Endocrine Surgeon

Dr Lucia Saliba is a specialist Endocrine Surgeon and provides thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal surgery. Endocrine surgery is a specialised surgical field, where procedures are performed on endocrine glands to achieve a hormonal or anti-hormonal effect in the body.

In 2006, Dr Saliba completed her Breast and Endocrine Fellowship with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. 

The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of the neck. The gland uses iodine (found in small quantities in many foods) to produce thyroid hormone which controls many aspects of health, including:

  • The body’s metabolic rate
  • Body weight and temperature
  • Heart rate and blood pressure
  • Mental alertness

Disorders of the thyroid gland are common. They occur when the thyroid produces too much or too little thyroid hormone. Sometimes the thyroid grows bigger or develops abnormal cells that may be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).

Surgery of the thyroid gland

Surgery of the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy) may be needed if the thyroid is:

  • Enlarged (also known as a ‘goitre’)
  • Cancerous or suspected of containing a cancerous tumour
  • Too active or ‘overactive’ (known as ‘hyperthyroidism’ or ‘thyrotoxicosis’)

What to expect during thyroid surgery?

Before the surgery, your vocal cords will be checked because the nerve that controls your vocal cords is at a slight risk of damage during the surgery.

Under general anaesthetic, an incision will be made into your lower neck.  If you already have a crease in your lower neck, the cut will be made here so any scarring is less prominent. All or part of your thyroid gland will be removed before the incision is closed with stitches or surgical clips.

Recovering from thyroid surgery

It usually takes a few weeks to make a full recovery from a thyroidectomy, but this varies between individuals. You should be able to carry out your usual activities once you’re home but are advised not to overdo it and avoid any strenuous activities and lifting for the first few weeks.

You may find it uncomfortable to swallow for a few days after your operation. It might be helpful to eat soft foods during this time.

 If all of your thyroid gland was removed, you may be given hormone replacement medicine to take. This will replace the hormones that your thyroid gland used to make.

Parathyroid glands are four small glands attached to your thyroid gland, at the base of your neck. They are endocrine glands, meaning that they secrete hormones into your bloodstream. Your parathyroid glands make and secrete a hormone called parathyroid hormone. Parathyroid hormone controls the level of calcium in your blood.

Surgery to remove the parathyroid (a parathyroidectomy) is used to treat a condition called hyperparathyroidism. Hyperparathyroidism is when your parathyroid glands release too much parathyroid hormone and this causes the level of calcium in your blood to be too high. You may also have this operation to treat a tumour of the parathyroid glands.

Having the incorrect level of calcium in your blood can cause problems with your nerves and bones.

What to expect during parathyroid surgery?

If you are suffering hyperparathyroidism, the parts of your parathyroid glands that are producing too much hormone will be removed surgically. If you have a tumour on one or more of your parathyroid glands, only the glands that are affected by the tumours will be removed and any others will be left in place.

A standard parathyroidectomy operation usually takes about two hours.

An incision three to 10cm long will be made into your lower neck. If you already have a crease in your lower neck, the cut will be made here so any scarring is less prominent. Dr Saliba will locate all of your parathyroid glands and then remove the affected ones.

If all four glands are affected, all of them except for a portion of one will be removed. The incision will be closed with stitches or surgical clips.

Recovering from parathyroid surgery

You will be able to carry out your usual activities once you get home. You can eat as you would normally.

 Sometimes there isn’t enough parathyroid gland left behind after the operation to control your calcium levels so you may need to take calcium replacement medicine. This is more likely if all of your parathyroid glands were removed. In this case, you may need to take vitamin supplements.