Thyroid Surgery

Thyroid surgery refers to the surgical removal of half of the thyroid gland (lobectomy) or the entire thyroid gland (total thyroidectomy). Indications for thyroid surgery are thyroid cancer (papillary, follicular or medullary), follicular tumor, hyperthyroidism, larger and suspicious nodules within a single thyroid lobe and multinodular goiter. The operation is performed under general anesthesia. Thyroid gland is approached with a small incision on the front of the neck and the patient stays in the hospital for 1-2 days. Duration of the operation is from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the scope of the operation. Occasionally there is a need for drainage but this does not necessarily prolongs hospital stay. Physical sparing of 7-12 days is recommended after the operation. Sutures are removed on the 7th day after surgery. Thyroid hormones are monitored for one month after lobectomy. After total thyroidectomy, hormone replacement therapy is introduced immediately after surgery.