Thyroid Removal Surgery

A thyroid removal surgery (Thyroidectomy) is carried out under certain conditions that run like this:

• Hyperthyroidism. Which is a condition in which the thyroid gland becomes overactive, which leads to high thyroid levels.
• If there is growth of thyroid nodules or lumps which might cause cancer. The removal of these is important, as a result.

• The detection of thyroid cancer.
• In order to diffuse the enlargement of the thyroid. This poses a great problem when the goiter becomes too large and makes it difficult for a person to breathe or swallow.
• When all other methods of treatment like radioactive iodine therapy are either not effective or have been refused

The following article will get into a little more detail about this procedure and how it works.

There are mainly four types of thyroid removal surgeries. They are:

• Thyroid Lebectomy ~ This procedure is performed for those who have dominant nodules, which may cause cancer.

• Subtotal Thyroidectomy ~ This operation is carried out in case of developments of small, non-aggressive thyroid cancers and involves removing the affected portions of the gland as well as the isthumus. It is also carried out for people suffering from abnormal goiter growth.

• Thyroid Lebectomy with Isthmusectomy ~ This procedure involves removing the thyroid lobe and the isthumus.
• Total Thyroidectomy ~ This procedure removes the thyroid gland entirely. This procedure is mainly used to treat cancers that have reached further stages. All thyroid cancers are treated with this form of surgery.

Before you undergo the surgery, the doctor will carry out a complete medical exam for a thorough study of your health and history. The doctor will examine the risks involved and the like before the option of surgery is finalized. These are some of the things that you will have to undertake before the surgery is done: 

If you suffer from any sort of allergies, then it needs to be informed to the doctor so that he can plan the surgery accordingly. An empty colon and clear intestine is important for this surgery which is achieved through drinking lots of water.

A doctor will usually advice the complete elimination of cigarettes and alcohol from your diet to ensure a quick and effective recovery.

The recovery from the surgery happens fairly quickly and one can be expected to resume all their normal activities within no time.

However, one is required to take care and follow certain precautions. The doctor will provide you with a list of dos and don'ts, which one must follow religiously.

These are some of the probable side effects that might be experienced by a person who has gone through this surgery:

• An injury suffered by the nerves of the vocal cord, which makes it difficult for the person to swallow and results in a hoarse voice. This happens because the nerves are located very close to the thyroid glands.

• Sometimes, there is an obstruction in the airway, as well as bleeding at times.
• When the nerves of the voice box are affected, it can lead to weakness or even paralysis on one side of the voice box. This hampers a person from reaching high notes in his singing. Other problems also include constant coughing and speaking problems.

• There might be difficulty in breathing as well.
• Sometimes, the total removal of thyroid glands leads to hypothyroidism which can lead to low levels of metabolism and thereby give rise to other related problems like weight gain, lethargy, depression, and others. It might be necessary to have a hypothyroidism symptoms checklist to eliminate this doubt.

• There might be low blood levels of calcium (almost 30%).
• There might be infections and allergies to certain chemicals in the anesthesia.

This surgery is a regular procedure and is one of the most common forms that are carried out today. Always make sure that you consult a doctor if any complications arise.

Disclaimer - This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.