Is thyroid removal major surgery?

Is thyroid removal major surgery?

A thyroidectomy is a treatment for a variety of diseases, disorders and conditions of the thyroid gland. A thyroidectomy is a common but major surgery with serious risks and potential complications. You may have less invasive treatment options.

How serious is thyroid removal surgery?

Risks specific to thyroid surgery rarely occur. However, the two most common risks are: damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerves (nerves connected to your vocal cords) damage to the parathyroid glands (glands that control the level of calcium in your body)

Is thyroid surgery high risk?

This study confirms other data from studies of patients across the U.S. Using a large group of patient data collected over 15 years, the findings overall show that thyroid surgery is usually a safe procedure and associated with only rare complications, including death.

Should I be worried about thyroid surgery?

If a thyroid nodule is causing voice or swallowing problems, your doctor may recommend treating it with surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland. If the doctor recommends removal of your thyroid (thyroidectomy), you may not even have to worry about a scar on your neck.

How long is hospital stay after thyroid removal?

In the case of thyroid and parathyroid surgery, the risk is patients (much less than 1%). Because of this rare chance of bleeding, we keep you in the hospital for 4 hours after the operation for observation and in certain cases may observe you overnight in the hospital.

Will I gain weight after thyroid removal?

Following thyroid surgery, patients often complain of weight gain, even when they have achieved biochemical euthyroidism.

How long is the hospital stay for thyroid surgery?

After the Surgery Once you are fully awake and alert (around six hours post-op), you will be discharged home (if an outpatient surgery) or wheeled to a hospital room (if an inpatient surgery). Most patients who stay in the hospital do so for around 24 hours after their operation.

Can I talk after thyroid surgery?

You may still have a tube called a drain in your neck. Your doctor will take this out a few days after your surgery. You may have some trouble chewing and swallowing after you go home. Your voice probably will be hoarse, and you may have trouble talking.

Is thyroid surgery painful?

Typically, there is not a lot of pain involved with thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Rarely narcotic pain medication will be required, but it will be available to you if needed. Most patients only need acetaminophen (Tylenol) for discomfort.

Is it better to have a partial or total thyroidectomy?

• Some practitioners prefer to perform a partial thyroidectomy whenever possible, believing that they will leave behind enough thyroid tissue to prevent hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Having a total thyroidectomy always eventually results in hypothyroidism, since your body no longer has a way to make thyroid hormones.

Is it necessary to have surgery for thyroid cancer?

• Surgery is definitely indicated to remove nodules suspicious for thyroid cancer. In the absence of a possibility of thyroid cancer, there may be nonsurgical options for therapy depending on your diagnosis. You should discuss other options for treatment with your physician who has expertise in thyroid diseases.

What happens to your thyroid after thyroid surgery?

• Some patients become hypothyroid following thyroid surgery, requiring treatment with thyroid hormone (see Hypothyroidism brochure ). This is especially true if you had your whole thyroid gland removed. Generally, you will be started on thyroid hormone the day after surgery, even if there are plans for treatment with radioactive iodine.

What kind of surgery is done to remove the thyroid gland?

• Surgery on the thyroid gland, called a thyroidectomy, involves removal of some or all of your thyroid. It's performed for a variety of reasons and the amount that's removed depends on why you need the surgery.