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Thyroid gland removal - Risks

Alternative Names

Total thyroidectomy; Partial thyroidectomy; Thyroidectomy

Risks:

Risks for any anesthesia include the following:

Reactions to medications
Problems breathing

Risks for any surgery include the following:

Bleeding
Infection

Additional risks for thyroidectomy include the following:

Bleeding and possible airway obstruction
Temporary or permanent loss of ability to speak due to paralysis of the vocal chords
Inadequate thyroid function (hypothyroidism)
Injury to the adjacent parathyroid glands
Inadequate level of calcium in the blood (hypocalcemia)

Child thyroid anatomy

Thyroidectomy - series

Reviewed last on: 7/22/2008
Shimul A. Shah, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Hanks JB, Salomone LJ. Thyroid. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2008:chap 36.

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