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Minimally Invasive Parathyroid Surgery

Your Parathyroid Gland

 

 

Your parathyroid glands are 4 pea-sized glands that are on the thyroid gland in your neck.  Though the thyroid and parathyroid glands have names that sound alike, their jobs differ very much.  The parathyroid glands make a hormone that tells the body how much calcium to store in the bones and how much to have in the blood.

 

Sometimes, parathyroid glands enlarge and send out too much of the hormone.  This is called hyperparathyroidism.  When this happens, there is too much calcium in the blood and not enough in the bones.  This can cause the bones to become weak or may cause kidney stones.  The only way to treat this is to remove some or all of the parathyroid glands.

 

About Your Surgery

 

Your doctor will discuss with you the benefits and risks of surgery to remove part or all of your parathyroid glands.  You will have a small incision in your neck about ½ to 2 inches long.  The surgery is done under a local or general anesthesia and takes about 30 to 60 minutes.  The incision will be located in the middle of your neck or on the side. You will either go home the same day or you may stay in the hospital overnight.

 

Day of Surgery

 

You will be taken to Nuclear Medicine for an injection of a radiolabeled material 1-2 hours before surgery.  In the operating room, the abnormal gland is removed and a scan is done to make sure all of the abnormal tissue was removed.  A sample of your blood is also taken to check your hormone level.  A decrease in the hormone means all of the abnormal tissue was removed.

 

After Surgery

 

Let your nurse know if you are having any trouble breathing, if your pain is severe, or if you have tingling in your fingers, toes, or lips.

 

  • Your throat may be sore when you swallow (it feels like a case of strep throat).  This often lasts 1-2 days.
  • Your voice may be hoarse or you may notice that your voice gets tired at the end of the day.  These changes often go away within a week or two.
  • The back of your neck may hurt due to the position of your head during surgery.  It may feel better if you use 1-2 pillows in bed.

 

Incision Care

  

  • Dr. Sippel’s patients
    • Your wound is closed with glue and tape. 
    • The glue is waterproof, so it is OK to shower or get it wet.
    • The glue and tape will start to peel off in 10-14 days.  If the edges curl up prior to your next appointment, it is ok to trim them with a small scissors.
    • You will have pieces of tape over the glue, leave them on until your next appointment with Dr. Sippel (10-14 days). 

 

  • Dr. Chen’s patients
    • Your wound is closed with sutures (that need to be removed), tape, and a clear dressing.
    • The dressing is waterproof, so it is OK to shower or get it wet.
    • Small pieces of tape are used to reinforce the incision.  The pieces of tape should remain in place until your next next appointment with Dr. Chen (6-8 days).  If the edges curl up prior to your next appointment, it is ok to trim them with a small scissors.
    • The tape over your incision may be covered with a clear dressing.  If a clear dressing is present, it may be removed in 2 days.

 

  • No swimming or soaking in water for 14 days after surgery.
  • Do NOT use ointments, powders, or creams on the wound for 14 days after surgery.
  • Check your incision daily, until you see your doctor, for signs and symptoms of infection.
    • Increased redness or swelling around the incision.
    • Any foul-smelling drainage or pus coming from the incision.
    • Fever over 100.4° F by mouth.
    •  

 

Activity

 

  • Most people return to work after one week.
  • Avoid straining or extreme bending of your neck.
  • Do not lift more than 20 pounds for the first week.
  • Avoid strenuous activity for one week.
  • Resume driving when you are no longer taking narcotic pain pills and can turn your head to the side 90° with ease.

 

Pain Medici ne

 

Your incision may be tender.  Pain medicine will be prescribed for you.  Follow the pharmacist’s orders about using pain medicine.  Extra-Strength Tylenol®, instead of the prescribed pain medicine, may also make you feel better.

 

How will I feel after my surgery?

 

  • You should be back to normal in a few weeks.  When a gland is removed, the calcium level in your blood may drop a few days later.  You may have tingling in your fingertips, toes, and lips.  Your doctor may prescribe calcium (Tums®) for you.  The dosage will depend on the results of your blood test and will slowly be decreased over 4 weeks.
  • If you develop numbness and tingling in your face, lips, fingertips, or toes you should take four 500 mg tablets of Tums® (2 gm of calcium).  The symptoms should go away in 15-30 minutes.  If the symptoms persist, at 30 minutes you can repeat this.  If the symptoms still do not go away, please call us.
  • Calcium tablets and narcotic pain medicines can both be constipating.  If you find that you are having problems with constipation you can take an over the counter stool softener, such as Colace® (docusate sodium) 100 mg twice daily.
  • You may feel like you have a lump in your throat when you swallow.  This will improve after a few days but may last for a week or so.
  • Sometimes patients feel a pulling in the neck muscles.  This will improve in 3-4 weeks.
  • Your voice may be hoarse but this often goes away within a week or so. 

 

When to Call the Doctor

 

  • This is rare, but if you feel panicked due to trouble breathing, sudden swelling in your throat, or can’t swallow, call 911.
  • Any numbness or tingling of your fingertips, face, lips, or toes that does not go away with calcium supplements (Tums®). These are symptoms of low blood calcium, common after this surgery.
  • Increased pain at the incision site.
  • Signs of infection.
  • Fever greater than 100.4°F for 2 readings taken 4 hours apart.

 

If you have questions or concerns, call the General Surgery Clinic, Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm at (608) 263-7502

 

After hours, holidays, and weekends, this will give you the paging operator.  Ask for the General Surgery doctor on call for Dr. _____________.  Leave your name and phone number with the area code.  The doctor will call you back.

 

If you live out of the area, call 1-800-323-8942.

 

 

 

 



The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 12/15/2010

Copyright © 12/15/2010 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. UWH #5665

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