How long will I be in the hospital after thyroid surgery?

Most patients come to the hospital on the morning of their thyroid surgery. Although an overnight bed is automatically reserved for each patient, the majority of patients go home the same day after a 6-hour observation period in the recovery room.

The decision to stay overnight or discharge a patient the night of the operation depends on the surgeon's practice and the patient's disease. Patients who stay overnight should expect to spend two to six hours in the recovery room where they will be closely monitored for swelling in the neck, which could be a sign of early postoperative bleeding, requiring urgent re-operation. Fortunately this is a rare event. After this observation period, patients are then sent to a regular floor bed. Typically, patients will have a calcium level checked in the morning to look for low calcium levels caused by manipulation of the parathyroids during surgery. Low calcium levels will likely require temporary calcium supplements upon discharge.

In some institutions, patients are able to leave the hospital the day of the operation. Patients who are discharged the day of the operation should expect to spend up to six hours in the recovery room where they will be closely monitored for swelling in the neck, which could be a sign of early postoperative bleeding, requiring urgent re-operation. Fortunately this is a rare event. After this observation period, patients are then discharged home.