skin fold and is as inconspicuous as possible. After that, depending on the goals of the operation, the surgeon removes the pathology along with the thyroid gland or part of it. One of the main goals is to preserve the parathyroid glands and the recurrent nerve, if they are not affected by the disease.

After removing the tissues, the surgeon sews up the wound, puts a drain. Depending on the extent of the surgeon’s actions, the operation takes from 45 minutes to 3 hours.

Rehabilitation

After the intervention, you must stay in the hospital under the supervision of medical staff. Pain in the neck and throat persist for several days. Painkillers prescribed by a doctor help to get rid of pain.

The term of hospitalization is determined individually and depends on the volume of surgical intervention, the patient’s well-being. Often, after 2-3 days, discharge and continued recovery at home is possible.

If a total thyroidectomy, that is, the total removal of the thyroid gland, has taken place, a person will develop hypothyroidism after the operation. Therefore, there will be a need for a lifelong intake of hormonal drugs. However, even in the case of not total, but partial thyroidectomy, the thyroid gland may also lose its functions, which will have to be replenished with the help of drugs. Despite lifelong hormone replacement therapy, after recovery, a person will be able to lead a normal life without uncomfortable restrictions.

Complications

Complications after the intervention are quite rare. Among the most common: postoperative bleeding, hypoparathyroidism (lack of calcium in the body). If the laryngeal nerve is damaged during the operation, the timbre of the voice changes. Restoration of the usual timbre takes from 3 to 12 weeks. The risk of nerve damage is less than 1%.

Thyroidectomy at SM-Clinic

Surgical intervention on the thyroid gland refers to technically complex operations. The result of such treatment largely depends on the skills of the doctor. To minimize the risks and achieve the maximum positive effect, therapy should be trusted only by experienced surgeons who are proficient in advanced operating techniques. These are the doctors who work in the SM-Clinic.

We have been operating on patients since 2009. Our doctors perform more than 8500 operations annually in 20 surgical directions. Our team consists of over 140 experienced operating doctors and 18 anesthesiologists, including 20 doctors and candidates of medical sciences.

On the basis of our clinic in St. Petersburg, you can undergo a comprehensive preliminary examination. Our patients have at their disposal 7 operating theaters with modern equipment and 25 comfortable hospital wards.

Call us at the phone number listed on the website to find out the price of thyroidectomy, get acquainted with the price list for other services or sign up for a consultation.

* You can read more about the conditions here – Treatment on credit or installments

Preliminary cost. The exact cost of the operation can only be determined by the surgeon during a free consultation.

Specialists in this field 5 doctors

Leading doctors 1 doctor

Mikhailov Aleksey Gennadievich

Surgeon, oncologist, mammologist, endocrine surgeon

Work experience: 22 years

Udarnikov, 19

m. Ladozhskaya

Marshal Zakharov, 20

metro station Leninskiy pr-t

Vyborgskoe shosse, 17

m. Prosveshcheniya

Make an appointment

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+4 doctors

Other doctors 4 doctors

Boyko Alexander Aleksandrovich

Oncologist, oncodermatologist “SM-Clinic”

Work experience: 12 years

Danube, 47

Dunayskaya metro station

Make an appointment

901 56
Grinevich Vladimir Stanislavovich

Surgeon, oncologist, mammologist, coloproctologist

Work experience: 27 years

Vyborgskoe shosse, 17

metro Prosveshcheniya

Make an appointment

Pfanenshtil Anatoly Viktorovich

Surgeon, mammologist and oncologist. Doctor of the highest category.

Work experience: 15 years

Dunaysky, 47

Dunayskaya metro station

Malaya Balkanskaya, 23

Kupchino metro station

Make an appointment 9000 3
Khokhlov Sergey Viktorovich

Surgeon, oncologist, coloproctologist

Work experience: 28 y.o.

Our offices in St. Petersburg

6 branches

Center for Surgery Dunayskaya metro station

47 Dunaisky prospect

Dunaiskaya metro station

daily from 09:00 to 22:00

Surgery Center Ladozhskaya metro station

Udarnikov Ave., 19k.1

m. Ladozhskaya

daily from 09:00 to 22:00

Center for Surgery Metro station “Leninsky Prospekt”

st. Marshal Zakharov, d.
daily from 09:00 to 22:00

Center for Surgery Prospekt Prosveshcheniya metro station

Vyborgskoe shosse, 17/1

Prospect Prosveshcheniya metro station

daily from 09:00 to 22:00

Center for Surgery m. “Kupchino”

Malaya Balkanskaya street, 23

m. Kupchino

daily from 09:00 to 22:00

Center for Surgery Dybenko Street

Dybenko Street, 13k4

Dybenko Street

daily from 09:00 to 22:00

Inpatient operations – Thyroidectomy (removal of thyroid formations) near the house

Paracelsus Medical Center

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Thyroidectomy is an operation to remove the thyroid gland. Prescribed by an endocrinologist, performed by a surgeon. Complications are rare, hospitalization and recovery period do not require a long time. After the intervention, a person can work, give birth to children, lead a full life. Prescribe hormonal drugs that help to completely compensate for the absence of an organ. In Paracelsus Multidisciplinary Clinic Thyroidectomy is performed by experienced surgeons. Our doctors practice modern types of surgical interventions. Operations are carried out using the latest equipment.

Indications for thyroidectomy:

• thyrotoxicosis resistant to conservative therapy;
• goiter that compresses the trachea and esophagus;
• retrosternal goiter;
• cancer, multinodular goiter of the thyroid gland;
• follicular neoplasia with malignant cells;
• severe diffuse toxic goiter;
• node actively synthesizes hormones, which leads to the development of severe thyrotoxicosis;
• autoimmune thyroiditis;
• calcium salt deposits in the thyroid gland, risk of carcinoma formation;
• contraindications for radioiodine therapy in hypothyroidism;
• serious injury to the gland.

Preparatory manipulations

Before surgery, a complete examination is performed using laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods.

Mandatory diagnostic procedures:

• Complete blood count. The value is the ESR index. which shows how well the blood is clotting. The indicators help to assess the risk of bleeding during or after surgery. Additionally, a coagulogram is prescribed.
• Biochemical blood test for thyroid hormones.
• Blood glucose test. Many drugs that are used for anesthesia are contraindicated in diabetes mellitus.
• Urinalysis. Appointed to assess the work of the kidneys.
• Analysis for syphilis, hepatitis, HIV.
• MRI, CT, ultrasound of the thyroid gland.
• ECG, chest x-ray.

Postoperative period

After removal of the thyroid gland, the patient is registered with an endocrinologist. It is necessary to undergo regular examinations to monitor the effectiveness of therapy. This is necessary in order to identify complications, recurrence of pathology in time. Even if nothing bothers you, you need to visit a doctor every six months.

There is no need to follow a strict diet after a thyroidectomy. But the diet should be varied and complete. It is necessary to eat foods with iodine and phosphorus – seafood and fatty fish, protein foods – eggs, cottage cheese, lean meat. Dried fruits and bananas are useful because they contain a large amount of potassium.

You can make an appointment with a surgeon to remove the thyroid gland in Yekaterinburg on the Clinic’s website or by calling 8(343)272-03-03

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Dear patients!
Multidisciplinary Clinic and Maternity Hospital “Paracelsus” informs you, according to the Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation to the Federal Tax Service dated March 25, 2022. N BS-4-11 / 3605, that subparagraph 3 of paragraph 1 of Article 219 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation provides for the taxpayer’s right to receive a social tax deduction in the amount paid by him in the tax period for medical services provided by medical organizations engaged in medical activities , him, his spouse, parents, children (including adopted children) under the age of 18, wards under the age of 18 (in accordance with the list of medical services approved by the Government of the Russian Federation).

Joint order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia and the Ministry of Health of Russia of July 25, 2001 N 289 / BG-3-04 / 256 (hereinafter – the order of July 25, 2001) approved the form of the Certificate of payment for medical services for submission to the tax authorities of the Russian Federation (hereinafter – the Certificate payment for medical services).

This certificate certifies the fact of receiving a medical service and its payment through the cash desk of a healthcare institution at the expense of the taxpayer.