Thyroidectomy Complications, Essay Example

There are eight major complications that can arise as a result of a thyroidectomy operation–1), unwanted bleeding, especially into the neck which occurs less than 15% of the time; 2), breathing problems associated with some type of blood clot that block the windpipe; 3), “thyroid storm” or thyrotoxicosis which involves a “rapid pulse, restlessness, and a high temperature with sweating, diarrhea and delirium;” 4), changes in the voice which for some patients may interfere with their careers or employment; 5), the lack of control over thyrotoxicosis which “represents surgical failure and occurs in 2-4% of patients after a traditional subtotal thyroidectomy;” 6), damage to the parathyroids which can result in low blood calcium; 7), problems related to swallowing; and 8), the occurrence of hypothyroidism or a low thyroid state (What Are the Complications of Thyroid Surgery? 2013).

Types of Hernias:

1), abdominal hernia in which a loop of bowel protrudes through the abdominal musculature and often at the sight of an old surgical scar; also known as a ventral hernia; 2), diaphragmatic hernia or the protrusion of part of the stomach through an opening in the diaphram; 3), femoral hernia in which a loop of intestine decends through the femoral and into the groin area; 4), hiatus hernia or the protrusion of a portion of the stomach upwards through the diaphram; 5), inguinal hernia in which a loop of intestine enters the inguinal canal with the male scrotum; and 6), umbilical hernia or a “soft skin-covered protrusion of intestine and omentum through a weakness in the abdominal wall around the umbilicus” (Glanze, 2000, p. 346).

Sites for Aneurysm Formation:

Aneurysms or the localized dilation of thewall of a blood vessel, generally form in the following body sites–1), the aorta, the largest artery in the body; 2), the peripheral vessels or blood vessels that lie outside of the heart; and 3), the lower extremities or legs, especially in the popliteal arteries, a continuation of the femoral artery that passes through the knee and extends into the ankles and feet (Glanze, 2000, p. 941).

Types of Wound Healing:

There are four basic types of wound healing that occurs after surgery or some kind of physical injury to the body–1), healing by first intention or primary wound closure which begins after an operation through irrigation and debridement or the remocal of foreign matter and debris in a fresh wound; 2), healing by second intention in which a wound is allowed to close up through epithelialization and contraction; 3), healing by third intention or tertiary wound closure which is delayed due to contamination and imflammation; and 4), partial thickness wound healing or allowing a wound that does not penetrate the skin to heal by itself (Glanze, 2000, p. 1256).

TNM Staging for Breast Cancer:

According to the staging system known as TNM with “T” representing the size of the tumor, “N” representing the involvement of the lymph node, and “M” signifying whther the cancer has spread or metastasized to other body regions, there are five basic stages related to breast cancer which is either local, regional, or distant–1), Stage 0 or non-invasive breast cancer with no evidence of cancerous cells; 2) Stage I or invasive breast cancer with small tumors; 3), Stage II which is divided into two subcategories based on the size of the tumor(s); 4), Stage III which is also based on the size of the tumor(s) and whether the cancer has metastasized to the lymph nodes; and 5), Stage IV in which the cancer has metastasized to other body areas or organs (Stages of Breast Cancer, 2013).

References

Glanze, W.D., ed. (2000). Mosby’s medical and nursing encyclopedia. St. Louis, MO: C.V. Mosby & Company.

Stages of breast cancer. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/staging

What are the complications of thyroid surgery? (2013). Retrieved from http://www.endocrinesurgeon.co.uk/index.php/what-are-the-complications-of-thyroid-surgery