Leaders in Surgical Care
Leaders in Surgical Care
General Information:
The thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, produces thyroid hormone, which regulates all other hormones in the body. If too much thyroid hormone is produced, the condition is called hyperthyroidism. If this cannot be managed by medication, surgical intervention may be required. Other reasons for thyroid surgery include an enlarged thyroid, thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer.
Symptoms:
Hyperthyroidism symptoms:
Thyroid cancer symptoms:
Recovery Time:
Following a thyroidectomy, you will need to take thyroid replacement hormone (levothyroxine, commonly known as Synthroid) for the rest of your life. Radioactive iodine treatment may also be necessary after surgery to destroy any remaining thyroid tissue. After surgery, pain should be minimal. You may experience hoarseness and voice fatigue for a few months following surgery. Calcium supplementation may be necessary to avoid low calcium levels.
Surgical Treatment:
Thyroidectomy may be required to remove your thyroid gland in cases of thyroid cancer or uncontrollable hyperthyroidism. All or part of the thyroid gland will be removed through an incision in the base of the neck.
General Information:
The parathyroid glands are four small glands on each corner of the thyroid gland. The parathyroid glands regulate bodily calcium and phosphorous levels through the production of parathyroid hormone (PTH). If this hormone is overproduced (hyperparathyroidism), blood calcium becomes elevated while phosphorous levels drop. If too little is produced (hypoparathyroidism), the opposite occurs.
Symptoms:
Symptoms associated with hyperparathyroidism:
Symptoms associated with hypoparathyroidism:
Recovery Time:
Parathyroid surgery is usually done as an outpatient procedure. You may have some bruising, pain with swallowing, hoarse voice, and neck pain following the surgery. You can resume normal activities after one week.
Surgical Treatment:
Parathyroid problems are often caused by a non-cancerous growth on one of the parathyroid glands. In most cases, only one of the four glands needs to be removed. If all four glands are enlarged and overproducing PTH, surgeons will usually leave a small piece of one gland, which can then regenerate.
General Information:
Adrenal glands are small triangular-shaped glands above the kidneys. Your adrenal glands produce important hormones the body needs to function properly (such as adrenaline, aldosterone, and cortisol). If a tumor develops on an adrenal gland, it can affect hormone production. Most adrenal tumors are benign, but approximately 10-15% are cancerous. Adrenal tumors may be asymptomatic and are most often identified during an unrelated abdominal x-ray.
Symptoms:
Recovery Time:
Most patients take 1 to 2 weeks to recover from the laparoscopic surgery and 5 to 6 weeks to recover from an open adrenalectomy.
Surgical Treatment:
If tumors appear in the adrenal glands, surgery is performed to remove all or part of the glands. For laparoscopic adrenalectomy, four to five small incisions will be made into the side of your abdomen, and laparoscopic instruments will be used to extract the adrenal gland. For an open adrenalectomy, one long incision is made across the abdomen in order to remove the adrenal gland.
General Information:
Thyroid cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the thyroid gland, which is located at the base of the neck. The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature. Thyroid cancer can manifest in several forms, including papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic thyroid cancer, with papillary being the most common and anaplastic being the most aggressive.
Symptoms often include a lump in the neck, changes in voice, difficulty swallowing, and swollen lymph nodes. Treatment typically involves surgery, radioactive iodine, hormone therapy, and sometimes radiation and chemotherapy.
General Information:
A thyroid goiter is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. It can be caused by iodine deficiency, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, or thyroid nodules. Goiters can be diffuse, affecting the entire gland, or nodular, involving one or more lumps. Symptoms may include a visible swelling at the base of the neck, difficulty breathing or swallowing, and a tight feeling in the throat. Treatment depends on the cause and size of the goiter and may include observation, iodine supplementation, medications, or surgery.
General Information:
Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, leading to an accelerated metabolism. Common causes include Graves’ disease, toxic adenomas, and thyroiditis. Symptoms can include weight loss, rapid heartbeat, increased appetite, nervousness, tremors, sweating, and heat intolerance. Treatment options include anti-thyroid medications, radioactive iodine therapy, and surgery, all aimed at reducing the production or effects of thyroid hormones.
General Information:
Hyperparathyroidism is a condition characterized by the overproduction of parathyroid hormone (PTH) by the parathyroid glands, which are located near the thyroid. This hormone regulates calcium levels in the blood. Excess PTH leads to high calcium levels (hypercalcemia), which can cause weakened bones, kidney stones, fatigue, depression, and abdominal pain. The condition can be primary, due to an enlargement of one or more parathyroid glands, or secondary, due to another condition causing low calcium levels. Treatment may include surgery to remove the overactive glands, medications, and lifestyle changes.
General Information:
Hyperaldosteronism, also known as Conn’s syndrome, is a disorder where the adrenal glands produce too much aldosterone, a hormone that helps regulate blood pressure by balancing sodium and potassium in the blood. Excess aldosterone leads to high blood pressure, low potassium levels, muscle weakness, and fatigue. It can be primary, due to an adrenal adenoma or hyperplasia, or secondary, due to other conditions like heart failure or kidney disease. Treatment includes medications to block the effects of aldosterone, lifestyle changes, and sometimes surgery to remove the affected adrenal gland.
General Information:
Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor that develops in the adrenal glands, which produce hormones like adrenaline. These tumors can cause the glands to produce too much adrenaline and noradrenaline, leading to symptoms such as high blood pressure, headaches, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and anxiety. The condition can be life-threatening if untreated. Diagnosis often involves blood and urine tests, imaging studies, and sometimes genetic testing. Treatment typically includes surgical removal of the tumor and medications to manage symptoms before surgery.
General Information:
Cushing’s syndrome is a disorder caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It can result from taking glucocorticoid medications or from tumors that produce cortisol or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Symptoms include weight gain, particularly around the abdomen and face, thinning skin, easy bruising, muscle weakness, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis. Treatment depends on the cause and may involve reducing glucocorticoid use, surgery, radiation, or medications to control cortisol production.
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