When can I take a shower?
You can take a normal shower 24 hrs after removing the drain tube. After a shower, just dab the wound dry with a soft towel. However any excessive soakage at the drain or wound site will need to be informed to the surgeon and wetting the wound may be delayed.
How do I take care of my wound?
Normally a dressing will be present on the operative site for about 24 hrs which will be removed on the next day of surgery. No special care may be required except keeping the wound dry and clean. A tube may be in place to drain out excess fluid from the operation site. This may usually be removed 24 – 48 hours after surgery.
How long will I be in the hospital?
This depends very much on the exact diagnosis and the operation being performed. Usually the stay in the hospital post-surgery may vary between 24 - 48hours.
What are all the preoperative preparations required prior to surgery?
Routine Pre-operative investigations including thyroid function tests and radiological imaging tests will be done. Your vocal cords will be examined by another doctor in the hospital by passing a small nasal endoscope through your nose. This is a very quick and safe test done usually lasting less than a minute without much discomfort. An anaesthesiologist will evaluate you and give you the information what you need to know regarding the type of anaesthesia You will be asked to be on empty stomach for 6 hours prior to surgery
What are the precautions I need to take prior to surgery?
Inform your surgeon and anaesthesiologist about any medications you are on including Thyroid medications. They may need to be continued even on the day of surgery with sips of water. If you are on any blood-thinning or antiplatelet medications like aspirin, clopidogrel, inform your surgeon – these may need be stopped 3-5 days prior to surgery.
Is there any Key Hole surgery for thyroid as with the abdomen?
Yes! Key Hole surgery with a Scarless neck is an option in thyroid surgeries.
- The feasibility of such surgery depends on the size of the thyroid gland.
- Your surgeon will assess clinically and the ultrasound scan and will give you an option for a keyhole surgery or what is called an “Endoscopic Thyroidectomy”.
Will I Get a bad scar in my neck?
Conventional Thyroid surgeries involve a cut in front of your neck. However as in any surgery involving the face and neck, scars will be usually only mildly noticeable
What is lymph node surgery and when is it needed?
Lymph nodes are small bean shaped structures present at various locations in the body, which are helpful in the body’s immune system by filtering toxic substances that are harmful.
In patients who have a diagnosis of thyroid cancer, the lymph nodes around the thyroid gland may be involved and need to be removed as part of the cancer operation – This procedure is called as Central Lymph Node Dissection.
What are the types of thyroidectomies?
Depending on the nature of thyroid disease or the location of the thyroid lesion, your surgeon may suggest one of the following surgeries: Hemithyroidectomy: Removal of one lobe of the thyroid and the isthmus Total Thyroidectomy: Removal of the entire thyroid gland (both lobes of the thyroid and the isthmus) leaving no tissue behind. Near Total Thyroidectomy: Occasionally, for surgical reasons, your surgeon may leave a very tiny amount of thyroid tissue behind. It is done to protect important structures that run very close to the thyroid gland in the neck.
Why do I need to undergo Thyroid surgery?
It is usually performed for the following reasons.
Goiter: Any increase in the size of a thyroid gland, from any cause, is called a goiter Increase in the size of the gland may lead to compression on the windpipe (trachea) or the food pipe (esophagus). This may warrant surgery. Even in the absence of pressure effects, a goiter can cause discomfort or cosmetically unacceptable appearance. In such a scenario you should discuss the risk and benefit of surgery with your surgeon
Development of a lump (nodule) in the gland: Nodules or lumps may develop in the thyroid gland which may be single (solitary nodule) or multiple (multi-nodular goitre) The elderly are more prone to develop nodules. Nodules are seen in 50% of women and 30% of men after the age of 50. These nodules are assessed by clinical examination, ultrasound examination, needle biopsy or all three tests as your surgeon suggests Sometimes these nodules may be cancerous and your surgeon will advice surgery involving removal of the thyroid gland
Over-active thyroid gland
Over-active Thyroid gland secreting excessive thyroxine may sometimes require thyroidectomy Eg. Graves Disease or toxic adenoma.
