MEDICAL OUTCOMES OF PARATHYROIDECTOMY

Hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is considered an endocrine disorder characterized by the hyperfunctioning of one or more parathyroid tissues and overproduction of the parathyroid hormone – a polypeptide hormone with 84 amino acids.Prolonged over-secretion of parathyroid hormone causes an elevation in serum calcium levels. HPT presents with a wide range of moderate to severe symptoms and no symptoms at all. Some common symptoms indicated of HPT include musculoskeletal symptoms (loss of muscle strength, painful joints), gastrointestinal issues (constipation), and neuropsychiatric symptoms (depression, anxiety, mood disorders, fatigue). Parathyroidectomy is considered the only curative and definitive option for treating HPT with high success rates. In parathyroidectomy, the overactive parathyroid tissues, involving one or more of the four parathyroid glands, are removed surgically. This surgical procedure aims to remove hyperplasia or adenoma(s) by exploring all of the four parathyroid glands with an overproduction of parathyroid hormone. Although parathyroidectomy is a safe procedure, some serious medical outcomes may still arise. This review article explores the common outcomes associated with parathyroidectomy, including postoperative hypocalcemia, hypoparathyroidism, hematoma, laryngeal nerve injury, prolonged length of stay, and recurrent HPT. To minimize serious medical outcomes of parathyroidectomy, a team of healthcare professionals, including surgeons, nursing staff, anesthesiologists, pathologists, and radiologists must be established.

Keywords: Hyperparathyroidism, parathyroidectomy, serum calcium, parathyroid hormone, recurrent HPT.