Thyroidectomy
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of the neck that generates metabolism-controlling hormones. When the thyroid becomes compromised, surgery is necessary to correct the issue.
If you need to schedule a thyroidectomy in McKinney, Texas, Methodist McKinney Hospital is the name you can trust to provide the best staff, the best doctors, and the best care.
What Is a Thyroidectomy?
A thyroidectomy is a surgical procedure that removes part or all of the thyroid gland to treat a thyroid disorder. The partial removal of the thyroid is called a partial thyroidectomy while the complete removal of the thyroid is called a total thyroidectomy.
Common thyroid disorders that are treated by a thyroidectomy include the following:
- Thyroid cancer
- Goiters (noncancerous thyroid enlargement)
- Hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid)
The severity of your thyroid disorder will determine how much of the thyroid your surgeon must remove.
Before the Procedure
Weeks Before Surgery
- You will undergo imaging tests—like a CT scan or ultrasound—to determine the exact location of the abnormal growth
- Your doctor may perform a fine needle aspiration to determine whether the growth is cancerous or noncancerous
- You may need to take thyroid medication or undergo iodine treatment one to two weeks before the procedure
1 Week Before Surgery
- You may need to stop taking blood-thinning medications—including but not limited to aspirin, ibuprofen Advil), naproxen (Aleve), clopidogrel (Plavix), and warfarin (Coumadin)
- Get your pain medication prescription filled
- Give your doctor a list of all prescription and over-the-counter medications you take
- Stop smoking if you do
The Day of Surgery
- Don’t eat or drink after midnight the night before your procedure, unless your doctor specifies otherwise
- Take any medication advised by your doctor with a small sip of water
- Arrive at the surgery center on time
How Long Does Thyroidectomy Surgery Take?
The average thyroidectomy takes one to two hours to complete. Most patients can return home on the same day of their thyroid surgery.
Recovering From Surgery
You may experience one or more of the following symptoms after surgery:
- Neck pain
- Sore throat
- Coughing
- Sore incision site
Don’t partake in any strenuous activities for the first ten days to two weeks after surgery. The incision scar should fade about a year after surgery. Apply sunscreen to the scar regularly to reduce the scar’s visibility. While patients who undergo a partial thyroidectomy may not require hormone therapy, patients who undergo a total thyroidectomy will require lifelong thyroid hormone treatment.
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