Possible effects after thyroidectomy

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Professional Advisor, Associate Professor, Dr. Hoang Dang Mich and Master, Doctor Do Xuan Chien - Department of Medical Examination and Internal Medicine - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.
Thyroid surgery usually has few complications. However, like other types of surgery, thyroid surgery also has certain risks. Therefore, it is necessary to know the effects that may be encountered after thyroidectomy to know how to promptly manage if complications occur after 2 lobectomy.

1. Does thyroidectomy have any effect?

Thyroid surgery is quite safe and dangerous complications are rare. Before surgery, your doctor will tell you about the possible risks associated with the functioning of your thyroid gland. If you have any concerns before surgery, you should ask your doctor for a thorough answer.

2. Possible complications after thyroid surgery

Thyroid surgery has its own risks and benefits. The risks of this type of surgery are usually bleeding, infection, and complications related to the patient's other health problems such as heart disease, breathing problems, hemophilia, etc. Possible complications after thyroid surgery:
Bleeding is the first possible complication after thyroid surgery. Heavy and sudden bleeding in the neck after thyroid surgery is unusual. Although rare, it can be life-threatening. Complications usually occur within the first 24 hours after surgery. Heavy bleeding can put pressure on the trachea, making it difficult to breathe. If blood flows slowly into the neck, it can lead to the formation of blood clots below the incision. Shortness of breath is caused by a large blood clot blocking the trachea, which requires immediate medical intervention. In addition, shortness of breath is caused by both recurrent laryngeal nerves being damaged, in which case urgent tracheostomy is required. Shortness of breath is a very rare complication after thyroid surgery. Thyroid storm: In the past, this complication was very common, often associated with Graves' disease. Currently, thanks to drugs to control thyrotoxicosis, the risk of this complication is rare. The patient's symptoms when falling into this condition are heart palpitations, restlessness, high fever, profuse sweating, diarrhea and delirium Postoperative infection: The incidence of complications after thyroid surgery is this about 1/2000. Therefore, your doctor will rarely give you antibiotics to prevent this condition. However, if you are in this situation, your doctor will give you antibiotics or other measures to treat Voice Change. A change in voice is a common postoperative complication of thyroid surgery, occurring in about 5-10% of surgeries and usually disappearing after a period of time. This condition can be caused by injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve or the nerves become infected after surgery. The percentage of patients with permanent voice changes is about 1%. Voice change is one of the most feared complications of thyroid surgery Thyrotoxicosis: usually occurs in 2 - 4% of patients after thyroidectomy. This condition is usually treated with radioactive iodine and does not require further surgery. Hypocalcemia due to damage to the parathyroid glands: protecting the parathyroid glands is one of the most difficult tasks in thyroid surgery. Damage to the parathyroid gland leads to low blood calcium, in addition to it also causes symptoms such as tingling in the feet, hands and around the mouth, if severe, can lead to twitching of the fingers and hands hand.

In general, the parathyroid glands may not work properly immediately after surgery. Therefore, patients will be supplemented with calcium and vitamin D for a few weeks after surgery. Additional dosage will be specifically directed by your doctor. The amount of calcium you add will gradually decrease and will be discontinued when appropriate. After recovery, women over the age of 40 will be supplemented in small doses instead of stopping completely.
Difficulty swallowing: Difficulty swallowing is a common symptom in the first few days after surgery. This condition is only temporary, but there are persistent but rare cases. Hypothyroidism: If the entire thyroid gland is removed, you are always in a state of hypothyroidism and need to take thyroid hormone supplements. armor. If you have only part of your thyroid removed, it can be difficult to know how long you will need to take your thyroid medication. Therefore, it is important that you get tested for hypothyroidism regularly. Hypothyroidism can present many years after surgery and requires lifelong monitoring. Once hypothyroidism occurs, if it occurs soon after surgery, there is still hope to restore thyroid function after a while. Late hypothyroidism occurs one or two years after thyroidectomy, which is usually permanent. The severity of hypothyroidism varies from person to person, from mild to severe.
Therefore, the symptoms are also very variable, from no symptoms to few symptoms such as gaining weight or feeling cold, eating and drinking, having mild indigestion, severe, full of symptoms such as sluggishness, lethargy, depression or anxiety. Constipation, hoarse voice, heavy body, swollen limbs. People with severe hypothyroidism may have mental disorders, hyponatremia, severe hyperlipidemia, and most afraid of cardiovascular complications. frigidity, decreased sex drive...
Because of the silent symptoms of hypothyroidism, patients who have undergone partial or total thyroidectomy should retest thyroid function within 6-12 months after surgery, and Follow-up for at least 2-3 years. After this time, the incidence of hypothyroidism tends to decrease gradually over time, that is, after 2-3 years without hypothyroidism, the incidence after that can be very low, blood tests will gradually become unnecessary. , just monitor the abnormal expression in your body.
If you have hypothyroidism after surgery and it is permanent hypothyroidism, the patient must be treated for life to avoid the complications mentioned above. The dosage is always adjusted by a specialist to suit each person, there is no fixed dose like taking panadol because no one suffers from the same impairment, and the body of one person is not the same as another.
Screening & early detection of common thyroid diseases such as simple goiter, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, ... to take measures from there appropriate and timely treatment.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.