Minimally invasive video‑assisted parathyroidectomy

The condition

The parathyroid glands are in the neck. There are usually 4, each about the size of a grain of rice. The glands produce parathyroid hormone, which controls the levels of calcium and phosphate in the blood. Too much parathyroid hormone is called hyperparathyroidism. It can cause tiredness, depression, confusion, constipation, excessive thirst, kidney stones, excessive urination, bone pain and fractures. There are 2 main types: primary (caused by changes in the parathyroid glands) and secondary (due to other conditions such as kidney disease and vitamin D deficiency).

People with mild hyperparathyroidism may not need active treatment, but are regularly monitored. Severe hyperparathyroidism is usually treated by surgery to remove 1 or more parathyroid gland, depending on the underlying cause. The medical name for this is parathyroidectomy. Usually, this is done using an 'open' technique, in which a cut of about 3‑6 cm long is made across the neck, or sometimes with an open minimally invasive technique, in which the cut is 2‑3 cm.

NICE has looked at using minimally invasive video‑assisted surgery to remove the parathyroid glands as another treatment option for severe hyperparathyroidism.

NHS Choices (www.nhs.uk) may be a good place to find out more.