The thyroid gland is a human organ that monitors the functioning of many vital organs. Surgical removal of the thyroid gland is indicated for patients who have been diagnosed with malignant tumors in the thyroid gland. Also, such an operation may be necessary for thyroid dysfunction or for severe forms of endocrine thyroid pathology. The patient needs rehabilitation after removal of the thyroid gland.
Postoperative period
Immediately after surgery, the patient has some unpleasant manifestations. These may be the following phenomena:
- sore throat pain and swelling;
- swelling of the neck in the area of intervention;
- violation of the normal operation of the vocal cords, hoarseness and hoarseness of the voice;
- discomfort in the back of the neck;
- general weakness.
Signs of thyroid surgery go away on their own 2-3 weeks after surgery. These phenomena do not require special treatment.
Possible complications
Only in some cases, during the operation, damage to the recurrent nerve occurs, which causes weakness of the voice. Voice dysfunction can be caused with laryngitis, which is provoked by the endotracheal tube during anesthesia. Together with voice dysfunction, parathyroid dysfunction can occur. With this diagnosis, special treatment is necessary, which in some cases lasts a lifetime.
Another complication after removal of the thyroid gland or a significant part of it can be hypocalcemia (lack of calcium in the body). This condition can be prevented or eliminated by increasing the amount of calcium-containing foods in the diet, or by taking dietary supplements.
Some patients experience severe postoperative complication in the form of local bleeding, which is accompanied by the occurrence of edema and suppuration in the area of the postoperative suture.
Patient rehabilitation
Recovery after removal of the thyroid gland or a significant part of it consists in the need for hormone replacement therapy. It can go on for the rest of your life. The remaining thyroid, unable to perform its functions in full mode, requires additional medication.
To improve the patient’s condition, he needs treatment after removal of the thyroid gland with the help of injections of the drug levothyroxine. It is necessary to suppress the production of thyroid-stimulating hormone, which is produced by the pituitary gland. Such procedures block the development of secondary hypothyroidism.
If the operation was necessary as a result of a malignant tumor, then the patient is additionally prescribed treatment with radioactive iodine. Also, the patient needs constant monitoring and examination using scintigraphy and radiography. It is important to identify possible metastases in the patient’s body.
During the rehabilitation period after surgery, the patient must eat properly. There are restrictions on the use of sweet, smoked and fatty. It is important to completely abandon alcohol and foods rich in preservatives and other harmful additives.
During the recovery period, it is better to limit physical activity, however, after rehabilitation, the patient may return to normal life.