What is Parathyroid Gland Surgery?
Parathyroid Gland Surgery is done to remove the parathyroid glands or parathyroid tumors. The parathyroid glands are located right behind your thyroid gland in your neck. These glands help your body control the calcium level in the blood.
What is the Purpose of Parathyroid Gland Surgery?
Parathyroid Gland Surgery is used to treat hyperparathyroidism. Hyperparathyroidismis a condition in which the parathyroid glands produce too much PTH. If there is too much PTH, calcium is removed from the bones and goes into the blood. This the levels of calcium in the blood and urine to increase.
When is a Parathyroid Gland Surgery Necessary?
- If calcium levels are elevated
- If there is a complication of hyperparathyroidism (such as kidney stones, osteoporosis, or bone fractures)
- If a patient is relatively young
How to Prepare for Parathyroid Gland Surgery:
Since the parathyroid glands are very small, you may need to have tests that show exactly where your glands are. This will help your surgeon find your parathyroid glands during surgery.
Two of the tests you may have are:
- CT
- Ultrasound
Several days to a week before surgery, you may be asked to stop taking drugs that make it harder for your blood to clot. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), clopidogrel (Plavix), warfarin (Coumadin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and other drugs like these.
Follow instructions about when to stop eating and drinking before surgery, and which medicines you should take before the surgery.