Parathyroid glands are four small glands located behind your thyroid gland in the neck. They produce parathyroid hormones (PTH), which controls your calcium in your body. In patients with hyperparathyroidism, one or more parathyroid glands become enlarged & abnormal, and overproduce PTH. If left untreated, this can lead to complications such as worsening osteoporosis, fractures and ureteric stones. The purpose of parathyroid surgery is to locate and remove the abnormal parathyroid gland(s), and often all four parathyroid glands may need to be removed with a small portion re-implanted into your deltoid muscle.
The purpose of parathyroid surgery is to locate and remove the abnormal parathyroid gland(s) and reduce the risks of these complications from occurring.
When performed by an experienced surgeon, the operation is successful in approximately 95% of cases. Complications can occur, but are uncommon. Depending on the calcium level after surgery, hospital stay may range from 2 days to 2 weeks. During your hospitalization stay, you will be taken care of by both the surgical and renal teams. Your surgeon will explain your specific surgery and why it is recommended in your specific case.
Once you have gotten your surgery date, you will be scheduled for a pre-operative assessment by the anaesthesia team. The preoperative exam may include blood tests, a chest X-ray and an electrocardiogram (ECG). If you are on anti-platelet medication such as aspirin or Plavix, or anticoagulation medication such as warfarin, you should stop your medication as instructed by your surgeon
Follow the instructions on when to stop eating and drinking given to you during the preoperative evaluation clinic assessment .
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the updates to your email inbox...
