Is total 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.
What are the five types of thyroidectomy?
There are several approaches to thyroidectomy, including:
- Conventional thyroidectomy. This approach involves making an incision in the center of your neck to directly access your thyroid gland.
- Transoral thyroidectomy. This approach avoids a neck incision by using an incision inside the mouth.
- Endoscopic thyroidectomy.
How serious is a total thyroidectomy?
Total thyroidectomy carries an increased risk for recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, not only because both recurrent laryngeal nerves are placed at risk, but also likely because patients undergoing total thyroidectomy often have more advanced disease.
How long do you stay in the hospital after a total 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.
Is thyroidectomy an invasive surgery?
Thyroid surgery is major surgery. The extent of invasive surgery you require depends on the abnormality of the thyroid gland you are diagnosed with. Your surgeon will make this decision depending on your age, illness, overall health condition, and the outlook of the procedure.
How painful is a thyroidectomy?
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.
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).