| Thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of the thyroid | | | | The surgery is invariably performed under general |
| gland. The surgical procedure of thyroidectomy | | | | anesthesia. |
| involves a partial or a complete removal of the thyroid | | | | Some surgeons use local anesthesia (to make the |
| (a gland, which is located in front of the lower neck, | | | | area numb) plus a sedative (to keep you calm). |
| just above the trachea). There are various | | | | Surgery under local anesthesia is becoming |
| destinations, across the globe that offers surgical | | | | progressively more popular, since it reduces the |
| procedures to manage thyroid disorders. India, Jordon, | | | | hospital stay, diminishes the time for surgery, and also |
| turkey, Costa Rica and Mexico rank high up in the list, | | | | lessens the nausea and vomiting after the surgery. |
| as they provide cost effective and excellent quality | | | | The surgeon will make a 3 to 5 inch incision across the |
| health care services. This article teaches you about | | | | base of the neck, in front. The skin and muscles are |
| the things you must know before considering | | | | drawn back to expose the gland. The incision is usually |
| thyroidectomy surgery abroad and the ways you can | | | | made so that it falls in the fold of the skin in the neck, |
| get thyroidectomy surgery abroad at affordable costs. | | | | making it less perceptible. Blood supply to the gland is |
| Indications for thyroidectomy: | | | | tied off, and the parathyroid glands are recognized (so |
| | | | as to shield them). The surgeon then separates the |
| 1. A large goiter which is not likely to respond to | | | | trachea from the thyroid, and removes all or part of |
| anti-thyroid drugs, may require a surgical removal of | | | | the gland. |
| the thyroid gland, in order to avoid pressure on the | | | | Complications that could occur after the thyroidectomy |
| trachea and the esophagus, which could subsequently | | | | operation: |
| result in breathing and swallowing difficulties, | | | | 1. Hypothyroidism occurs in about 10 % of the cases, |
| respectively. | | | | within 1 year of the surgery, but the percentage |
| 2. Persistent side effects of drug therapy or poor drug | | | | occurrence increases with time. |
| compliance or non response to radioactive iodine | | | | 2. Recurrent hyperthyroidism occurs in 1 to 3 % |
| therapy, resulting in recurrent episodes of | | | | patients |
| hyperthyroidism requires an excision of the thyroid | | | | 3. Transient hypocalcemia takes place in up to 10 % of |
| gland. | | | | patients. |
| 3. Thyroidectomy is used to obviate the need for | | | | 4. Laryngeal nerve palsy occurs in 1 % patients. |
| radioactive iodine therapy, especially in children. | | | | 5. Early post-operative bleeding is a rare complication |
| 4. In pregnant women, when drug therapy fails to | | | | and calls for an emergency removal of clips and |
| control hyperthyroidism, thyroid surgery is | | | | sutures to allow the escape of blood or haematoma. |
| recommended | | | | Post-operative measures, after thyroidectomy |
| 5. Malignancies and tumors of the thyroid gland require | | | | · In order to aid the collection of blood and |
| surgical excision. | | | | fluids from the wound site, a drain is placed which is |
| 6. It is also recommended in cases of clinical | | | | removed after about two days. |
| manifestations like a rapid growth of the thyroid gland, | | | | · The patient is put on to thyroid hormone |
| severe pain, and cervical lymphadenopathy, or when | | | | thyroxine (T4), indefinitely, to prevent hypothyroidism or |
| there has been previous irradiation to the neck. A Fine | | | | myxedema. (A deficiency of circulating thyroid |
| Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) needs to the | | | | hormone could cause severe hypothyroidism.) |
| preformed to confirm the diagnosis and decide on the | | | | Common occurrences after a thyroidectomy |
| type of surgery. | | | | · There would be episodes of pain, swelling, |
| 7. Functionally or anatomically benign goitres, cause a | | | | and bruising around the wound area. |
| lot of anxiety among patients and are preferred to be | | | | · Voice could become hoarse. But, this is |
| surgically excised for cosmetic reasons. | | | | usually temporary and the voice regains its normal |
| Preparing for Thyroidectomy: | | | | tone after a few days. |
| - Two to four weeks prior to the surgical procedure, all | | | | · For the initial few days, eating and drinking |
| anti-thyroid drugs are withdrawn. | | | | could be associated with some discomfort and pain. |
| - Potassium iodide 60 mg, thrice a day is prescribed, | | | | · You will feel slight lethargy and weariness |
| about a week prior to the procedure, to reduce | | | | after the surgery. |
| vascularity (blood supply) to the gland. | | | | · The area can be washed only after 7 to 10 |
| - 10 to 12 hours of 'nil by mouth' (refraining from eating | | | | days. |
| or drinking) is a pre-requisite for the surgery. | | | | · Light jobs can be undertaken after a period |
| Thyroidectomy procedure: | | | | of 2 weeks. |
| The thyroid surgery can be classified into three main | | | | Thyroidectomy in India |
| types. | | | | India provides international quality of medical care at a |
| 1. Total thyroidectomy: This involves the complete and | | | | fraction of the cost compared to those in Europe and |
| total removal of the gland. | | | | United States. Indian hospitals are known to offer high |
| This type of surgical procedure is recommended in | | | | quality medical care services, and that has been |
| cases of thyroid cancers, particularly in, destructive | | | | emphasized through the growing number of hospitals |
| cancers, such as anaplastic or medullary thyroid | | | | that have achieved the Joint Commission International |
| cancer. It is frequently suggested in the management | | | | (JCI) accreditation, over the past few years. |
| of larger goiters including Graves' hyperthyroidism. | | | | Thyroidectomy in Turkey |
| 2. Subtotal thyroidectomy or partial thyroidectomy: It is | | | | The availability of highly qualified, experienced and |
| the partial removal of the gland. This course of action | | | | trained surgeons, coupled with the use of latest |
| is suitable for tumors that are smaller in size and | | | | technological innovations has made Turkey a top |
| non-aggressive like follicular and papillary cancers | | | | medical tourism destination for thyroidectomy. The |
| which are limited to only one side of the gland. While | | | | medical services grant good after care and also |
| performing a partial or subtotal thyroidectomy, the | | | | prevent the occurrences of complications. |
| gland is removed bilaterally, in such a way that one to | | | | Thyroidectomy in Mexico |
| five grams of the thyroid tissue is left behind in either | | | | Mexico offers superior quality of medical services for |
| lobes of the gland. | | | | conducting thyroidectomy, promptly, and at an |
| 3. Thyroid lobectomy: A less frequently used | | | | affordable cost. The hospitals are well equipped with |
| procedure, which involves the removal of about of a | | | | modern surgical procedures and eminent medical |
| quarter of the gland. | | | | facilities. |
| The surgical procedure takes not more than 2 hours. | | | | |