Thyroid Surgery
Thyroid Surgery
Thyroid Surgery involves the surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland, located at the front of the neck. It is performed for a variety of thyroid conditions including thyroid cancer, large goitres, hyperthyroidism, and suspicious thyroid nodules. Dr. Vishal Vikas Nair performs thyroid surgery with meticulous technique, prioritising preservation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid glands to minimise complications.
Types of Thyroid Surgery
Total Thyroidectomy
Complete removal of the entire thyroid gland. Performed for thyroid cancer, large bilateral goitres, Graves' disease, and when bilateral disease is present.
Hemithyroidectomy (Lobectomy)
Removal of one lobe of the thyroid gland. Performed for unilateral thyroid nodules, follicular neoplasms, or localised thyroid cancer.
Subtotal Thyroidectomy
Removal of most of the thyroid tissue, leaving a small remnant. Used in selected cases of hyperthyroidism.
Completion Thyroidectomy
Removal of the remaining thyroid tissue after a previous hemithyroidectomy, typically when malignancy is confirmed on final histology.
Indications for Thyroid Surgery
- Thyroid cancer (papillary, follicular, medullary, anaplastic)
- Suspicious thyroid nodule (indeterminate or malignant FNAC)
- Large goitre causing compressive symptoms (dysphagia, dyspnoea, voice change)
- Hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease, toxic nodular goitre)
- Retrosternal goitre
- Cosmetically disfiguring goitre
- Failed radioiodine therapy
Key Safety Measures
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Monitoring
Intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) is used to identify and protect the recurrent laryngeal nerve, which controls vocal cord movement, preventing post-operative voice changes.
Parathyroid Gland Preservation
Meticulous identification and preservation of all four parathyroid glands to prevent post-operative hypocalcaemia (low calcium levels).
Benefits of Expert Thyroid Surgery
- Complete removal of thyroid disease
- Preservation of voice and swallowing function
- Minimal risk of hypocalcaemia with careful parathyroid preservation
- Cosmetically acceptable neck scar
- Enables accurate staging and adjuvant treatment planning for cancer
Symptoms Indicating Thyroid Surgery
- Neck swelling or lump
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Voice change or hoarseness
- Rapid growth of a thyroid nodule
- Symptoms of hyperthyroidism uncontrolled by medication
- Suspicious or malignant FNAC result
Why Choose Dr. Vishal Vikas Nair?
- Specialist in head and neck and thyroid surgery
- Intraoperative nerve monitoring for voice protection
- Meticulous parathyroid preservation technique
- Multidisciplinary collaboration with endocrinology and oncology
- Comprehensive pre- and post-operative thyroid management
