Thyroidectomy
Anesthesia type

General

Airway

Neuromonitoring ETT

Lines and access

PIV

Monitors

Standard 5-lead ECG Neuromonitoring

Primary anesthetic considerations
Preoperative

Potential for tracheal compression, deviation due to mass effect creating difficult airway

Intraoperative

Avoiding paralytic due to RLN monitoring

Postoperative

Hypocalcemia Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy

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A thyroidectomy is a procedure used to treat patients with hyperthyroidism that has not responded to conservative medical treatment. Procedure can involve the removal of the entire thyroid gland (total thyroidectomy), removal of 1 lobe (thyroid lobectomy, or hemithyroidectomy), or some variation. The procedure is usually done as an open thyroidectomy, though a minimally invasive transoral thyroidectomy can also be performed.

Preoperative management

Patient evaluation

System Considerations
Airway Large goiter can compress airway or cause vocal cord paralysis
Neurologic
Cardiovascular Tachycardia, tachyarrhythmias
Pulmonary
Gastrointestinal
Hematologic
Renal
Endocrine Thyroid storm
Other

Labs and studies

  • Thyroid studies
  • BMP

Operating room setup

Patient preparation and premedication

N/A

Regional and neuraxial techniques

  • Surgeon may be able to infiltrate the site with local

Intraoperative management

Monitoring and access

  • Standard ASA monitors
  • IONM (intra operative nerve monitoring) for recurrent laryngeal nerve

Induction and airway management

  • NIMS endotracheal tube (for neuro monitoring)
  • Video laryngoscope for surgeons to ensure proper electrode placement

Positioning

  • Supine
  • Some rotate the bed 180 degrees

Maintenance and surgical considerations

  • Avoid paralysis
  • Consider remifentanil instead of paralytic agents, (0.05-0.2mcg/kg/min typically throughout the case)

Emergence

  • Avoid bucking/coughing
    • Consider deep extubation
    • Consider leaving remi on

Postoperative management

Disposition

  • PACU, stay in hospital

Pain management

  • Pain is worse with minimally invasive transoral approach.
  • Usually can be managed with tylenol and oral opioids in PACU, can consider IV opioids as backup

Potential complications

  • Neck hematoma is rare but can develop rapidly, resulting airway compromise. Thus it is a surgical emergency requiring prompt takeback.
  • Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, if unilateral, results in a hoarse voice, but if bilateral, can result in obstructed airway requiring emergent tracheostomy
  • Hypocalcemia

Procedure variants

Open thyroidectomy Transoral thyroidectomy (minimally invasive)
Unique considerations
Position
Surgical time
EBL
Postoperative disposition
Pain management Pain is less significant Pain is worse, consider giving long acting opioid during the case
Potential complications

References