Thyroid Surgery: Potential Side Effects & Recovery

Thyroid surgery is typically performed on patients with thyroid nodules that are both cancerous and benign, goiters (or large thyroid gland) and overactive thyroid glands, known as hyperthyroid. A biopsy or lumpectomy removes a small portion of the thyroid gland. A lobectomy will remove half of the gland. A total thyroidectomy removes the entire thyroid gland.

Bleeding

• Bleeding is the main complication that surgeons are concerned with following a thyroid operation. Bleeding can cause respiratory distress and is the main cause of death after this type of procedure.

Nerve Damage

• Some patients have permanent or temporary hoarseness, or problems projecting the volume of their voice following thyroid surgery. Damage to the laryngeal nerve during surgery can also cause difficulties swallowing.

Parathyroid Damage

• Patients with invasive tumors and lymph node complications are at an increased risk for developing hypoparathyroidism. The parathyroid glands control calcium production.

Hypothyroid

• If the purpose of your surgery was to treat thyroid cancer, you may become hypothyroid following your surgery. Thyroid hormone therapy is a common treatment for this condition.

Inexperienced Surgeon

• There are negative side effects and complications in only about 2 percent of thyroid surgeries performed by a surgeon with little experience with this procedure. Prior to surgery, it is important to find a surgeon who had special training in this area of medicine. (To find a surgeon near you, see Resources section of this article.)