What is thyroid surgery?
If there are goitres, nodules with signs of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism or malignant tumours that hinder swallowing or breathing, the thyroid gland is usually treated surgically. Thyroid surgery is an operation to remove part or all of the thyroid gland. If there is a nodule in the thyroid gland that cannot be safely classified as unsuspicious, the operation is performed so that a final histological examination can provide clarity about the nodule. The procedure is carried out in hospitals and is performed under anesthesia. During the operation, the lobe of the thyroid gland containing the nodule and possibly also the isthmus is usually removed. After the operation, you may have a drain, a small plastic tube, to prevent fluid accumulation in the wound. This is removed as soon as the accumulation of liquid is low.
What is nerve stimulation of the thyroid nerves?
The thyroid nerve is also known as the recurrent nerve. It is located on the posterior surface at the side of the thyroid gland and is usually only 1 mm in diameter. There is a risk of injury to the vocal fold nerve during the operation. If this occurs, those affected can no longer speak loudly and persistently. The literature describes a risk of injury of one to two patients for one hundred patients operated on using conventional procedures. To reduce the risk of injury, we use a nerve stimulator (neuromonitoring) during the operation. During the operation, the vocal fold nerve, which is about one millimeter thick, is then examined with magnifying glasses (magnification 2.5x) and its function checked with the nerve stimulator. When the nerve is touched with a stimulation rod, the device emits a clearly audible signal. The function of the nerve is then intact and the surgeon can continue operating carefully. This allows the surgeon to better protect the vocal fold nerve. This procedure considerably reduces the risk of permanent damage to the vocal cord nerve.
What complications are typical?
Most patients are discharged just a few days after the operation. Complications after thyroid surgery are rare. These include bleeding, for example, a raspy voice, swallowing problems, numbness of the skin or throat and calcium deficiency. Most complications pass after a few weeks. Patients who have had their entire thyroid gland removed have a higher risk of calcium deficiency after surgery. Some patients need to take calcium substitutes if their calcium levels are too low. After the operation, patients often have to take thyroid medication to replace the thyroid hormones.
Frequently asked questions
Here we answer the most frequently asked questions