ASA :: Thyroid Surgery

Thyroid Surgery Thyroid surgery is performed in a number of circumstances, including when cancers are found, when enlargement causes cosmetic or respiratory problems, when other forms of treatment are ineffective, and when a pregnant woman's hyperthyroidism cannot be controlled by other means. In most cases, surgery of the thyroid is not highly complicated, and usually takes no more than two hours. It is frequently performed on an outpatient or overnight basis, with general anesthesia.

There are three main types of thyroid surgery:

Total Thyroidectomy -- complete removal of the thyroid.
Subtotal Thyroidectomy -- removal of half of the gland
Thyroid Lobectomy -- removal of only about a quarter of the gland

There are few complications that result, but when they do, they typically fall into one of two categories: damage to the voice box and / or vocal cords, or damage to the parathyroid glands.

If there is damage to the parathyroid glands, this will affect the levels of calcium in the blood, however, this is very rare.

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