Perioperative Nursing Care for Patients Undergoing Total Thyroidectomy at Samutprakan Hospital: A Two-Case Study

Abstract

Total thyroidectomy is a high-risk surgical procedure that may result in serious complications and potential harm to patients. Therefore, perioperative nurses must possess comprehensive knowledge and understanding to provide holistic care before, during, and after surgery, thereby ensuring patient safety and minimizing risks.

This case study presents two patients who underwent total thyroidectomy at Samutprakan Hospital. The first case was a 74-year-old female who had a neck mass for two years. Fine-needle aspiration confirmed papillary thyroid carcinoma. She underwent total thyroidectomy, which lasted 3 hours and 40 minutes, and was hospitalized for six days. The second case was a 48-year-old female with a history of hypertension, who presented with bilateral neck masses, neck tightness, and hoarseness for five years. Computed tomography revealed compression of adjacent structures. She underwent total thyroidectomy, which lasted 2 hours and 25 minutes, and was hospitalized for five days.

Both patients received continuous perioperative nursing care across the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases, with an emphasis on complication monitoring and collaborative discharge planning with the inpatient ward. As a result, both patients were discharged safely within the expected timeframe. This case study underscores the critical role of perioperative nursing in enhancing patient safety and supporting effective recovery following total thyroidectomy.