Operation procedure

Thyroidectomy surgery can be performed either unilaterally or bilaterally. These operations are performed under general anesthesia. The patient is operated on in a supine position, with the head stretched backwards to allow better access to the operating area.

After thorough disinfection, a four to five cm long incision is first made at the front of the neck, so that the thyroid gland can be well exposed by the surgeons. During the subsequent removal of the thyroid gland, special attention must be paid to the recurrent nerve, which lies close to the thyroid gland. A so-called neuromonitoring system can be used, which emits warning sounds as soon as the nerve is touched by the surgical instruments.

If the recurrent nerve is injured, this can lead to temporary hoarseness after the operation. If both sides are injured, breathing sounds or shortness of breath may occur after the operation. In addition, attention must be paid to the very small parathyroid glands that are adjacent to the thyroid gland during the operation.

These should be preserved as far as possible, as they play an important role in calcium regulation with the production of the parathyroid hormone. The blood vessels of the thyroid gland are electrically sclerosed during the removal to prevent secondary bleeding. After one or both lobes of the thyroid gland have been removed, the wound can be closed again.

In the case of heavy bleeding, it may be necessary to insert drains into the wound. These are thin tubes that transport the blood and wound secretion to the outside, where it is collected in small bags. The actual operation takes about two hours if the thyroid gland is completely removed. However, together with the preparation, anaesthetic induction and storage, about three hours can be included.

Disease duration

As a rule, one has to stay in hospital for about two to three days after a thyroidectomy.You may get up immediately after the operation. The length of the sick leave depends on the type of profession. While office work can be resumed a few days after the operation, physical work must be avoided for about two weeks. If the patient is free of symptoms and he/she heals well, the inability to work may be shortened by a few days.