Thyroid gland removal

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Child thyroid anatomy

Total thyroidectomy; Partial thyroidectomy; Thyroidectomy; Subtotal thyroidectomy

Risks from any anesthesia include:

• Reactions to medicines
• Breathing problems

Risks from any surgery include:

• Bleeding
• Infection

Risks for thyroid removal include:

• Injury to the nerves in your vocal cords and larynx. You may have problems reaching high notes when you sing, hoarseness, coughing, swallowing problems, or problems speaking. These problems may be mild or severe.
• Difficulty breathing. This is very rare. It almost always goes away several weeks or months after surgery.
• Bleeding and possible airway obstruction
• A sharp rise in thyroid hormone levels (only around the time of surgery)
• Injury to the parathyroid glands (small glands near the thyroid) or to their blood supply. This can cause temporary low levels of calcium in your blood (hypocalcemia).
• Too much release of thyroid hormone (thyroid storm). If you have an overactive thyroid gland, you will be treated with medicine.

Review Date: 05/06/2011
Reviewed By: Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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