Neck & Face

ENT Surgeons on the West Bank

Certain medical conditions require surgical intervention in the neck and face. The thought of this is very nerve-wracking to many people, but keep in mind that the surgeons performing this operation are highly trained in their field. The utmost care is taken to ensure patient safety, and if a doctor has recommended it for you or your loved one, it means they believe the benefits outweigh the potential risks. That said, seeking a second opinion can help put your mind at ease that this is the right decision.

At West Jefferson Medical Center, our experienced team of ENT physicians offers neck dissections and thyroidectomies, which you can learn more about below. Your safety and comfort are important to us, and our team will guide you through every step of the procedure.

Neck dissection

A neck dissection is typically performed to remove groups of cancerous lymph nodes in the neck. Lymph nodes are responsible for helping your body fight infection. Thankfully, an absence of the neck lymph nodes will not affect your body’s immune system. Neck dissection may be performed to remove cancer, or done as an elective surgery if there is a high risk that cancer will develop in the lymph nodes.

Neck dissection is done while the patient is in an anesthesia-induced state of unconsciousness. The surgeon only removes lymph nodes and surrounding tissue that has been affected by cancer while being very careful to avoid healthy areas of the neck. When the surgery is complete, a drain is placed in the skin to remove excess fluid that enters the space where the lymph nodes were. This drain is removed after a few days.

Recovering from neck dissection takes some time, some patients may even need to remain in the hospital for two weeks.

Thyroidectomy

The thyroid gland is located in the neck and is responsible for regulating metabolism and secreting hormones. When a serious disease infects the thyroid gland, it may need to be removed through a thyroidectomy procedure.

There are several reasons a patient may need a thyroidectomy, such as:

• Treatment for thyroid cancer
• Treatment for Hyperthyroidism, a condition where the thyroid becomes overactive and produces too many hormones
• Removing goiters. Which are large growths in the thyroid gland that can make it difficult to breathe or swallow

Thyroidectomies are done while patients are completely unconscious thanks to anesthesia. A small incision is made in the neck so that the surgeon can remove the thyroid gland. Like neck dissection, a drain may be placed in the neck to remove excess fluids. The procedure is considered very safe and patients can usually return home the day of or the day after their procedure, though full recovery will take between ten days and two weeks.