ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief overview of thyroid surgery in the pediatric population, when key anatomic structures are encountered during surgery, and how they are handled intraoperatively. A surgical endocrinologist’s approach to thyroid surgery must start with a thorough understanding of the gland’s anatomy. The chapter focuses on the traditional, open approach through the anterior neck for thyroid surgery. Thyroid surgery can be performed safely in most cases on an outpatient basis. General practice is to obtain a parathyroid hormone level in the recovery room after total thyroidectomy to help predict temporary hypocalcemia. Pediatric patients may experience sore throat from the placement of the endotracheal tube. Ibuprofen and/or acetaminophen alone are usually sufficient for pain control. Thyroid hormone replacement is normally started on the first postoperative day after total thyroidectomy. The chapter also describes the relatively infrequent incidence of complications as related to thyroid surgery.
