Parathyroid Surgery

I am to have parathyroid surgery in a couple of weeks.  The surgeon does about 1,200 surgeries a year like this.  He said that he has done over 200 with someone with dialysis as a surgeon (I have been on dialysis for 5 1/2 years.  He said that my tests show my parathyroids are as large as cherries, but are supposed to be very small.  He is going to take out all my parathyroids except for some of one to be left in.  He said that they freeze the rest in case I need more later.  The surgery will be 3 to 4 hours with an incision of 2" in my neck.  He also said that they measure the level of calcium in my blood while in surgery.  My calcium has increased every month for the last 6 months or more being at 10.5 from my last blood work.  He also is going to have me see a heart doctor and a phychiatrist before surgery.  (he believes since I've been on dialysis for so long, that I probably have some kind of heart problem, although I've had a lot of tests.  I have a bi-polar disorder and he said that he knows a phychiatrist who is interested in cases like mine.  he also admits that he has cut 4 vocal chord nerves in all the surgeries he has done like this (over 4,000 in all).  Is this number understandable? I know he feels very badly about this.  The last one he did was about a year ago.  His screatary told us that he felt so badly that he called her up and talked about it to her that night.  

My question:  Do you think this surgeon sounds reputable?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

I cannot comment on the surgeon without knowing more information about the specific patient and procedure.    

Vocal cord injury is one of the complications of parathyroid surgery.  A complication rate of 0.1% is within normal rates.  Studies show a rate in the range of 0.3%.

If there are concerns about the surgical course or procedure, obtaining another surgical opinion is reasonable.

These questions can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com