What are the surgical techniques used to perform thyroid surgery?
There are three surgical techniques that may be used to perform thyroid surgery: Open: With this approach, all or part of the thyroid gland is removed through a single large incision made across the base of the neck in the front.
What is a total thyroidectomy used for?
Total Thyroidectomy. A total thyroidectomy removes the entire thyroid and is typically used for thyroid cancer, especially aggressive cancers, such as medullary or anaplastic thyroid cancer. It's used for large goiters with multiple nodules, Graves' disease, and hyperthyroidism as well.
Is thyroid surgery inpatient or outpatient?
This surgery is reserved for the removal of small tumors located in the isthmus itself. Regardless of the type, thyroid surgery is typically a scheduled inpatient procedure performed in a hospital. Less commonly, it may be performed on an outpatient basis in a surgical center.
What type of anesthesia is used for thyroid surgery?
Thyroid surgery is usually performed with general anesthesia, but local anesthesia along with a sedative can be an alternative. Research shows that the outcomes are similar for both types of anesthesia.
What do you give someone after thyroid surgery?
If it is painful to swallow, start out with cold drinks, flavoured ice pops, and ice cream. Next, try soft foods like pudding, yogurt, canned or cooked fruit, scrambled eggs, and mashed potatoes. Avoid eating hard or scratchy foods like chips or raw vegetables.
When a patient has had their thyroid surgically removed what is the medication of choice?
People who have had a thyroidectomy will need to take daily thyroid hormone (levothyroxine) pills. If RAI treatment is planned, the start of thyroid hormone therapy may be delayed until the treatment is finished (usually about 6 to 12 weeks after surgery).
Which of the following is the most common postoperative complication seen in thyroid surgery?
The two most common early complications of thyroid surgery are hypocalcemia (20-30%) and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (5-11%).
How could a doctor treat a patient who has undergone a thyroidectomy to bring their metabolism back to normal?
If your thyroid has been removed (thyroidectomy), your body can no longer make the thyroid hormone it needs. You will need to take thyroid hormone (levothyroxine) pills to replace the natural hormone and help maintain normal metabolism and possibly lower your risk of the cancer coming back.
What happens after your thyroid is removed?
After your thyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy, you may have a temporary sore throat, neck pain, difficulty swallowing or a weak voice. Your diet will be restricted for the evening of your surgery, but in most cases, it can return to normal the next day.
What can you eat after thyroid surgery?
Your Diet During Recovery You can eat whatever you like after surgery. Try to eat healthy foods. You may find it hard to swallow at first. If so, it may be easier to drink liquids and eat soft foods such as pudding, gelatin, mashed potatoes, apple sauce, or yogurt.
What are the common complications after thyroid surgery?
Potential major complications of thyroid surgery include bleeding, injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (see the first image below), hypoparathyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyrotoxic storm, injury to the superior laryngeal nerve (see the second image below), and infection.
What do you monitor after thyroidectomy?
It is important to monitor both calcium and magnesium levels after total thyroidectomy and to correct deficiencies to facilitate prompt resolution of symptoms.
What is the most important complication to monitor when caring for a patient after thyroidectomy?
Hypocalcemia is the most frequent, symptomatic or asymptomatic, rebleeding with hematoma, laryngeal nerve injury, acute pain or infection as the most important. There is a series of care that favors the early detection of these and other things.
What are the side effects of taking thyroid medication?
The main risk of thyroid medicine is if you take too much of it, you can get symptoms of an overactive thyroid, like:Fast heartbeat.Sensitivity to heat.Hunger.Nervousness and anxiety.Shakiness.Sweating.Thin skin and brittle hair.Tiredness.More items...•
What can you not do after radioactive iodine treatment?
Do not share cups, glasses, plates or eating utensils. Wash items promptly after using. Other people may use items after they are washed. Do not share towels or washcloths.
When do you start thyroxine after thyroidectomy?
After surgery, the initial levothyroxine dose is often prescribed based on the patient's body weight (1.6 mcg/kg body weight). The dose is then be adjusted 6 to 8 weeks later, based on the blood test result.
Why is a client with hypothyroidism hypothermic?
C. The hypothyroidism client is hypothermic because of subnormal metabolism and needs a warmer environment for comfort. The client is also constipated, has little energy, and has dry skin and hair. In a newly admitted client with thyrotoxicosis, the nurse would plan to address the clinical manifestation of.
What is a thyroid storm?
Thyroid storm is a potentially fatal, acute episode of thyroid overactivity characterized by high fever, severe tachycardia, delirium, dehydration, and extreme irritability. In the initial treatment of a teenager with hyperthyroidism, the nurse would anticipate using.
What happens when you remove your parathyroid gland?
Injury or removal of the parathyroid glands may produce a disturbance in calcium metabolism and result in a decline of calcium levels (hypocalcemia). As the blood calcium levels fall, hyperirritability of the nerves occurs, with spasms of the hands and feet and muscle twitching. This group of symptoms is known as tetany and must be reported to ...
What is the best treatment for hypocalcemia after a thyroidectomy?
B, IV calcium gluconate. When hypocalcemia and tetany occur after a thyroidectomy, the immediate treatment is administration of IV calcium gluconate. This has a much faster therapeutic effect than PO calcium or vitamin D supplements. PTH and levothyroxine are not used to treat this complication.
What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?
symptoms of hypothyroidism include extreme fatigue, hair loss, brittle nails, dry skin, voice huskiness or hoarseness, menstrual disturbance, and numbness and tingling of fingers. Bulging eyes, palpitations, and flushed skin would be signs of hyperthyroid ism.
Why should you not rest after a thyroidectomy?
Bed rest should be discouraged because it increases calcium excretion and the risk of renal calculi. Limiting the patient to getting out of bed only a few times a day also increases calcium excretion and the associated risks. A patient has returned to the floor after having a thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer.
What are the effects of decreased thyroid hormone?
The most important changes caused by the decreased levels of thyroid hormone are those affecting lipid metabolism. There is a resultant increase in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and an increase in arteriosclerosis and coronary artery disease in clients with hypothyroidism.
What is thyroid surgery?
Thyroid surgery (thyroidectomy) involves the removal of some or all of the thyroid gland. This operation may be done to treat a number of diseases and conditions, including thyroid cancer, symptomatic goiter, or a thyroid gland that is producing excessive thyroid hormone ( hyperthyroidism ). This butterfly-shaped gland is located at the base ...
Where is thyroid surgery performed?
Location. Thyroid surgery is performed in a hospital or surgical center by a general surgeon or a head and neck surgeon (called an otolaryngologist ). Your surgeon will probably ask that you arrive at least two hours early on the day of your operation.
How to visualize thyroid gland?
Visualization: Depending on the surgical approach, the thyroid gland will be visualized through the incision sites ( e.g., with a magnifying lens, if the surgery is open, or through a camera that projects images on a screen, if the surgery is minimally invasive).
What is a thyroid nodule?
That said, common ones include: A thyroid nodule that is suspicious for cancer or found to be cancerous. A goiter or benign (non-cancerous) thyroid nodule that is large, increasing in size, and/or causing symptoms like discomfort or problems breathing or swallowing.
How long does thyroid surgery take?
Thyroid surgery takes around two to three hours and may be performed under regional or general anesthesia. 7. Regional anesthesia: The surgeon will inject a numbing medication into your neck (called a cervical block). You may feel a stinging sensation as the medication is being injected.
What is the procedure to remove a thyroid nodule?
Hemithyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy: This involves the removal of one of the two lobes of the thyroid gland. This option may be indicated if a thyroid nodule is small and localized to one side of the thyroid gland. Isthmusectomy: This involves the removal of the isthmus, the bridge of tissue that crosses over the middle ...
Why do surgeons perform laryngoscopy?
Since thyroid surgery may result in injury or trauma to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), some surgeons also perform a routine laryngoscopy to evaluate for any baseline vocal cord problems. Overall, these tests help the surgeon confirm the need for surgery and guide their surgical approach or technique.