استئصال الغدة الدرقية

Before the start of the surgery, the doctor may prescribe medication such as iodine and potassium solution to regulate the patient’s thyroid function and reduce the risk of bleeding. The patient won’t be allowed to eat or drink for a few hours before the surgery to avoid anesthesia complications as well.

Usually, in the case of thyroidectomy, the surgeon gives general anesthesia to the patient, which makes him completely unconscious and unaware during the whole process. The anesthetist may give the patient an anesthetic medication as a gas to breathe through a mask or may inject a liquid medication into a vein. In the latter case of anesthesia, a breathing tube will then be placed in the patient’s trachea to help him breathe throughout the whole process.

The medical team would then place several monitors on the patient’s body to ensure that his heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen remain at the safe level throughout the surgery. These monitors consist of a blood pressure cuff on the patient’s arm and a heart monitor leads attached to his chest. If you’re worrying over Thyroidectomy cost in Chennai then it shouldn’t be a concern, as the hospitals here offer surgeries at competitive prices.

Once the patient is unconscious because of the general anesthesia, an incision is made by the surgeon low in the center of the patient’s neck. This incision can be placed in a skin crease where it will be difficult to see after the incision heals. Depending upon the reason for or cause of the surgery, either all or a part of the thyroid gland is then removed. 

If due to thyroid cancer, thyroidectomy is done, then the surgeon may also examine and remove lymph nodes around the patient’s thyroid. This surgery usually takes one to two hours to be completed in all respects. Time may exceed or decrease depending upon the extent of the surgery needed. 

Thyroidectomy has several approaches, which are as follows -

• Conventional Thyroidectomy: In this approach, an incision is made at the center of the patient’s neck, so that the surgeon gets direct access to the patient’s thyroid gland. Majority of the people who undergo thyroidectomy opt for this approach.

• Transpolar Thyroidectomy: In this approach, an incision is made inside the mouth of the patient instead of his neck.

• Endoscopic Thyroidectomy: In this approach, several small incisions are made in the neck through which surgical instruments and a small video camera are inserted. This camera acts as a guide for the surgeon throughout the procedure.

Once the surgery is over, the patient is moved to a recovery room where a team of nurses monitors the patient’s recovery from the surgery and anesthesia. Once the patient gains full consciousness, he/she is moved to a hospital room. Some patients need to have a drain placed under the incision in the neck, which is removed the next morning after the surgery. The patient can start his usual eating and drinking process after the surgery. 

Depending on the type of thyroidectomy the patient had, they may either be allowed to go home on the same day of the surgery or after a night’s stay at the hospital, which is recommended by the doctor. The patient must wait for at least 10 days to two weeks before starting his daily routine work full-fledged. It normally takes a year for the surgery scar to fade for which the doctor might recommend a sunscreen, which will help minimize the scar from being noticeable.

Though thyroidectomy is considered as a safe procedure, it carries a risk of complications like any other surgery does, which are mentioned below -

• Bleeding: Thyroidectomy carries a 1/300 risk of bleeding with the surgery. Due to this reason, the patient is asked to stay overnight at the hospital. 

• Low Blood Calcium: Behind the thyroid gland, lies the parathyroid glands which help to control blood calcium levels in the body. If the parathyroid glands are injured or removed during the surgery, then the blood calcium level can go too low in the body. This could lead to hypoparathyroidism, in the case where patients are required to take calcium and Vitamin D supplementation. This can cause numbness, tingling or cramping. There is a 1% chance that the patient will take permanent calcium supplementation and a 5% chance that he will take temporary calcium supplementation.

• Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve: A person’s vocal cords are controlled by this nerve, which if damaged will make the patient speak in a hoarse voice. There is a 1% chance that the patient will have permanent hoarseness and a 5% chance that he will have temporary hoarseness.

• Airway obstruction caused by bleeding.

• Infection

The long term effects of the surgery completely depend on how much of the thyroid is removed.

For more information on thyroidectomy cost in Chennai, contact Credihealth Medical Experts at 8010-994-994.