Thyroid gland removal
Definition
Thyroid gland removal is surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland. Your thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland that lies over your trachea (the tube that carries air to your lungs). It is just below your voice box.
- Total thyroidectomy removes the entire gland.
- Subtotal or partial thyroidectomy removes part of the thyroid gland.
The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system. It helps your body regulate your metabolism.
Alternative Names
Total thyroidectomy; Partial thyroidectomy; Thyroidectomy; Subtotal thyroidectomy
Description
You will probably receive general anesthesia (asleep and pain-free) for this surgery. Or you may receive local anesthesia and medicine to relax you. You will be awake but pain-free.
Your surgeon may do the procedure through an incision (cut) in your neck.
- Your surgeon will make a 3-inch to 4-inch incision in your neck and will find your thyroid gland. Your surgeon will remove all or part of the gland.
- Your surgeon will be very careful not to damage the blood vessels and nerves in your neck.
- Your surgeon may place a small catheter (tube) into the area to help drain blood and other fluids that build up. The drain will be removed in 1 or 2 days.
- Surgery to remove your whole thyroid will take up to 4 hours. It will take about 2 hours to remove half of it.
Your surgeon may use an endoscope to remove your thyroid.
- In this procedure, you will have 3 or 4 small incisions. Your surgeon will insert a tiny camera through one incision and small tools through the others ones.
- Your surgeon will use the camera to see the area and will remove your thyroid with the tools.
Risks
Risks for any anesthesia are:
- Reactions to medicines
- Breathing problems
Risks for any surgery are:
- Bleeding
- Infection
Risks for thyroid removal are:
- Injury to the nerves in your vocal cord. You may have a weaker voice or a hard time swallowing thin liquids after surgery.
- Difficulty breathing. This is very rare. It almost always goes away several weeks or months after surgery.
- Bleeding and possible airway obstruction
- A sharp rise in thyroid hormone levels
- Injury to the nerves to your vocal cords and larynx. This injury can cause weakness or even paralysis on one side of your voice box and larynx. When this happens, you may have problems reaching high notes when you sing, hoarseness, coughing, swallowing problems, or problems speaking. These problems may be mild or severe.
- Injury to the parathyroid glands (small glands near the thyroid) or to their blood supply. This can cause low levels of calcium in your blood (hypocalcemia).
Reviewed By: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
