EARLY RETURN TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AFTER TOTAL THYROIDECTOMY

Abstract

HISTORY: Case report of a 34 year old male patient, diagnosed with carcinoma thyroid papillary and submitted to total thyroidectomy and neck dissection of the central compartment. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: Healthy male patient, no previous complaints, physically active. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS: None. TEST AND RESULTS: For respiratory thresholds and cardiovascular evaluation, the patient was submitted to ergoespirometry test two days before surgery. A cycle ergometer was used for the ergoespirometry test. Patient rested on the first postoperative day, followed by continuous light to moderate exercise on a stationary bicycle from the 2nd to the 10th postoperative day, maintaining a variation of up to 10% of the heart rate reached in the first respiratory threshold. From the 10th to the 14th postoperative day the intensity was gradually increased, keeping moderate continuous exercise. High intensity interval training (HIIT) was initiated on the 15th day and from the 22nd day ahead, resistance training was resumed. FINAL WORKING DIAGNOSIS: The patient did not report discomfort, pain or excessive tiredness after the practice of physical activity according to the proposed protocol. It has not been observed edema beyond expected bruises or bleeding. Analgesic or anti-inflammatory medications were not used. TREATMENT AND OUTCOMES: Early return to physical activity has shown to be safe and improve recovery after surgical intervention when individualized and prescribed following respiratory thresholds acquired by the ergoespiratotry.