Mangaluru: Awake Thyroid Surgery in a patient who was talking through the procedure for first time

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 06, 2022: A lady hailing from Kannur came to K S Hegde Hospital with the complaint of swelling in the neck 2 weeks ago. She complained of swelling in the thyroid with cosmetic disfigurement. On ultrasound of the neck, it was found to be a ‘Complex Cyst’ and a colloid cyst on Fine-needle Aspiration Cytology. Hence, she was recommended to undergo a Hemithyroidectomy (half of the thyroid removed). This process is done under complete General anesthesia by making the patient unconscious as a routine. She underwent this surgery in one hour under the regional block while she was talking to the doctors all throughout and after surgery. She was ready for discharge the same day (DAYCARE procedure).

 

K S Hegde Hospitals is one of the few Institutions in India having a department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery. A qualified Breast and Endocrine Surgeon- Dr Smitha Rao, MS, MCh successfully conducted the surgery with regional block by Anesthesia HOD- Dr Sripad Mehendale, and Dr Gandeeva.

This procedure requires the patient to be admitted for less than a day and avoids the routine risks and complications associated with General Anesthesia. A small injection to make the local region insensitive (Regional Block) makes this surgery possible and the patient can return home the same day. This is a proud moment for K S Hegde Hospital. This type of surgery where the patient was awake and talking throughout her surgery was possible due to the availability of experts and good infrastructure.

Daycare services, where the patient comes in the morning and goes home the same day reduce the expenses incurred by the patient and help the patient return to work/home at the earliest.