Not too long ago we published a blog that explained some of the reasons a person may need to undergo surgery on their parathyroid gland. Located behind your thyroid gland, these small glands regulate calcium levels in your body, and oftentimes they can malfunction due to the development of an abnormal growth or tumor in the area. If your doctor determines that you need to undergo a parathyroidectomy operation, they’ll need to walk you through the risks and the specific surgeries available to you. Today, we take a look at four different parathyroid surgery techniques.
Open Parathyroidectomy
Formally the norm, the open parathyroidectomy technique involves making a 2-4 inch incision on the patient’s neck, typically just under the person’s Adam’s apple. The patient is given anesthesia before the procedure and is not awake or in pain during the procedure. The surgeon will then have one or more of the four parathyroid glands removed. Before closing the wound, the doctor may conduct a special blood test to ensure all the diseased glands are removed. If all four of the parathyroid glands are removed, one may be transplanted into your forearm, as the transported gland can still help regulate your calcium levels as long as it’s in your body.
Minimally Invasive Parathyroidectomy
The minimally invasive option is preferred when available because it is less taxing on the patient, reduces recovery time and decreases the likelihood of certain surgical risks, like excessive bleeding or infection. During this procedure, the surgeon makes a small 1-2 inch cut on the side of your neck in order to access the parathyroid glands. The patient may also be given a small shot that acts as a radioactive tracer to highlight the glands so they can be seen clearly by the surgeon. This technique can remove the glands in as little as an hour, but is not available at every clinic.
Video-Assisted Parathyroidectomy
In this type of parathyroid operation, the surgeon makes two small incisions on the side of your neck. One of the openings is for his tools, and the other is for a small tube that is equipped with a fiberoptic camera. The camera is inserted into the opening and navigated in front of the parathyroid glands so the doctor can see where he is cutting. The glands are then removed as necessary and the wounds are closed.
Endoscopic Parathyroidectomy
This procedure is similar to the standard video-assisted parathyroidectomy although the incisions are made in different areas. Typically the surgeon will make two or three incisions on the front of your neck and an additional incision above the top of your collarbone. Although it involves more incisions, this method is sometimes preferred because it reduces visible scarring, and it also helps reduce pain and recovery time. Each cut is less than two inches long, and a fiberoptic camera is again inserted through one of the incisions while the doctor operates through the other incisions to remove the diseased parathyroid glands.
To learn more about each procedure, contact a parathyroid surgeon today.
