Parathyroid gland removal: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (2023)

FAQs

What happens if you have to have your parathyroid glands removed? ›

After parathyroid glands are removed, the remaining parathyroid glands may take some time to work properly again. This, along with uptake of calcium into bones, can lead to low levels of calcium — a condition called hypocalcemia. You may have of numbness, tingling or cramping if your calcium level gets too low.

It will take about 1 to 3 weeks for you to fully heal. The surgery area must be kept clean and dry. You may need to drink liquids and eat soft foods for a day. Contact your surgeon if you have any numbness or tingling around your mouth in the 24 to 48 hours after surgery.

The complications from parathyroid surgery are serious, and typically WORSE than the disease. Complications are MUCH more common in general surgeons (and ENT surgeons) who do 35 or fewer parathyroid operations per year.

James (Jim) Norman, MD, FACS, FACE. Dr. Jim Norman founded of the Norman Parathyroid Center in 2003, and is recognized as one of world's foremost experts on parathyroid disease and he has treated more parathyroid patients than any other doctor.

That's why we offer MIP as an alternative to conventional parathyroidectomy, which is done under general anesthesia and requires an incision about 1 to 2 inches long. During MIP, the patient receives mild sedation and localized pain relief, and the surgeon makes a 2- to 3-centimeter incision.

A remarkable improvement after parathyroidectomy at all levels was observed: movement, memory, attention, concentration, and general quality of life.

A: It's common for the body to take several weeks to regulate the parathyroid hormone levels. Over the course of the next couple of months, you may feel slight discomfort, lethargic, and even crampy as your blood calcium level evens out.

At the time of operation, your surgeon will give you some numbing medicine which usually lasts about eight hours. Although you should be able to eat and drink normally, the main complaint is pain with swallowing. Most patients take Tylenol® or Motrin® to keep them comfortable at home.

Finally, after a parathyroid operation, everyone needs to take calcium for at least 6 months.

The Norman Parathyroid Center is the world's leading parathyroid surgery center performing an average of 72 parathyroid operations per week.

What is the success rate of parathyroid surgery? ›

First, most parathyroid operations are straightforward and can be completed with an excellent success rate by surgeons who perform parathyroid surgery more than once per month. Second, the role of the expert parathyroid surgeon is to raise the success rate from 90-95% long-term to 97-99% long-term.

On MDsave, the cost of a Parathyroidectomy ranges from $8575 to $11756. Those on high deductible health plans or without insurance can shop, compare prices and save. Read more about how MDsave works.

While many patients elect to undergo surgery so that they do not develop complications from their parathyroid disease, some patients may have mildly elevated calcium levels and mild complications from their disease. Some patients may decide not to have surgery in this situation, which is acceptable.

You may have some trouble chewing and swallowing after you go home. Your voice probably will be hoarse, and you may have trouble talking. For most people, these problems get better within a few weeks, but it can take longer. In some cases, this surgery causes permanent problems with chewing, speaking, or swallowing.

Because of the numerous small nerves and other important structures within the neck which reside around the parathyroid glands, the 'standard' parathyroid operation can be technically challenging and has the best results when performed by experienced endocrine (parathyroid) surgeons or surgeons with extensive head and ...

What are the benefits of this procedure? You will no longer have high calcium levels in your blood. The abnormal parathyroid gland(s) have been removed. By eliminating the high calcium level in your blood, you will be protected from the short- and long-term consequences of calcium elevation.

Avoid refined foods, such as white breads, pastas, and sugar. Use healthy cooking oils, such as olive oil or coconut oil. Reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids, found in commercially-baked goods, such as cookies, crackers, cakes, and donuts, French fries, onion rings, processed foods, and margarine.

Exercise Regularly. A low level of physical activity can increase the risk of HPT symptoms. Therefore, developing and following an exercise regimen may help people reduce their risk of HPT. Of course, HPT patients can engage in regular exercise to help strengthen the bones by putting pressure on them.

They reported that parathyroid surgery for patients with severe primary hyperparathyroidism resulted in significant increases in bone mineral density that were measurable 1 year after surgery and continued for the next 10 years.

After these patients underwent a parathyroidectomy to treat HPT, 90% said their depression symptoms no longer impacted their ability to work or perform other daily activities. Additionally, 52% reported improved quality of life after their parathyroidectomy.

Does parathyroid affect sleep? ›

There's actually some preliminary data to show that patients with parathyroid disease do actually have higher rates of disordered sleep or insomnia, and that's mostly done by sleep questionnaires.

Patients typically take between 5 – 7 days off work following parathyroid surgery. Most patients feel back to “normal” by two weeks after surgery. You may drive once you are no longer taking narcotic pain medications and feel comfortable turning your neck, usually about 3 days.

Sore Throat/Cough

This is normal to experience after surgery and will often last up to 5 days after surgery. Lozenges and a softer diet may be helpful until this resolves. You may also feel like you have phlegm in your throat and need to cough. This is due to the irritation of the tube in your windpipe during surgery.

After surgery, you will have a soft drain in the surgical incision, which prevents fluid and blood from building up in the wound. The drain will be removed once there is minimal drainage.

Most parathyroidectomies take place while the person is under general anesthesia, asleep and pain-free. The surgeon makes a small incision in the skin of the neck and parts a thin layer of muscle to gain access to the thyroid gland and the parathyroid glands behind it.

The parathyroidectomy procedure can take anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours once you are asleep. It depends on how quickly we can find and confirm the removal of the abnormal gland. How long will I be hospitalized? Almost all patients that undergo a parathyroidectomy will go home that same day.

Temporary hoarseness, voice tiring, and weakness can occur when one or more of the nerves are irritated during the operation or because of inflammation that occurs after the surgery. This usually gets better within a few weeks, but can take up to 6 months to resolve.

Calcium (TUMS): After parathyroid surgery, all patients are discharged home with calcium supplementation. Parathyroid glands regulate calcium levels in the blood. The calcium is necessary due to removal of the overactive gland and the remaining “sleepy” parathyroid glands.

Effects of Vitamin D

It has been suggested that patients with primary hyperparathyroidism often have low vitamin D levels and require vitamin D supplementation after parathyroidectomy to maintain normal calcium levels.

Parathyroid glands control the amount of calcium in your blood. Parathyroid glands control the amount of calcium in your bones. You can easily live with one (or even 1/2) parathyroid gland. Removing all 4 parathyroid glands will cause very bad symptoms of too little calcium (hypOparathyroidism).

Can you live a long life with parathyroid disease? ›

Most people with asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism can have a fairly benign course for years, even a lifetime. But hyperparathyroidism does progress in some people, and they should undergo surgery, which is the only complete cure.

Avoid refined foods, such as white breads, pastas, and sugar. Use healthy cooking oils, such as olive oil or coconut oil. Reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids, found in commercially-baked goods, such as cookies, crackers, cakes, and donuts, French fries, onion rings, processed foods, and margarine.

Hyperparathyroidism, characterized by elevated/high PTH levels, has been associated with many chronic conditions including impaired cognitive function and dementia [8–11].

Patients with disorders of the parathyroid gland have higher incidences of hypertension, arrhythmias, left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, and calcific disease which translate into increased cardiac morbidity and mortality.

Their calcium is high (typically around 10.5 to 11.6) but their PTH levels are still in the "normal" range. Most of these patients have PTH levels between 40 to 60. If your calcium is frequently or persistently high, and your PTH isn't below 25, then you very likely have hyperparathyroidism.

A noncancerous growth (adenoma) on a gland is the most common cause. Enlargement (hyperplasia) of two or more parathyroid glands accounts for most other cases. A cancerous tumor is a very rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism.