The thyroid is an endocrine gland that produces the necessary hormones (T3 and T4) to regulate body temperature and our body’s energy consumption.
What does the thyroid look like?
The thyroid has two symmetrical lobes that give it the shape of a butterfly. It is located in the anterior and lower part of the neck. On either side of the thyroid are two important structures: the recurrent nerve, which moves the vocal cords, and the parathyroid glands, which are essential for regulating calcium in the blood.
When is an operation considered?
Many thyroid diseases can be cured with medication. Some must be surgically intervened. Among these, the most frequent are
- Nodules.
- Large goiters.
- Hyperthyroidism (excessive functioning of the gland).
- Thyroid cancer, curable by surgery in more than 80% of cases.
What kind of operations are performed on the thyroid gland?
The most frequent operations consist of:
- The removal of one of the lobes (hemithyroidectomy).
- Removal of the entire gland (total thyroidectomy).
- Removal of almost all of it (subtotal thyroidectomy). In certain types of cancer, it is necessary to remove the lymph nodes around the gland.
How long will I have to stay in the hospital?
Hospitalization after surgery lasts from one to three days. In general, you will be discharged after 24 hours or 48-72 hours if the operation has been more complicated.
How big is the incision?
Most thyroidectomies are performed through a horizontal incision of no more than 5-7 cm. in the lower and anterior part of the neck. If the goiter is very large, the patient has a very short neck or is affected by cancer, longer incisions may be necessary.
Is the procedure painful?
Thyroidectomies are not very painful and most patients need little pain medication.
What problems can I have after the operation?
After a thyroidectomy you may experience some temporary discomfort in the throat related to the plastic tube inserted into the windpipe to administer the anesthesia:
- Itching.
- Pain when swallowing.
- Slightly hoarse voice.
- Due to the position of the head in the operating room-extended backwards-you may feel discomfort similar to cervical pain.
What complications can I have?
Aphonia and decrease of calcium in the blood. Since the nerves that move the vocal cords are very close to the thyroid, during thyroidectomy they must be separated from the gland in order to preserve them. In 5% of the cases this can produce a transitory aphonia that disappears between two and ten weeks. More rarely, in 1-2% of cases, usually in operations for cancer or giant goiter, this aphonia is permanent because the recurrent nerve on one of the two sides has been damaged.
In total thyroidectomies, the surgeon separates the thyroid from the four parathyroid glands. This means that the calcium level in your blood may drop and in some cases calcium pills may need to be prescribed for you to take until your blood calcium levels return to normal.
How long will it take for me to return to a normal life?
After discharge from the hospital you should gradually return to your normal activities and you should not be afraid to do so quickly.
What will the scar look like?
At the end of the operation the wound is sewn with plastic surgery techniques with an invisible suture. The final aesthetic result depends on several factors and the use of specific patches that improve the result.