Thyroid surgery that removes one or both of your thyroid lobes is called a thyroidectomy.
The surgeon makes an incision (cut) in the lower neck, usually, between 4 to 6 centimetres long but can be longer if you are having lymph nodes removed.
Pre-Admission Visit
You will have an appointment at the
Pre-Admission Clinic within two weeks before your operation. This visit is very important to assess your health and help you prepare for your operation and recovery. Plan for your visit to take
2–5 hours. On the day of your pre-admission visit, take your medications and eat as usual, unless you were given other instructions.
What should I bring to my pre-admission appointment?
- Your health card (OHIP card). If you do not have an OHIP card, please bring another form of government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport.
- Any other insurance cards. You will need the policy number of your extended health insurance, if you have any.
- Your spouse/partner, a trusted friend or family member (to offer you support and be a second set of ears).
- All the medications you take in their original containers. This includes prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements and herbal or natural products.
- A copy of your power of attorney for personal care and/or advanced directives.
- A list of any questions that you may have about the operation and recovery.
- The name or phone number of your pharmacy, as well as any medical specialists that you have seen in the past 3 years.
- If you have had a cardiac stress test, echocardiogram and/or a pulmonary function test in the past 3 years, it would be helpful to bring a copy of the final report with you to this appointment.
What happens during my pre-admission visit?
- You will have blood tests and routine skin swabs. The swabs are taken from your nose and other areas of your body to check for germs that can cause infections.
- You may also need an
electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart and a chest
x-ray to check your lungs.
- You will meet many health care providers during your pre-admission visit. Please feel free to ask them any questions that you may have.
- A pre-admission nurse will review your health history and give you information to prepare you for your operation, including directions for cleaning your skin, eating before your operation, taking your medications and pain management.
- A pharmacist will review your medications.
Depending on your needs, you may also meet:
- An anesthetist who will review your health history, discuss your anesthetic plan and pain relief after your operation.
- A member of the medicine team, if you have other complex health problems.
7 Days before your surgery
- You may need to stop taking Aspirin or medications that have Aspirin in them for 7 days before your surgery.
- Stop using herbal remedies or homeopathic medications which have not been approved by your surgeon for 7 days before your surgery. Some naturopathic medications may cause bleeding.
- Talk to your doctor if you are taking blood thinner medications.
The night before your surgery
- Do NOT eat anything after midnight the night before your surgery.
- Do NOT drink coffee, black coffee or tea, milk or milk products, or orange juice after midnight before your surgery.
- You may have a sip of water or clear fluids up to 5 hours before your surgery. Then do not drink anything within 5 hours of your surgery.
- Take all your usual medications unless your doctor told you otherwise.
- If you smoke, do not do so for 24 hours before your operation.
- Do not drink alcohol for 24 hours before your operation.
- Remove all nail polish and body piercings.
- You must have a shower with soap and water to clean your skin the night before and the morning of your operation to reduce the chance of infection after your operation.
- Follow all special instructions explained to you during your pre-admission visit.
Stop smoking before your surgery: learn how smoking and tobacco can affect your recovery after surgery, and how
quitting can improve your health.
What can I expect to have on my body?
- You may have Steri-Strips or surgical glue to close your wound
- Rarely, a drain tube called a Hemovac or JP is put inside the neck near your incision to remove any extra fluid under your skin. Do not pull on it or try to empty the attached plastic bulbs. The surgeon will let you know when it will be removed.
- An intravenous (IV) is a special needle put into a vein of your arm or hand. It is attached to tubing and a bag hanging from a pole. We use your IV to give you fluid and medication during and after your surgery. We usually take the IV out as soon as you can start eating and drinking well (usually right after surgery).
You may be connected to some tubes and machines:
- Heart monitor monitors your heart rate.
- Oximeter allows us to monitor oxygen level in your blood.
- Nasal prongs allow us to give you extra oxygen.
- Intravenous (IV) lines allow us to administer needed IV fluids and medications.
- Bladder catheter allows us to collect and measure your urine.
Where and when
Wharton Head and Neck Centre
Wharton Head and Neck Centre Princess Margaret Cancer Centre – 2nd floor
Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery Clinic
Toronto General Hospital | Norman Urquhart Building – 7th Floor
Three weeks after your surgery: if you don't have an appointment for a follow-up before you leave the hospital, call your surgeon's office the first week you are home.
