We all have a thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped organ in the neck that produces hormones that regulate metabolism. Sometimes problems arise with the thyroid gland and surgery is necessary. You can read more about it in this article.

The thyroid gland

The thyroid gland is located in the neck, near the trachea. This organ consists of two ‘side lobes’ connected by a central part. In addition, we have four parathyroid glands.The thyroid gland produces hormones, which in turn regulate the metabolism in our body. The parathyroid glands also have a function, namely regulating the calcium level in the blood by means of a parathyroid hormone.Some people experience problems with the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland can work too much, causing it to produce too many hormones. Another possible problem is the development of one or more nodules on the thyroid gland, which can make breathing and swallowing difficult.

Thyroid surgery

When problems arise with the thyroid gland, it may be necessary to surgically remove part or even the entire organ.Broadly speaking, there are 3 types of thyroid surgery. During a total strumectomy, the thyroid gland is completely removed. This operation is usually performed when a malignant tumor is found on the thyroid gland.During a subtotal strumectomy, both halves of the thyroid gland are largely removed. This operation is mainly performed if the thyroid gland is too large or too active. A small amount of tissue is retained so that hormone production can continue.A total hemistrumectomy, also called lobectomy, is the operation to completely remove one half of the thyroid gland. This operation is performed when a lump is discovered in one half of the organ and it is not known whether it is benign or malignant.Thyroid surgery is always performed under general anesthesia. The operation takes about 2 hours and afterwards the patient must stay in the hospital for a few days. One of the surgeon’s main concerns is not to damage the vocal cord nerves during the operation so that the patient does not suffer from voice loss.

Complications

Thyroid surgery carries relatively few risks. Some possible risks include removing too much or too little thyroid tissue, bleeding, or vocal cord injuries. If the vocal cord nerves are damaged during the operation, this can lead to voice problems, but these are usually temporary. One may experience temporary hoarseness or difficulty speaking. Even if the vocal cord nerves are not affected, you may experience a temporary voice change.

Aftercare

After the operation you will have to stay in the hospital for a few days. After about 4 days, the stitches are removed and the patient can leave the hospital. Discharge depends on the calcium level in the blood, which must recover after the operation. In some cases, the patient must take calcium tablets afterwards to restore the balance.After about two weeks you are expected to be checked again to see whether the recovery has gone smoothly.