Health Encyclopedia

Parathyroidectomy

Definition

Parathyroidectomy is surgery to remove parathyroid glands or parathyroid tumors.

Alternative Names

Removal of parathyroid gland; Parathyroid gland removal

Description

Parathyroidectomy is done while you are under general anesthesia (unconscious and pain-free). Sometimes it is done with regional anesthesia (awake, but pain-free). The surgeon makes a cut in the neck just under the Adam's apple and locates the four parathyroid glands.

The particular problem or disease will determine how many of the parathyroid glands are removed. Usually, some parathyroid tissue is left in place to help prevent hypoparathyroidism (low levels of parathyroid hormone).

Indications

Parathyroidectomy is recommended when one or more parathyroid glands are producing excessive amounts of parathyroid hormone. This condition is called hyperparathyroidism.

Risks

Risks for any anesthesia include the following:

Reactions to medications
Problems breathing

Risks for any surgery include the following:

Bleeding
Infection

Additional risks for parathyroidectomy include the following:

Injury to the thyroid gland
Hypoparathyroidism (leading to dangerously low calcium levels)
Injury to the vocal cord nerves

Expectations after surgery

Patients usually recovery very quickly after surgery, especially when minimally invasive techniques are used.

Following this procedure, you should have routine blood tests to check your calcium level.

Convalescence

Normal activity usually can be resumed within a few days.

Review Date:10/16/2006
Reviewed By:J.A. Lee, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

ADAM Quality A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.