Thyroidectomy
Thyroidectomy
The prevalence of thyroid surgery is increasing due to the increase in thyroid disease and cancer. Undiagnosed or untreated thyroid disease can lead to numerous symptoms or even severe illnesses such as heart disease, irregular heartbeat, vision changes, and more. Therefore, many people with thyroid disease require thyroidectomy for treatment.
A thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland, which is in the front of the neck. The thyroid gland secretes thyroid hormone, which controls many vital functions in the body.
Minimally invasive thyroidectomy with Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam, Assistant Professor of General and Laparoscopic Surgery and Consultant for Bariatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine at Kasr El-Ainy, is an important shift for thyroid surgery, using laparoscopes with a micro-camera with or without a surgical robot.
Laparoscopic thyroidectomy is a camera-assisted thyroidectomy, a modern surgical technique that allows the surgeon to perform thyroid surgery through small incisions in the skin. In laparoscopic thyroidectomy, tiny incisions are made in the armpit. The video camera helps provide a magnified view of the tissue, which helps remove large thyroid nodules and aids in performing a complete thyroidectomy.
Laparoscopic thyroidectomy:
Laparoscopic thyroidectomy can be performed for all types of thyroid surgery. The main types of thyroid surgery are:
• Total thyroidectomy (removal of the entire thyroid gland).
• Thyroid lobectomy or hemithyroidectomy (removal of half of the thyroid gland).
• Near-total thyroidectomy (removal of most of the thyroid gland while leaving a little tissue on one side).
• Removal of the central part of the thyroid gland.
When is thyroidectomy performed?
Thyroidectomy may be appropriate for people who have a thyroid tumor, thyroid nodules, or hyperthyroidism, which occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone.
Thyroid tumors are more common in women than in men. Approximately 90% of all thyroid nodules are benign. If a malignant tumor is suspected, surgery is the recommended solution regardless of the size of the tumor. Thyroidectomy is recommended for nodules larger than 4 cm even in cases of benign tumors. Depending on the patient's history and physical examination, the surgeon may decide to perform a hemithyroidectomy with lymph nodes behind and around the thyroid gland or a total thyroidectomy with removal of the lymph nodes behind and around the thyroid gland to ensure complete recovery from thyroid cancer.
A thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland, which is in the front of the neck. The thyroid gland secretes thyroid hormone, which controls many vital functions in the body.
Minimally invasive thyroidectomy with Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam, Assistant Professor of General and Laparoscopic Surgery and Consultant for Bariatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine at Kasr El-Ainy, is an important shift for thyroid surgery, using laparoscopes with a micro-camera with or without a surgical robot.
Laparoscopic thyroidectomy is a camera-assisted thyroidectomy, a modern surgical technique that allows the surgeon to perform thyroid surgery through small incisions in the skin. In laparoscopic thyroidectomy, tiny incisions are made in the armpit. The video camera helps provide a magnified view of the tissue, which helps remove large thyroid nodules and aids in performing a complete thyroidectomy.
Laparoscopic thyroidectomy:
Laparoscopic thyroidectomy can be performed for all types of thyroid surgery. The main types of thyroid surgery are:
• Total thyroidectomy (removal of the entire thyroid gland).
• Thyroid lobectomy or hemithyroidectomy (removal of half of the thyroid gland).
• Near-total thyroidectomy (removal of most of the thyroid gland while leaving a little tissue on one side).
• Removal of the central part of the thyroid gland.
When is thyroidectomy performed?
Thyroidectomy may be appropriate for people who have a thyroid tumor, thyroid nodules, or hyperthyroidism, which occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone.
Thyroid tumors are more common in women than in men. Approximately 90% of all thyroid nodules are benign. If a malignant tumor is suspected, surgery is the recommended solution regardless of the size of the tumor. Thyroidectomy is recommended for nodules larger than 4 cm even in cases of benign tumors. Depending on the patient's history and physical examination, the surgeon may decide to perform a hemithyroidectomy with lymph nodes behind and around the thyroid gland or a total thyroidectomy with removal of the lymph nodes behind and around the thyroid gland to ensure complete recovery from thyroid cancer.
Before thyroidectomy:
Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam orders some scans and lab tests, including:
• Thyroid ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• Blood tests to measure thyroid hormone levels and other factors.
• Examine the vocal cords using a laryngoscope.
Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam also prescribes antibiotics for cases with a weak immune system or cases prone to infection. The patient may also receive medications to reduce nausea and vomiting (antiemetics).
For people with hyperthyroidism, medications to maintain the balance of thyroid hormones are given during and after surgery.
The latest thyroidectomy procedures:
• Laparoscopic-guided surgery involves the use of a small magnifying camera inserted into the neck or under the arm. The incision is only 1.5-3 centimeters long. Carbon dioxide gas can be pumped into the neck area to help make it easier to see and work on the gland. A second small incision is then made to insert a thin tube with a scalpel-like edge. This tube is the surgical instrument used to remove the thyroid gland.
• Also, robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery is the latest advancement in thyroid surgery. The use of a surgical robot provides surgeon Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam with a magnified three-dimensional view of the area being worked on. It also allows for exact movements, made by translating the movements of the surgeon's hands into movements of the surgical instruments by the robotic system.
Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam orders some scans and lab tests, including:
• Thyroid ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• Blood tests to measure thyroid hormone levels and other factors.
• Examine the vocal cords using a laryngoscope.
Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam also prescribes antibiotics for cases with a weak immune system or cases prone to infection. The patient may also receive medications to reduce nausea and vomiting (antiemetics).
For people with hyperthyroidism, medications to maintain the balance of thyroid hormones are given during and after surgery.
The latest thyroidectomy procedures:
• Laparoscopic-guided surgery involves the use of a small magnifying camera inserted into the neck or under the arm. The incision is only 1.5-3 centimeters long. Carbon dioxide gas can be pumped into the neck area to help make it easier to see and work on the gland. A second small incision is then made to insert a thin tube with a scalpel-like edge. This tube is the surgical instrument used to remove the thyroid gland.
• Also, robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery is the latest advancement in thyroid surgery. The use of a surgical robot provides surgeon Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam with a magnified three-dimensional view of the area being worked on. It also allows for exact movements, made by translating the movements of the surgeon's hands into movements of the surgical instruments by the robotic system.
How is a laparoscopic thyroidectomy performed?
• Using laparoscopic surgery techniques, a laparoscope and the instruments are inserted into the armpit to remove all or part of the thyroid gland.
• The procedure is performed with special instruments using a camera to guide the surgeon. The camera allows the surgeon to see the internal tissues with magnification, precision, and clarity on the screen.
• After the thyroid gland is separated from the trachea, the thyroid gland is removed, partially or completely, through an incision.
• During the procedure, Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam takes great care to identify and avoid damaging the laryngeal nerves just behind the thyroid gland. Injury to these nerves can severely affect the ability to speak, swallow, or breathe. A surgical nerve integrity monitoring system is used to help the surgeon identify and monitor these nerves and make sure they are not damaged during surgery.
• Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam is also very keen on identifying and preserving the four small glands located next to the thyroid gland. These four tiny glands produce a hormone called parathormone, which controls calcium levels in the blood.
• Finally, the specimen is placed in a specimen bag to be sent for examination, and the minor incisions are closed.
• Using laparoscopic surgery techniques, a laparoscope and the instruments are inserted into the armpit to remove all or part of the thyroid gland.
• The procedure is performed with special instruments using a camera to guide the surgeon. The camera allows the surgeon to see the internal tissues with magnification, precision, and clarity on the screen.
• After the thyroid gland is separated from the trachea, the thyroid gland is removed, partially or completely, through an incision.
• During the procedure, Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam takes great care to identify and avoid damaging the laryngeal nerves just behind the thyroid gland. Injury to these nerves can severely affect the ability to speak, swallow, or breathe. A surgical nerve integrity monitoring system is used to help the surgeon identify and monitor these nerves and make sure they are not damaged during surgery.
• Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam is also very keen on identifying and preserving the four small glands located next to the thyroid gland. These four tiny glands produce a hormone called parathormone, which controls calcium levels in the blood.
• Finally, the specimen is placed in a specimen bag to be sent for examination, and the minor incisions are closed.
What are the benefits of laparoscopic thyroidectomy?
• Thyroid surgery relieves some or all the patient's symptoms.
• Laparoscopic thyroidectomy is a technique that has the advantage of minimally invasive methods.
• The inserted video camera provides a magnified view of internal structures. The surgeon can perform surgery by viewing an enlarged view of the internal tissues on a computer screen, increasing the safety and accuracy of the surgical procedure.
• Also, another key benefit is reduced post-operative pain and faster recovery.
• The biggest benefit is that the neck remains scar-free as laparoscopic thyroidectomy is performed through incisions in the armpit with a much smaller scar than the traditional method, which is a great cosmetic advantage.
Recovery after thyroidectomy:
In some cases, patients go home the same day of surgery, but some people spend the night in the hospital so that the medical team can monitor the patient and observe calcium levels in the blood.
When the thyroid gland is surgically removed, the body still needs thyroid hormone to keep vital functions in balance. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy involves taking synthetic or naturally derived thyroid hormones in pill form.
These advanced techniques for thyroid surgery are now available in Egypt with Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam, Assistant Professor of General and Laparoscopic Surgery and Consultant for Bariatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine at Kasr El-Ainy. This surgery is done through a very small incision that can be made at a distance from the gland, such as under the armpit or in the chest area, where the surgeon is guided during the procedure using a laparoscope while preserving the aesthetic appearance of the neck.
• Thyroid surgery relieves some or all the patient's symptoms.
• Laparoscopic thyroidectomy is a technique that has the advantage of minimally invasive methods.
• The inserted video camera provides a magnified view of internal structures. The surgeon can perform surgery by viewing an enlarged view of the internal tissues on a computer screen, increasing the safety and accuracy of the surgical procedure.
• Also, another key benefit is reduced post-operative pain and faster recovery.
• The biggest benefit is that the neck remains scar-free as laparoscopic thyroidectomy is performed through incisions in the armpit with a much smaller scar than the traditional method, which is a great cosmetic advantage.
Recovery after thyroidectomy:
In some cases, patients go home the same day of surgery, but some people spend the night in the hospital so that the medical team can monitor the patient and observe calcium levels in the blood.
When the thyroid gland is surgically removed, the body still needs thyroid hormone to keep vital functions in balance. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy involves taking synthetic or naturally derived thyroid hormones in pill form.
These advanced techniques for thyroid surgery are now available in Egypt with Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam, Assistant Professor of General and Laparoscopic Surgery and Consultant for Bariatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine at Kasr El-Ainy. This surgery is done through a very small incision that can be made at a distance from the gland, such as under the armpit or in the chest area, where the surgeon is guided during the procedure using a laparoscope while preserving the aesthetic appearance of the neck.
