Total Thyroidectomy

Abstract
An organ with the form of a butterfly, a thyroid gland is located at the base of your neck. Almost all of
the body's metabolic functions are influenced by the hormones that the thyroid gland generates.
Total thyroidectomy and thyroid lobectomy are the two forms of thyroid surgery that can be done. If
the patient is taking thyroid hormone replacements or has several nodules on the thyroid, it's usually
suggested that you have a thyroidectomy. Total thyroidectomy is done if the patient has thyroid
cancer, goiter, hyperthyroidism, and indeterminate or suspicious thyroid nodules. The risk of having
a total thyroidectomy is represented by lifetime. After a total thyroidectomy, you will take lifelong
thyroid hormone replacements. This covers any testing you may require before surgery as well as
any preventative measures you should take following surgery. It is very important that patients will
ask the doctor what must be done after the surgery.

Clinical Analysis
An organ with the form of a butterfly, a thyroid gland is located at the base of your neck.
Almost all of the body's metabolic functions are influenced by the hormones that the
thyroid gland generates. Small, unimportant nodules that don't need to be treated for
thyroid cancer, and which frequently need surgery, are all possible thyroid problems.
Surgeons will decide whether to remove all or part of your thyroid gland and which type
of thyroid surgery is appropriate for a patient if surgery is a therapy option for their
hyperthyroidism, goiter, thyroid cancer, or thyroid nodules. Total thyroidectomy and
thyroid lobectomy are the two forms of thyroid surgery that can be done. Total
thyroidectomy involves the removal of the entire thyroid gland. This procedure is most
often performed to treat thyroid cancer, but it may also be performed to treat
uncontrollable hyperthyroidism or goiter that causes severe symptoms (Penn Medicine).
Surgeons will take lymph nodes from the area surrounding your thyroid if you are
undergoing a thyroidectomy due to thyroid cancer so that they may be analyzed by a
pathologist. To prevent scarring on your neck and provide the finest cosmetic outcomes,
surgeons make the fewest incisions feasible. There is a specific case where total
thyroidectomy is needed. According to Penn Medicine, if the patient is taking thyroid
hormone replacements or has several nodules on the thyroid, it's usually suggested that
you have a thyroidectomy. Total thyroidectomy is done if the patient has thyroid cancer,
goiter, hyperthyroidism, and indeterminate or suspicious thyroid nodules (Mayo Clinic).
A thyroidectomy is performed under general anesthesia, and patients will often spend
the night in the hospital afterward. A thyroidectomy is performed under general
anesthesia, and patients will often spend the night in the hospital afterward. Because of
this, patients would take thyroid hormone because the thyroid gland would no longer
provide for the body. The risk of having a total thyroidectomy is represented by lifetime.
After a total thyroidectomy, you will take lifelong thyroid hormone replacements.
Because your entire thyroid gland is removed, it will no longer supply you with the
hormone you need to control your body's metabolic processes. You might also have to
take supplements after thyroidectomy to balance your calcium levels (Penn Medicine).

Recommendation
It's crucial to understand how to be ready for thyroid surgery as well as what to
anticipate during recovery. This covers any testing you may require before surgery as
well as any preventative measures you should take following surgery. It is very
important that patients will ask the doctor what must be done after the surgery.
Medication is needed so it is advised that they should consider following it, especially
since calcium production must be affected. Screening must be done to monitor the
thyroid in the patient’s blood so that enough hormones must be done.

References
Mayo Clinic. (2020, October 7). Thyroidectomy - Mayo Clinic. Retrieved June 18, 2022, from

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/thyroidectomy/about/pac-20385195

University of Pennsylvania. (n.d.). What to Expect Before and After Thyroid Surgery. Penn

Medicine. Retrieved June 18, 2011, from https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-

and-visitors/find-a-program-or-service/surgery/thyroid-surgery/what-to-expect-at-penn

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