How is thyroidectomy performed?

Thyroidectomy is performed under general anesthesia with an approximately 5-6 cm incision in the upper part of the neck. The incision is usually placed in a skin crease in the neck so that the scar is less visible.

The strap muscles of the neck are released, and the thyroid is carefully removed. Once the thyroid is removed, the thyroid bed is carefully examined for any bleeding. The strap muscles are stitched together, and the skin is closed with a dissolving stitch under the skin. The thyroid is always sent for pathology to check for thyroid cancer.

The surgeon will identify the parathyroid glands and the recurrent laryngeal nerve to avoid damaging them during thyroid surgery. The parathyroid glands are located behind the thyroid and controls the body’s calcium levels. The recurrent laryngeal nerve is located below the thyroid and controls the vocal cords. A nerve integrity monitor is often used during thyroidectomy to monitor the function of this nerve and help prevent injury.

A thyroidectomy operation usually takes between 1-2 hours, depending on the reason for the surgery. It is also possible to perform thyroidectomy through incisions in the lower lip and with laparoscopic or keyhole surgery, though this has limited availability in Australia.