Lesson 1Selection of operative approach: hemithyroidectomy, total thyroidectomy, completion thyroidectomyOutlines criteria for picking half-thyroidectomy, full, or finishing thyroidectomy, mixing tumour traits, risk grouping, past surgery, patient choice, guidelines, plus advice on risks, gains, 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 algorithmsCovers right-after-surgery checks post-thyroidectomy, focusing on airway watch, quick neck bleed spotting, standard watch plans, step-up paths, and clear guides for bed and theatre handling.
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 during-surgery nerve watch basics, when to use, setup, electrode placing, signal checks, fixing lost signals, reading muscle signals, limits, and safe backups without it.
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 replacementHandles post-op calcium and PTH test plans, low-calcium risk grouping, mouth and vein calcium/vitamin D doses, hormone start timing, and dose tweaks by TSH and risk type.
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 plans for thyroid surgery, airway checks, tube methods, handling other illnesses, around-surgery blood thinner tweaks, fluid and pressure goals, and post-op pain/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 bleedingStresses careful bleed stopping in thyroidectomy, comparing stitches, clips, energy tools, safe use near nerves/glands, neck bleed prevention, and steps for sudden heavy bleeds.
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 save parathyroid glands, normal and odd spots, blood supply, avoiding cut-off tricks, when to re-plant, planting methods, and post-op function checks.
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 node removal in thyroid cancer, boundaries, cancer reasons, prevention vs treatment removal, steps, and nerve/gland harm reduction.
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 seromaHandles early thyroidectomy issues like low calcium, voice cord weakness, wound infection, fluid build-up, stressing spotting, tests, quick fixes, patient talks, and specialist referrals.
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 orderly ways to find and guard the voice nerve, odd paths, cut planes, capsule method, scar or repeat surgery handling, and nerve damage fixes during op.
Key anatomic landmarks of the RLNInferior, lateral, and superior approachesCapsular dissection and safe planesManaging scarring and reoperative fieldsHandling suspected nerve injury
