Surgical Procedures for Hyperthyroidism
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Though popular in the past, surgical treatment for hyperthyroidism is rarely done today. The following are situations in which surgical treatment may be appropriate to consider:
- You have Graves’ disease and cannot tolerate medication or are not a good candidate for treatment with radioactive iodine .
- You have very large thyroid gland which interferes with breathing or swallowing.
- You have a child with hyperthyroidism.
- You are pregnant and have hyperthyroidism.
Although surgery is a permanent cure for hyperthyroidism in 90% of cases, the surgery results in hypo thyroidism , a condition that requires ongoing medical treatment and medication. Other uncommon complications include vocal cord paralysis causing hoarseness, bleeding, infected wound site, and low serum calcium.
Thyroidectomy
Thyroidectomy is the removal of all or part of the thyroid gland. Removal of only one lobe of the thyroid is called thyroid lobectomy, partial thyroidectomy, or subtotal thyroidectomy.
References:
Alexander’s Care of the Patient During Surgery. 11th ed. Mosby; 1999.
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists website. Available at: http://www.aace.com/ .
Current Surgical Diagnosis and Treatment. 10th ed. Appleton & Lange; 1994.
Palit TK, Miller CC, Miltenburg DM. The efficacy of thyoridectomy for Grave’s disease. A meta-analysis. J Surg Res. 2000;90:161-165.
Last reviewed November 2008 by David Juan, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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