This morning, I had a patient CRYING just before anesthesia prior to a thyroidectomy. This brings us to the question: Is thyroidectomy safe?: THE ANSWER: Thyroidectomy is generally considered a safe surgical procedure when performed by a qualified and experienced surgeon in a well-equipped hospital setting.
It has come a long way from being considered a dreaded procedure. Thyroidectomy was previously thought to be a surgery that had a high chance of failure and mortality, causing surgeons to hesitate in performing it.
Watch an ENT near you, Dr Ruth Estimar, talk about thyroid cancer
THYROIDECTOMY: WHAT IS IT
Thyroidectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of all or part of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck that produces hormones that regulate metabolism and other bodily functions, (read: The importance of the thyroid gland). Thyroidectomy is usually recommended to treat thyroid nodules, goiters, and thyroid cancer (read: Is thyroidectomy needed?).
HISTORY OF THYROIDECTOMY
IMAGE: Thyroid surgery was considered such a dreaded operation with a definite grim outcome that surgeons were fearful in performing it at all. Source: gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque Nationale de France)
The history of thyroidectomy dates back to ancient times, where the removal of the thyroid gland was performed as a last resort to treat goiters. However, the surgical technique was crude, and the mortality rate was high due to bleeding and infection. In the early 19th century, thyroidectomy was performed without anesthesia, which caused immense pain to the patient. Back then, the thyroidectomy surgeon would use brute force to extract the thyroid gland, causing significant tissue damage and scarring.
Modern Advances in Thyroidectomy
Over time, the surgical technique for thyroidectomy has improved, and modern medicine has made it a safe and routine procedure. Today, thyroidectomy is performed under general anesthesia, which ensures the patient does not feel any pain during the procedure.
In addition to anesthesia improvements, advances in surgical techniques, such as minimally invasive surgery and intraoperative neuromonitoring, have greatly reduced the risk of complications associated with thyroidectomy. This has allowed for faster recover and reduced scarring. Additionally, preoperative evaluation and postoperative monitoring can help identify and manage potential complications before they become serious.
Modern medicine has therefore improved the risks and potential complications associated with thyroidectomy. They are generally low, but they do exist. (read: Possible complications of thyroidectomy).
It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of thyroidectomy with your ENT doctor near you and to carefully weigh the potential risks against the benefits of the procedure. In general, the benefits of thyroidectomy in treating thyroid nodules, goiters, and thyroid cancer outweigh the risks for most patients.
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