A thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of your thyroid gland, which is essential in many cases. During thyroid surgery, a surgeon removes the thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped organ in your neck, either completely (total thyroidectomy) or partially (partial thyroidectomy).
To treat thyroid-related conditions like cancer and goiters and thyroid nodules, surgeons perform thyroidectomies. For effective thyroid surgery in Siliguri, consult the leading general surgeon in town.
Thyroidectomies come in three primary varieties:
- A total thyroidectomy means removing the thyroid gland completely.
- A partial thyroidectomy preserves some thyroid function by removing only a section of the thyroid gland.
- Hemithyroidectomy (lobectomy) is the procedure that removes a single lesion and involves removing one lobe of the thyroid.
Thyroid Surgery: Why It is Done?
If you suffer from any of the following problems, your doctor could suggest a thyroidectomy:
Carcinoma of the thyroid (cancer). One of the most common causes of thyroidectomy is cancer. Removing much or all of your thyroid will probably be the right treatment option if you have thyroid cancer.
Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid means your thyroid gland overproduces the hormone thyroxine. If you have trouble taking antithyroid medications or don't want radioactive iodine therapy, thyroidectomy might be the right choice.
Suspicious Nodules on the Thyroid. Even after a biopsy sample, certain thyroid nodules cannot be classified as either malignant or noncancerous. Patients may qualify for a thyroidectomy if there is a higher chance that their nodules will develop into cancer.
Goiter. For a large goiter, you may need to undergothyroid surgeryto remove your thyroid gland whole or in part. Breathing or swallowing may become difficult due to a huge goiter, which can also make your thyroid hyperactive.
Thyroid Surgery: Preparations and Results
The key to a successful thyroidectomy and a speedy recovery is preparation. Before surgery, patients should think about the following:
Medical Evaluation: To evaluate the thyroid issue, doctors may recommend blood tests, imaging (ultrasound, CT, or MRI), occasionally a fine-needle aspiration biopsy, a vocal cord function test, etc.
Adjustments to Medication: To stabilize thyroid function before surgery, doctors may provide medications to control the over-production of thyroid hormones.
Fasting Recommendations: To avoid anesthesia-related issues, patients need to fast for at least eight hours before surgery (as advised by the surgeon).
Discuss all of your medications, including prescription and over-the-counter, with your healthcare provider, including supplements and herbs. On the day before surgery, find out from your doctor the medications you should continue taking. Generally, doctors temporarily stop blood thinners due to surgical complications.
Overview of the Procedure
General anaesthesia is given by an anaesthesiologist before thyroid surgery to relax your muscles, avoid pain, and induce sleep. To reach and remove the thyroid gland, your surgeon makes an incision in the lower neck.
Surgery may be done through a minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy, which involves making a tiny incision with the help of a video camera.
Your surgeon may use the support of a robot via a remote incision in the back of your neck or the axilla, which is the area beneath your shoulder where blood vessels and nerves enter and exit your upper arm. Consult the best medical expert for thyroid surgery in Siliguri City.
Results
After a few hours of hospital supervision, many patients particularly with a hemithyroidectomy can return home the same day of the procedure. Some patients must spend the night in the hospital before being released the following morning.
If you have a partial thyroidectomy, the remaining section usually takes over the thyroid gland's whole function. It may cancel the need for thyroid hormone treatment.
Your body won't be able to produce thyroid hormone if your entire thyroid is removed. Here, you need hormone treatment, which does all of the same things that the hormones your thyroid gland typically produces. Wait for at least two weeks to resume your work or daily schedule after thyroid surgery.
It’s generally a safe surgery and like all procedures it carries out some risks. Talk to one of the best thyroid surgeons in Siliguri, Dr. Sourav Dhar for personalized treatment.
