Thyroid radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a less invasive method of correcting thyroid complications such as hyperthyroidism, usually caused by excess thyroid gland action.
Generally, a thyroid radiofrequency ablation treatment has a significant success rate compared to other treatment methods like the use of hormonal regulatory pills.
However, there are complications associated with a thyroid radiofrequency ablation procedure that cannot be ignored. Although a thyroid radiofrequency ablation treatment procedure has slight complications, the chances of such complications occurring are notably very minimal. Due to these facts, thyroid RFA treatment is considered a safe treatment method for correcting hyperthyroidism.
To fully understand the risk exposure of thyroid RFA, this article will discuss some of the common side effects associated with thyroid RFA treatment and how best to address these side effects.
Brachial Plexus Injuries
Thyroid RFA is usually done using heat waves that are directed and focused on the affected thyroid gland, targeting the thyroid nodules.
As such, a doctor can go deep past the target nodules and accidentally touch the brachial plexus nerve. Resultantly, you may experience numbness in some of the fingers depending on the position and the magnitude of the damage done to the brachial plexus nerve.
The brachial plexus nerve is located deep down in the neck. Therefore, the chances of injuries occurring to the brachial plexus are very minimal. Your body will repair the damaged plexus nerves within a few months and restore full functionality in the affected fingers.
Horner Syndrome
Horner syndrome is caused by injuries sustained on the sympathetic nerves and is usually characterized by pain in the affected side’s eye.
In order to prevent Horner syndrome, your doctor can guide the ablation electrode using an ultrasound scanner. Ultrasound guidance allows precise ablation of the nodules in the infected thyroid gland(s), thereby reducing the chances of significantly ‘burning’ the sympathetic nerves.
Laryngeal Nerve Palsy
Laryngeal nerve palsy is by far the most common side effect of thyroid radiofrequency ablation treatment, and is usually manifested by voice changes.
Although laryngeal nerve palsy has temporary effects on your voice, significant nerve damage reportedly causes permanent voice changes such as hoarseness. However, temporary nerve palsy resolves within a few months, restoring normal vocal functions.
Skin Burns
Thyroid RFA electrodes require slight incisions that are precisely made to give access to the thyroid nodules in the neck. As such, the heat waves used in RFA cause mild burn marks at the entry point, which is characterized by a change in skin color.
RFA treatment causes first-degree burns; RFA burns neither cause insignificant damage to your skin nor leaves any permanent marks once they heal. Intrinsically, RFA skin burns require a week or two to heal completely.
Hypertension
High blood pressure can occur during the radiofrequency ablation treatment because your body is responding to pain.
Hypertension can occur due to an underlying high blood pressure condition the doctor may have missed when taking the tests. Consequently, hypertension can easily cause cardiac arrest or excessive hemorrhaging when the doctor makes incisions.
Nonetheless, notify your doctor of any underlying conditions that may cause hypertension during and after the RF ablation procedure.
Hematomas
Injuries to the anterior jugular cause hematomas once the doctor makes an incision and inserts the ablation electrode. A hematoma calls for the termination of the thyroid RFA because it can result in massive hemorrhaging.
Controlled daily neck compressions are ideal conservative measures to resolve hematomas.
Hypothyroidism
Primarily, a thyroid radiofrequency ablation in Michigan is a treatment method used to correct hyperthyroidism (excess thyroid gland action). Once the thyroid nodules are removed, the thyroid glands’ action can reduce greatly, causing insufficient thyroxin production: hypothyroidism.
Consequently, hypothyroidism causes a significant reduction in bodily metabolism, such as lowering your heart rate.
Some of the common manifestations of hypothyroidism are but not limited to loss of appetite and lack of energy.
Needle Seeding
Doctors extract cell samples from the thyroid nodules to help determine whether the nodules are malignant. As a result, some cells attach themselves to the exterior part of the needle.
As the doctor withdraws the needle, the cells seed themselves onto other parts of the neck, along which the needle passes.
Conclusion
As discussed in this article, thyroid radiofrequency ablation treatment has some side effects, just like most treatment procedures. Despite the side effects, thyroid RFA remains a safe, effective, and less invasive treatment procedure for hyperthyroidism.
