What are the health effects of removing one side of the thyroid gland?

Removal of one side of the thyroid gland may cause hypothyroidism, damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve, hypoparathyroidism, hematoma and other effects, which are different for each patient. Removal of one side of the thyroid gland may cause complications. If there is hematoma formation, it may cause respiratory difficulties and suffocation; if the recurrent laryngeal nerve is damaged during the operation, it may cause hoarseness, choking on drinking water, etc. If the parathyroid glands are damaged during the operation, it may cause hypoparathyroidism, which may manifest itself as fatigue, numbness of the perioral area and limbs, and twitching of the hands and feet. In addition, hypothyroidism can occur due to insufficient secretion of thyroid hormones after thyroidectomy, resulting in symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and bradycardia. Patients who need to undergo thyroidectomy are recommended to standardize their treatment under the guidance of doctors and choose regular hospitals and doctors.