Post-Operative Care Instructions

Total Thyroidectomy

Your patient has been discharged on calcium supplements following their thyroid surgery. They have been asked to see you on a weekly basis to have their serum calcium level checked and their medication reduced according to the protocol:

If your patient is just on Caltrate tablets

On discharge they will normally be on:
Caltrate 2 twice a day
If calcium is normal at one week reduce to:
Caltrate 1 twice a day
If calcium is normal the next week, reduce to:
Caltrate 1 daily
If calcium is normal the next week:
Cease Caltrate


If your patient is on Caltrate + Rocaltrol tablets

On discharge they will normally be on:
Caltrate 2 twice a day and Rocaltrol 2 twice a day
If calcium is normal at one week reduce to:
Caltrate 1 twice a day and Rocaltrol 1 twice a day
If calcium is normal the next week, reduce to:
Caltrate 1 daily and Rocaltrol 1 daily
If calcium is normal the next week reduce to
Caltrate 1 daily
If calcium is normal the next week:
Cease Caltrate

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Hemithyroidectomy

Your patient has been discharged on calcium supplements following their thyroid surgery. They have been asked to see you on a weekly basis to have their serum calcium level checked and their medication reduced according to the protocol:

On discharge they will normally be on:
Caltrate 2 twice a day
If calcium is normal at one week reduce to:
Caltrate 1 twice a day
If calcium is normal the next week reduce to:
Caltrate 1 daily
If calcium is normal the next week:
Cease Caltrate

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Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy

Your patient has been discharged on calcium supplements following their thyroid surgery. They have been asked to see you on a weekly basis to have their serum calcium level checked and their medication reduced according to the protocol.

On discharge they will normally be on:
Caltrate 2 twice a day
If calcium is normal at one week reduce to:
Caltrate 1 twice a day
If calcium is normal the next week reduce to:
Caltrate 1 daily
If calcium is normal the next week:
Cease Caltrate

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Open parathyroidectomy

Your patient has been discharged on calcium supplements following their thyroid surgery. They have been asked to see you on a weekly basis to have their serum calcium level checked and their medication reduced according to the protocol.

If your patient is just on Caltrate tablets

On discharge they will normally be on:
Caltrate 2 twice a day
If calcium is normal at one week reduce to:
Caltrate 1 twice a day
If calcium is normal the next week reduce to:
Caltrate 1 daily
If calcium is normal the next week:
Cease Caltrate

If your patient is on Caltrate + Rocaltrol tablets

On discharge they will normally be on:
Caltrate 2 twice a day and Rocaltrol 2 twice a day
If calcium is normal at one week reduce to:
Caltrate 1 twice a day and Rocaltrol 1 twice a day
If calcium is normal the next week reduce to:
Caltrate 1 daily and Rocaltrol 1 daily
If calcium is normal the next week reduce to:
Caltrate 1 daily
If calcium is normal the next week:
Cease Caltrate

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Parotidectomy

Some abnormal side effects that require immediate medical treatment may include:

  • Temperature higher than 38°C or chills
  • Severe pain, redness or swelling
  • Sudden bleeding from the wound, or persistent and worsening pain
  • Nausea or vomiting

To prevent nausea post-anaesthesia, give the patient liquids only. If this is well tolerated, they can move onto solid foods.

The most significant complication that could arise is facial nerve involvement. Some symptoms of this may be poor lip movement or failure of the eye to close, through to complete drooping of one side of the face. The patient may require artificial tears to protect the eye if the lid is not closing properly. Signs of facial nerve paresis difficulty smiling, winking, or drinking fluids. There is no need to be alarmed. Facial nerve  weakness usually recovers within 3 months.

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