Benefits of Minimally Invasive Parathyroidectomy
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Traditional vs Minimally Invasive Surgery
The traditional parathyroid operation technique requires a large incision in the neck to locate and examine the four parathyroid glands located behind the thyroid. The tumorous gland or glands are then located and removed. Patients that opt for traditional surgery require at least one night of hospitalization. In the end, the patient is left with a large scar on the neck.
About 97% of parathyroid disease patients have only one bad parathyroid. So rather than use the traditional parathyroid operation technique requiring a large neck incision to locate and examine the parathyroid glands, the minimally invasive parathyroidectomy surgical technique simply remove the one bad gland and leave the others alone.
Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy is an outpatient procedure that requires only a small incision, and the procedure can be performed in less than half an hour.
About 97% of parathyroid disease patients have only one bad parathyroid. So rather than use the traditional parathyroid operation technique requiring a large neck incision to locate and examine the parathyroid glands, the minimally invasive parathyroidectomy surgical technique simply remove the one bad gland and leave the others alone.
Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy is an outpatient procedure that requires only a small incision, and the procedure can be performed in less than half an hour.
The Surgical Technique
The overproducing parathyroid gland is made radioactive so it can be differentiated from the other structures in the neck. By using the Sestamibi scan, only the parathyroid tumor becomes radioactive.Now that the surgeon knows what general area to operate upon, the surgeon makes a small incision and only operates in a small area of the neck.
A miniature hand-held radiation probe is inserted into the incision to find the radioactive parathyroid. Then the surgeon dissects where there is greatest probe activity in the area of the overactive parathyroid tumor.
Once the tumor is removed, the surgeon measures the radioactivity in the parathyroid to make sure that the entire radioactive tumor has been removed. The surgeon will then determine whether more operating is necessary.
Finally, the neck is bandaged. Because the operation is performed quickly and with limited dissection, patients can usually leave the hospital the same day. Overall pain is minimal, and the bandage is left in place for about a week.
Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy can be performed in less than half an hour.
Advantages to Minimally Invasive Parathyroidectomy Surgery
There are several differences between the standard parathyroid surgery techniques performed and minimally invasive surgery performed by specialists.
- With minimally invasive parathyroidectomy surgery, the surgeon has a better idea which of the four parathyroid glands is diseased prior to the operation.
- The surgeon only needs to operate on one very small area of the neck rather than both sides of the thyroid and neck. The operation is typically performed through a 2.5cm (1 inch) incision rather than a larger14 cm (6 to 10 inch) incision.
- The surgery is frequently performed without general anesthesia.
- The average operative time is less than half an hour vs 2 to 5 hours with traditional procedures.
- The cure rates for the procedure is as high or higher than with the more extensive and complicated traditional parathyroid operation.
- There is less overall pain.
- Almost all patients can go home within a few hours of the operation rather than spending a few days in the hospital.
Parathyroid FAQs
Pioneers in Minimally Invasive Parathyroidectomy
At the New York Center for Advanced Parathyroid Surgery, we perform the latest in minimally invasive parathyroid surgical techniques. For more information about your parathyroid surgery treatment options, visit www.advancedparathyroid.com. Featured Lenses
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