Lesson 1Selection of operative approach: hemithyroidectomy, total thyroidectomy, completion thyroidectomyDetails criteria for picking hemithyroidectomy, total, or completion thyroidectomy, combining tumour features, risk grouping, past surgery, patient choice, and guidelines, plus counselling on risks, benefits, and long-term hormone follow-up.
Oncologic and benign disease indicationsRisk stratification and guideline useWhen to choose hemithyroidectomyIndications for total or completion surgeryShared decision making with patientsLesson 2Immediate postoperative monitoring: airway, hematoma recognition and management algorithmsOutlines immediate postoperative checks after thyroidectomy, focusing on airway check, early neck hematoma spotting, standard watch protocols, escalation steps, and step-by-step plans for bedside and surgery management.
Postanesthesia airway assessment stepsNeck wound checks and early warning signsHematoma risk factors and preventionBedside decompression and emergency stepsCriteria for urgent return to the ORLesson 3Role and practical use of intraoperative nerve monitoring: indications, limitations, and alternativesLooks at intraoperative nerve monitoring basics, when to use, and setup, including electrode placement, stimulation steps, fixing signal loss, reading EMG changes, limits, and safe options when monitoring not available.
Basic principles of nerve monitoringIndications and patient selectionEquipment setup and troubleshootingInterpreting EMG signals and alertsSurgery without monitoring: safe strategiesLesson 4Calcium and PTH monitoring protocols after thyroidectomy and initiation of thyroid hormone replacementCovers protocols for postoperative calcium and PTH testing, risk grouping for low calcium, oral and IV calcium and vitamin D plans, timing for starting thyroid hormone, and dose changes based on TSH and risk.
Timing of calcium and PTH measurementsRisk stratification for hypocalcemiaOral and IV calcium and vitamin D regimensInitiating levothyroxine after surgeryTSH targets and dose adjustment plansLesson 5Anaesthesia considerations and perioperative optimisation including anticoagulation managementCovers anaesthesia planning for thyroid surgery, airway check, intubation ways, handling other health issues, perioperative blood thinners and antiplatelet changes, fluid and blood pressure goals, and postoperative pain and nausea control.
Airway assessment and intubation planningManagement of comorbid conditionsAnticoagulation and antiplatelet adjustmentIntraoperative hemodynamic and fluid goalsPostoperative analgesia and nausea controlLesson 6Haemostasis techniques, use of energy devices, and management of problematic bleedingFocuses on careful haemostasis in thyroidectomy, comparing stitch tying, clips, and energy tools, safe use near nerves and parathyroids, preventing neck hematoma, and step-by-step handling of sudden or heavy bleeding.
Vascular anatomy relevant to hemostasisSuture ligation and clip techniquesTypes and settings of energy devicesSafe use near nerves and parathyroidsAlgorithm for intraoperative bleedingLesson 7Identification, preservation, and autotransplantation of parathyroid glandsExplains ways to find and keep parathyroid glands safe, including usual and odd spots, blood supply, techniques to avoid cutting supply, when to autotransplant, grafting methods, and postoperative function check.
Recognizing normal and ectopic parathyroidsMaintaining parathyroid blood supplyWhen to perform autotransplantationAutotransplantation sites and techniqueAssessing postoperative parathyroid functionLesson 8Lymph node management: central compartment dissection indications and extentReviews when and how much central neck dissection in thyroid cancer, including body limits, cancer reasons, preventive versus treatment dissection, technical steps, and ways to reduce nerve and parathyroid harm.
Central compartment anatomy and nodal levelsOncologic indications for central neck dissectionProphylactic versus therapeutic dissectionTechnical steps and key landmarksProtecting nerves and parathyroid glandsLesson 9Management of common complications: hypocalcemia, vocal cord palsy, wound infection, and seromaDeals with early complications after thyroidectomy, like low calcium, vocal cord palsy, wound infection, and seroma, stressing spotting, diagnosis, quick treatment, patient talk, and when to refer to specialists.
Recognition and treatment of hypocalcemiaEvaluation of vocal cord dysfunctionPrevention and care of wound infectionSeroma prevention and aspiration techniquePatient education and follow‑up planningLesson 10Intraoperative strategy for recurrent laryngeal nerve identification and preservationDescribes systematic ways to find and protect the recurrent laryngeal nerve, including body variants, dissection layers, capsular technique, handling tough scars or redo surgeries, and responses to nerve injury during surgery.
Key anatomic landmarks of the RLNInferior, lateral, and superior approachesCapsular dissection and safe planesManaging scarring and reoperative fieldsHandling suspected nerve injury
