Is thyroidectomy a major surgery?

A thyroidectomy is a treatment for a variety of conditions of the thyroid gland. A thyroidectomy is a common but major surgery with serious risks and potential complications. There may be less invasive treatment options available to you. A doctor can advise you if this is the case.

How serious is thyroid removal surgery?

Thyroidectomy is generally a safe procedure. But as with any surgery, thyroidectomy carries a risk of complications. Potential complications include: Bleeding.

Is thyroidectomy major or minor surgery?

A thyroidectomy is traditionally a minimally invasive surgery performed through a small horizontal incision in the front of the neck. The entire thyroid gland may be removed or just a single lobe, a portion of a lobe and the isthmus or other structures.

Is thyroid surgery painful?

Pain at the incision is minimal (most liken it to a sore throat), and patients generally require only mild pain medication (for example, acetaminophen) by the first day after the operation. It may be more comfortable to eat soft foods for a few days.

How long does it take to recover from thyroid surgery?

Most people are ready to return home within one day of surgery, but take off about two weeks from work to recover. You'll need to refrain from heavy lifting or other tasks that can strain your neck for up to three weeks after your surgery.

Thyroid Surgery (Thyroidectomy)

Will I gain weight after thyroidectomy?

Patients with hyperthyroidism commonly experience weight gain after thyroidectomy. This occurs due to the reduction in circulating thyroid hormone, thus ameliorating the weight-lowering effects of elevated thyroid hormones (4,5).

How long does throat hurt after thyroidectomy?

Sore Throat/Cough

This is normal to experience after surgery and will often last up to 5 days after surgery. Lozenges and a softer diet may be helpful until this resolves. You may also feel like you have phlegm in your throat and need to cough. This is due to the irritation of the tube in your windpipe during surgery.

How long are you in the hospital after thyroidectomy?

After thyroid surgery, you will probably stay in hospital for one or two nights to recover from surgery. Your neck wound will be closed with stitches, adhesive strips or small clips. Your nursing team will talk to you about how to care for your surgical wound site once you go home to prevent it becoming infected.

Can you talk after thyroid surgery?

Your voice probably will be hoarse, and you may have trouble talking. For most people, these problems get better within 3 to 4 months, but it can take as long as a year. In some cases, this surgery causes permanent problems with chewing, speaking, or swallowing.

What is the fastest way to recover from thyroid surgery?

Follow your doctor's orders and listen to your body. It is normal to fatigue more easily after a surgical procedure. Walking is a low impact exercise to keep you active and speed up recovery, while gentle neck exercises and stretches can help to prevent neck stiffness or soreness.

Is a total thyroidectomy an outpatient surgery?

Ultimately, the decision to perform outpatient thyroidectomy must be made by the surgeon, hospital, and patient. With adequate operative experience and careful patient selection, hospitals and patients stand to benefit from total thyroidectomy as an outpatient procedure.

How do you feel after thyroid removal?

After any operation you need time for your body to recover and your wound to heal. You should be able to go back to all the things you were doing before your thyroid operation within a few weeks. Your neck may feel stiff and uncomfortable because of the wound and the scar. It may also feel numb.

Is thyroidectomy an outpatient procedure?

Regardless of the type, thyroid surgery is typically a scheduled inpatient procedure performed in a hospital. Less commonly, it may be performed on an outpatient basis in a surgical center.

Does thyroid removal shorten life expectancy?

We have also shown that treatment per se (thyroidectomy, high-dose radioactive iodine and thyroid hormone medication) is safe and does not shorten life expectancy.

What happens to your body after total thyroidectomy?

Following surgery, you may experience: Voice changes, such as, a hoarse voice, difficulty in speaking loudly, voice fatigue, and a change in the tone of your voice. These changes are due to damage to the laryngeal nerves that supply your voice box (larynx) during surgery.

Why do you breathe hard after thyroidectomy?

Common causes of this complication include compression due to formation of a hematoma, tracheal collapse, laryngeal edema and bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, and they should be taken into consideration to ensure prevention and/or timely treatment of dyspnea (1,2).

Do you have a catheter during thyroid surgery?

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.

How do you sleep after a thyroidectomy?

Discard the fluid down a sink or toilet; do not save it. Head of Bed: Please elevate the head of your bed 30-45 degrees or sleep in a recliner at 30-45 degrees for the first 3-4 days to decrease swelling. The skin above the incision may look swollen after lying down for a few hours.

How do I prepare for a thyroidectomy?

As a general rule, do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before, and arrive at least two hours before your scheduled surgery. Most often you can take your routine medications with a sip of water. Medication guidelines prior to surgery will be discussed at your pre-operative visit.

Do you have to stay overnight after a thyroidectomy?

If only part of the thyroid gland is removed, you may be allowed to go home the same day. If the entire thyroid gland is removed, you will stay in the hospital overnight and most likely will go home the following morning. If a drain is placed, it is typically removed in 48-72 hours after surgery.

How long does it take to get your voice back after thyroid surgery?

Temporary hoarseness, voice tiring, and weakness can occur when one or more of the nerves are irritated during the operation or because of inflammation that occurs after the surgery. This usually gets better within a few weeks, but can take up to 6 months to resolve.

How soon can I drive after thyroidectomy?

Many patients may resume regular activities within a few days after the operation. Most patients are able to return to work within the first week. You will be able to drive as soon as you can turn your head comfortably, for your own safety while driving.

Can you swallow after a thyroidectomy?

The results of this study confirm that patients frequently experience postoperative swallowing changes, even after uncomplicated surgery in the absence of laryngeal nerve injuries. In the early postoperative weeks after thyroidectomy, swallowing impairment is self-explanatory and is reported by most patients.

What should I wear after a thyroidectomy?

Most patients will either wear a scarf or a bandaid when going outside to cover the incision for the first 6 months.

How does your voice heal after thyroidectomy?

Based on the problems experienced when first referred for voice therapy, a set of exercises are provided with the aim of compensating for the deficit induced by the nerve injury. Such exercises might include head-neck-shoulders relaxation, abdominal breathing, appropriate tone focus, lip and tongue trills.