Thyroidectomy
Broader Terms
endocrine surgery
Facts
- Thyroidectomy is a surgery in which a part or all of the thyroid are to removed.
- Thyroidectomy is also recommended for patients of any age in whom the goiter is so big that it causes blockage of the windpipe (trachea) or food passage (esophagus).
- Total thyroidectomy is associated with an increased rate of RLN palsies and hypoparathyroidism in comparison to less extensive thyroid surgery.
- A very rare complication after a thyroidectomy is the development of what is called a lymphatic fistula.
- If a massive goiter is compressing the trachea and esophagus, the the goal of surgery will be to remove the mass and usually this means a sub-total or total thyroidectomy (occasionally a lobectomy will suffice).
Disscusion
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