| A variety of thyroid conditions have thyroid surgery as | | | | complications. The extent of the surgery performed |
| the answer, including cancerous and non cancerous | | | | depends on the thyroid conditions. Surgery should be |
| thyroid nodules, overactive thyroid glands and large | | | | recommended only if the condition can not be treated |
| thyroid glands (goiters). | | | | adequately, medically. |
| Thyroid operations that a surgeon may perform are of | | | | After a thyroid surgery, patients are advised not to |
| various kinds including: | | | | drive for some time because of the pain in the neck |
| 1. Lumpectomy or Biopsy- removal of a small part of | | | | muscles and also the pain medication that may make |
| the gland. | | | | the patient feel drowsy. |
| 2. Lobectomy- removing half of the thyroid gland | | | | To know more in detail, please visit: Thyroid Symptoms |
| 3. Removal of nearly the entire gland. | | | | and Causes |
| (Subtotal Thyroidectomy- is leaving a small amount of | | | | For the pain physiotherapy is also advised after the |
| thyroid tissue bilaterally or Near Total Thyroidectomy- | | | | surgery. The recovery period is different for different |
| leaving a gm or cm of thyroid tissue.) | | | | people; there are those who are up and about in 2 |
| 4. Total Thyroidectomy- removal of all identifiable | | | | weeks. |
| thyroid tissues. | | | | Certain problems may arise after the surgery like you |
| The main risks of a thyroid operation involves possible | | | | may have a hoarse voice, need calcium replacement, |
| damage to important anatomical structures near the | | | | thyroid hormone replacement, swelling numbness, |
| thyroid, especially the parathyroid glands(that regulate | | | | soreness or an infection. But all this generally subsides |
| calcium levels) and the external and recurrent laryngeal | | | | in four to six weeks. Even the scar left by the surgery |
| nerves (that control the vocal cords) | | | | becomes less noticeable as time progresses. The risk |
| Extensive surgery is associated with higher | | | | of death from thyroid surgery is minimal, probably less |
| complications. Therefore surgeons, who are | | | | that one in 1,000, and is usually caused by other |
| inexperienced in thyroid surgery, choose to remove | | | | medical problems, such as heart attack. |
| less thyroid tissue to decrease the risk of | | | | |