Minimally invasive parathyroid surgery was developed in the 1990s to treat hyperparathyroidism. The only treatment for hyperparathyroidism is to remove the parathyroid gland that is causing the problem. Parathyroid surgery used to be a more involved procedure, but now, with mini parathyroidectomy, patients are able to go home sooner with a much smaller scar and shorter recovery time. There are few complications with the procedure.
Parathyroid Disease
Parathyroid disease occurs when a growth develops on one of the four parathyroid glands located in the neck. According to the National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service, the parathyroid glands help to regulate calcium in the body. A growth or adenoma can cause too much parathyroid hormone in the body, which increases calcium levels. This can lead to kidney stones, aches, pains and fatigue. Too much parathyroid hormone causes calcium to leave the bones and go into the bloodstream. This causes bone loss and increases the risk of fractures in patients with hyperparathyroidism.
Low Calcium Levels
Low calcium levels can happen after removal of one parathyroid gland, when the remaining parathyroids may take some time to recover their function. Patients take supplemental calcium after surgery to prevent this complication.
Injury to the Laryngeal Nerve
According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), serious complications occur after mini parathyroid surgery in only 1 percent to 2 percent of patients. Having an experienced parathyroid surgeon decreases the complication rate. One serious complication is an injury to the vocal cord nerve. This can leave a patient with voice hoarseness. This can be temporary if the nerve is just bruised or permanent if it is severed.
Other Possible Complications
As with any type of surgery, there is a risk of bleeding or infection. These are minimal due to the small size of the incision. According to AACE, the risk of death is very low for this procedure.
