Thyroid Surgery
Patient
Information
June 2011
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When you require surgery, it is important to know what to expect.
The information in this booklet will help you feel more prepared for
your thyroid surgery. Your surgeon and nurse will give you more
specific information about your individual case.
Questions / Notes
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The Thyroid Gland
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The thyroid gland is located in the neck, just below the
“Adams Apple” (thyroid cartilage). The illustration below
shows arrows pointing to the thyroid gland. The gland
produces thyroid hormones (e.g., thyroxine), which helps
regulate how quickly the body uses energy. Thyroid
hormones also help regulate calcium levels.
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Trillium Health Centre
Mississauga Site
100 Queensway West
Mississauga, ON L5B 1B8
(905) 848-7100
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Thyroidectomy
A thyroidecomy is the removal of all (a “total thyroidectomy”)
or part (a “subtotal thyroidectomy”) of the thyroid gland.
Thyroid surgery becomes necessary if the thyroid gland is
enlarged, overactive, or if lumps (nodules) have developed
on the gland.
West Toronto Site
150 Sherway Drive
Etobicoke, ON M9C 1A5
(416) 259-6671
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 Talk to your nurse to see if you need some help at
home.
 Arrrange for someone to pick you up when you know the
Most people recovery fairly quickly from thyroid surgery, and
return home 1 or 2 days after the procedure.
time/date you are going home.
 Your nurse will review your discharge instructions with
you.
 You will receive a discharge instruction sheet, a followup doctor’s appointment, and any prescriptions for
medications you need.
 Be sure to ask any questions you have before you are
discharged home.
Returning to Work
Be sure to ask your surgeon when you can return to work.
This will be confirmed at your follow-up appointment 10-14
days after surgery.
What to Bring to the Hospital
Have a family member/friend bring the following to the
Surgical Unit after surgery:
 Comfortable, well-fitting shoes (running shoes or slippers
with non-slip sole); all footwear must have closed heels
and toes;
 Personal care items (toothbrush, hair brush, toothpaste);
 Housecoat.
Getting Ready for Your Surgery
 Review this booklet.
 Make sure you are eating well before surgery; a healthy
Follow-up Phone Call
You will receive a follow-up telephone call at home from
your nurse to make sure you are recovering well and to
answer any questions you have.
 Call your surgeon’s office as soon as possible to arrange
a follow-up appointment after your surgery.
diet allows your body to build reserves that help with
healing and recovery.
 Avoid smoking; this will help you recover well and
prevent infection.
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the
night before your surgery. You may take sips
of water if ou need to take pills.
How Will You Manage at Home After Surgery?
Before surgery, make plans for the help you will need at
home (e.g., groceries, cooking, child care, cleaning, etc.).
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After Surgery
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 After that time, you may have a
smaller dressing applied.
You will wake up after surgery in the
Recovery Room where a nurse will
check you often. You will remain in the
Recovery Room for the first 3-6 hours.
After that time, you will be take to your
room on the Surgery Unit.
Hemovac Drain
At the end of the operation, the surgeon will place a small
“drain” at the neck. This hemovac drain is in place for 1-2
days to help your incision heal (pictured below). Your nurse
will assess your hemovac drain, surgical dressing, and
overall recovery. You will have your blood pressure and
other vital signs, and neck girth measured every 4 hours
initially. Be sure to tell the nurse how you are feeling.
 It is important to keep the area
clean and dry.
Stitches or Clips
Your surgeon will use the best
technique for your individual case to
close your incision. This is done with
clips (staples), sutures, or white tapes
(steri-strips).
If clips are used, these may be
removed by the surgeon as early as the
1st or 2nd day after surgery. See
illustration. If sutures are used, you will
go home with these in place. Keep the
area clean and dry. The sutures will be
removed at your follow-up appointment
with the surgeon in 10-14 days. White tapes (steri-strips)
may be used to cover the sutures, or may be applied after
the sutures are removed. See illustration.
Going Home
What are C&T Signs? (Chvostek and Trousseau Signs)
 Depending on your recovery, you will be discharged on
An uncommon complication of thyroid surgery is a drop in
your calcium level. Your lap work will be monitored for any
change in your calcium level. Your nurse also checks for
signs of low calcium by monitoring for muscle spasms,
the 1st or 2nd day after surgery.
 It is important you begin planning for going home, even
before you come to the hospital.
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nausea and vomiting from previous anesthetics, tell the
anesthesia doctor before your surgery. There are
medications to help minimize this.
It is important you feel comfortable after surgery. Tell your
nurse if you have nausea or vomiting and you will be given
medication to provide some relief.
Lab Work
After your surgery, you will have blood work draw to look at
the level of calcium and other components in your blood.
Occasionally, after thyroid surgery, calcium levels can
become low. In this event, supplements of calcium will be
ordered by your surgeon. Your surgeon will explain when to
have more blood tests done after you go home.
Thyroid Function
If all of the thyroid gland is moved, you will require lifelong
replacement thyroxine. This is easy to do by taking a daily
dose of thyroid hormone, available in pill form.
Care of Your Incision
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particularly at your wrist or face. This is called C&T signs
(Chvostek and Troussseau). To check for C&T signs, your
nurse will tap gently just in front of year ear to check for
muscle twitching of your face muscle (Chvostek’s sign). The
nurse will also check for a positive Trousseau’s sign by
inflating a blood pressure cuff for a few minutes and observe
for twitching or spasms at your wrist or hands.
Although complications are rare, be sure to tell your
nurse if you have:
 Trouble breathing;
 Muscle spasms;
 Twitching or tingling in your lips for fingers.
Pain Management
After surgery, you will have some pain
and neck stiffness. You will be provided
pain medications to ensure you are as
comfortable as possible. On the day of
surgery, you may receive your pain
medication through your intravenous line. Once you are
able to drink fluids, you can progress taking pain medication
in pill form. Keeping the head of the bed elevated can also
improve your comfort.
 You will have a dressing that covers the area of surgery.
 Your nurse will explain how your incision is healing and
Nausea and Vomiting
how to care for this at home.
 Normally the initial surgical dressing is left in place for
the first 24-48 hours.
Some people feel stomach upset (nausea) and vomiting
after surgery. If you have a history of motion sickness or