What muscles are cut during thyroidectomy?

Partial cutting of the sternothyroid muscle at the laryngeal head at the insertion point of the sternothyroid muscle along the thyroid cartilage is reportedly a safe surgical technique for exposing the superior pole of the thyroid gland to facilitate isolation and ligation of the vascular pedicles of the superior pole …

What is a common complication following a thyroidectomy?

The major postoperative complications are hypocalcemia, wound infection, hematoma, recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury, and Horner’s syndrome.[3,4,5] Hypocalcemia is the important postoperative complication of thyroid surgery causing potentially severe symptoms and increasing hospitalization time.[6,7] …

What happens to your body after your thyroid is removed?

If your entire thyroid is removed, your body can’t make thyroid hormone. Without replacement, you’ll develop signs and symptoms of underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). Therefore, you’ll need to take a pill every day that contains the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Synthroid, Unithroid, others).

Where do you cut the straps for a thyroidectomy?

The strap muscles may need transection if the gland is large. The muscles should be cut as high as possible as the nerve supply to these muscles (ansa cervicalis) is in the lower third [1–3].

What is the most serious complication of thyroidectomy?

Hypocalcemia—This is the most common complication of thyroidectomy. Depending on how many parathyroid glands that are inadvertently removed, signs and symptoms can go from mild to severe.

What are the three major life threatening complications postoperatively of a thyroidectomy?

Major postoperative complications include wound infection, bleeding, airway obstruction (compressing hematoma, tracheomalacia), hypocalcemia, thyroid storm (uncommon, usually associated with Grave’s disease) and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Incidence is 3-5%.

What are the five types of thyroidectomy?

Options for surgical management of thyroid cancer as defined by the American Thyroid Association Guidelines include total thyroidectomy, subtotal thyroidectomy, hemi-thyroidectomy, and completion thyroidectomy.

Is thyroidectomy a major surgery?

A thyroidectomy is a major operation and you should rest for 2-3 days when you get home. You will normally be well enough to return to work in 1-2 weeks, but this will vary depending on the type of work you do. It is normal to feel tired for the first few weeks.

What are the long-term effects of a thyroidectomy?

The long-term effects of thyroidectomy depend on how much of the thyroid is removed. If only part of your thyroid is removed, the remaining portion typically takes over the function of the entire thyroid gland. So you might not need thyroid hormone therapy. If your entire thyroid is removed, your body can’t make thyroid hormone.

When is it time to have a thyroidectomy?

A thyroidectomy may be appropriate for people who have a thyroid tumor, thyroid nodules or hyperthyroidism, which occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone.

How to deal with neck stiffness after thyroid surgery?

Gently tilt your head to the right and then to the left. Rotate both shoulders forward in a circular motion. Slowly raise your arms overhead, and then slowly lower them back down against your body. Most often, neck stiffness lasts for only a few days to a few weeks after surgery.

Which is the most common reason for a thyroidectomy?

A thyroidectomy may be recommended for conditions such as: Thyroid cancer. Cancer is the most common reason for thyroidectomy. Noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid (goiter).