Lesson 1Selection of operative approach: hemithyroidectomy, total thyroidectomy, completion thyroidectomyThis lesson details criteria for choosing half-thyroidectomy, total, or completion thyroidectomy, combining tumour traits, risk grouping, past surgery, patient choice, guidelines, and 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 algorithmsThis lesson outlines post-thyroidectomy monitoring, focusing on airway checks, early neck swelling detection, standard watch protocols, escalation steps, and step-by-step management at bedside or in theatre.
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 alternativesThis lesson explores nerve monitoring basics, when to use, setup, electrode placement, stimulation steps, fixing signal loss, reading muscle signals, limits, and safe options without monitoring.
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 replacementThis lesson covers post-op calcium and PTH testing plans, low calcium risk grouping, oral/IV calcium and vitamin D doses, hormone start timing, and dose changes based on TSH and risks.
Timing of calcium and PTH measurementsRisk stratification for hypocalcemiaOral and IV calcium and vitamin D regimensInitiating levothyroxine after surgeryTSH targets and dose adjustment plansLesson 5Anesthesia considerations and perioperative optimization including anticoagulation managementThis lesson covers anaesthesia planning for thyroid surgery, airway checks, intubation methods, handling other health issues, blood thinner adjustments, 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 6Hemostasis techniques, use of energy devices, and management of problematic bleedingThis lesson focuses on careful bleeding control in thyroidectomy, comparing stitches, clips, energy tools, safe use near nerves/parathyroids, preventing neck swelling, and handling sudden 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 glandsThis lesson explains finding and saving parathyroid glands, common and odd spots, blood supply, avoiding cut-off, when to reimplant, grafting 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 extentThis lesson reviews when and how much central neck node removal in thyroid cancer, boundaries, cancer reasons, preventive vs treatment removal, steps, and reducing nerve/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 seromaThis lesson addresses early post-thyroidectomy issues like low calcium, vocal cord weakness, wound infection, fluid collections, with focus on spotting, tests, urgent care, patient advice, 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 preservationThis lesson describes systematic ways to find and protect the recurrent laryngeal nerve, variants, dissection layers, capsule method, handling scars/reoperations, and nerve injury responses.
Key anatomic landmarks of the RLNInferior, lateral, and superior approachesCapsular dissection and safe planesManaging scarring and reoperative fieldsHandling suspected nerve injury
