{"id":332,"date":"2007-01-28T16:12:33","date_gmt":"2007-01-28T23:12:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.onegoodcookie.com\/?p=332"},"modified":"2013-02-24T11:53:12","modified_gmt":"2013-02-24T16:53:12","slug":"subtotal-thyroidectomy-removal-of-thyroid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insidesurgery.com\/2007\/01\/subtotal-thyroidectomy-removal-of-thyroid\/","title":{"rendered":"Subtotal Thyroidectomy (Removal of Thyroid)"},"content":{"rendered":"
Incision for Subtotal Thyroidectomy<\/span><\/h3>\n
In subtotal thyroidectomy, the patient is placed supine (face up) on the operating room table. A folded towel is placed under the neck to hyperextend the neck. The top part of the table is elevated so the patient is in a slightly reclining position. The head must be perfectly aligned with the body so a symmetrical incision is made by the surgeon. The incision is made transversely (side to side) about two fingers breadth above the sternal notch. It should be placed in a skin crease if possible for best cosmetic result. Most commonly, a slight indentation is made in the skin by using a heavy silk suture to compress the skin.<\/p>\n
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The incision for subtotal thyroidectomy should extend well beyond the borders of the sternocleidomastoid muscles (there is one on each side of the neck). For large goiters, the incision is made a little more cephalad (toward the head). By usual convention the surgeon stands on the right as the right side of the thyroid is removed first. The incision is made using one sweep of the belly of the blade across the skin and through the subcutaneous tissue.<\/p>\n